AFP Member Spotlight: Ayesha Ganguly

AFP Member Spotlights are a recurring series of interviews with AFP members, highlighting the unique individuals and career paths that exist within the fundraising profession. If you know an inspiring fundraising professional who deserves to be featured, please email [email protected].

In this member spotlight, we interviewed Ayesha Ganguly, director of development at the Better Block Foundation. Midway through her career, Ayesha discovered a passion for storytelling and mission-driven work, leading her to embrace fundraising as a natural and meaningful next step. Through AFP membership and a people-first approach, she’s built community, grown professionally, and championed greater equity and authenticity in the fundraising field.

Q: How did you start your career in the fundraising profession and what led you there?
A: Fundraising marked a new chapter for me, midway through my career, when I joined an arts nonprofit that needed to tell its story more effectively. My love for the organization—and deep belief in its mission and ambition—came first. Fundraising was a natural next step because I genuinely believed in the value of the work. It wasn’t just a job or a task—it was something I felt excited and honored to do. 

Q: When and why did you decide to become an AFP member?
A: Soon after stepping into my new role, I realized I needed support, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the field. AFP Fort Worth, with its large and active chapter, was the obvious place to start. I also knew I needed to connect with peers—others who were new to the profession, shared similar backgrounds, or were at a similar life stage—so we could exchange experiences and navigate challenges together.

Q: Are you doing anything innovative at your organization (or a past organization) that you think other fundraisers could benefit from?
A: Our approach is two-fold: it's about the work, community, and impact—and it's about relationships first. This combination tells a powerful story and creates real value for donors and funders. In this model, solicitations, grants, and asks become almost a by-product. Fundraising feels natural because the conversation is never just about “what we need,” but rather “look at the incredible things your investment made possible,” or sometimes simply, “how have you been?” It never fails.

Q: What is your favorite word? (only one word) How has this word influenced or inspired your career?
A: People-First or Community- First 

Q: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: I gathered the courage to apply as a first-time speaker at AFP ICON in Toronto in 2024 and was accepted. I also earned a Chamberlain Scholarship that year to support my participation. This was a big step for me at a prominent platform for fundraisers. What a phenomenal learning experience.

Q: How has being an AFP member and participating in the AFP affinity groups benefited you in your career?
A: The knowledge I have gained has been vital to my growth. From technical knowledge about fundraisers, budgeting, different grant platforms and organizations, harnessing different groups, to value-based learning like ethics and the new philanthropy mindset, as well as networking with very talented peers. 

Q: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing the nonprofit fundraising profession today?
A: One of the biggest challenges in nonprofit fundraising today is the continued exclusivity within fundraising spaces. Too often, access to networks, opportunities, and critical conversations is limited to a small circle of well-connected individuals—typically peers who already know each other and tend to share information selectively. This creates a barrier for many talented professionals who find themselves on the outside looking in. While AFP’s IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) efforts are important and have raised much-needed awareness, there is still a significant gap—particularly in representation and access between white, cisgender women and others across lines of race, culture, and background. Until we break open these networks and actively create space for new voices, true equity in the profession will remain out of reach.

Q: What advice do you have for other fundraising professionals?
A: If you have the professional freedom, choose to fundraise for organizations whose work you genuinely believe in and feel passionate about. When your heart is in the mission, the story you tell becomes more powerful—rooted in authenticity and love—and that elevates your funding requests. This alignment not only strengthens your message but also helps you navigate the shifting social, cultural, economic, and political landscapes. Passion sustains your courage, fuels your momentum, and anchors you through the inevitable challenges.