AFP Member Spotlight: Carolyn Chenmeyer

Building a Professional Network

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 Carolyn Chenmeyer, coordinator, annual giving at the Trans Canada Trail. From rejoining the full-time workforce after a career break to helping launch a comprehensive campaign at Trans Canada Trail, she shares how AFP Global has supported her journey across borders and through every stage of her professional life.

AFP: How did you start your career in the fundraising profession, and what led you there?

I have been in fundraising my entire career. After I completed my degree in environmental studies, I decided I wanted to make a difference through what I do for work. I realized that even a bad day working for a nonprofit would still be a meaningful day because I’d be working for something I care about. I picked fundraising because it fits my personality well. I’m able to work directly with people, be creative, and do analysis, and I knew it was something every organization needs.

AFP: When and why did you decide to become an AFP member?

I joined AFP first in Silicon Valley, California, about 10 years into my career because I wanted to continue to develop my fundraising skills and get advice from other fundraisers. I love having a forum to voice our struggles, opportunities to network, and a place to collect shared knowledge.

AFP: Are you doing anything innovative at your organization that you think other fundraisers could benefit from?

I am excited that my organization, the Trans Canada Trail, is in the process of launching a multiyear comprehensive campaign. It’s fun to be part of a fundraising team that’s ramping up to do something big, and donors respond to it as well. I feel like it’s a great tool to tap into engaging donors who might be on the fence, and it’s also an opportunity to access our fundraising talents outside the department because the comprehensive concept requires growth and change from all aspects of the organization.

AFP: What is your favorite word, and how has this word influenced or inspired your career?

Community. In our increasingly technology-focused world, I worry that community is something we need to work even harder to preserve and develop. Every fundraising job I’ve had in some way was guided by the idea that people do better and our world functions better when we prioritize working together and contributing to something bigger than ourselves. It’s the love of community that helps me continue to be inspired to do the important work we do.

AFP: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

My most recent success professionally was rejoining the full-time workforce after a career break to care for my children. I was warned before taking a career break that it would be a challenge to get back to working full time as part of the formal workforce, and it was a hard transition back. I am lucky that, since our industry has nonprofit companies of many sizes, I was still able to contribute as a fundraiser part time, as a volunteer, and as a consultant to keep my skills relevant while I devoted the majority of my time to my kids.

AFP: How has being an AFP member and participating in the AFP affinity groups benefited you in your career?

Being an AFP member has allowed me to engage with local contacts when I moved to a new country. After living my whole life in the U.S., I moved to Canada in 2024 and am still in the process of rebuilding my professional network. Joining the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter has helped me feel connected to fundraising globally and get opportunities to meet people in person in my new home country. I was active in the small-shop affinity group at my previous chapter, and it meant a lot to discuss the unique needs of smaller organizations when I was working at one for the first time.

AFP: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing the nonprofit fundraising profession today?

I work in annual giving, so I’d have to say the transition away from mailed communications to digital. Creating a program that speaks to older donors and younger donors when they are being contacted in different ways is an interesting challenge, and I know it will take a lot of innovation to continue keeping donors engaged.

AFP: What advice do you have for other fundraising professionals?

Never stop learning and innovating. I guess that’s advice that can be applied to any profession, but with our industry being sometimes viewed by donors as a “nice to have” instead of a critical part of their budget, we especially need to be willing to try new things and not accept that what has previously been successful will always work. Also, I’m obviously preaching to the choir, but use the tools and networking opportunities available from AFP. I’ve found so many ideas and jobs through these in-person connections, and with more jobs being remote, these are even more important.