AFP Member Spotlight: Karly DeGroot

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 Karly DeGroot, director of individual giving at Live Arts Toledo. She reflects on how mentorship shaped her path into fundraising and shares how creativity, collaboration, and strong donor relationships drive her work today.

Q: How did you start your career in the fundraising profession and what led you there?
A: I used to work for Habitat for Humanity in Houston, TX. I started there as the volunteer coordinator, and in that role, I worked very closely with the development manager. Her name is Rachael Wright, and she taught me many things about fundraising and building relationships. When Rachael left for a different opportunity, I felt empowered to put my name in the hat for the development manager position and I got it! This was around 2013.

Q: When and why did you decide to become an AFP member?
A: I have been an AFP member off and on throughout my fundraising career. Now that I work for a midsize and localized nonprofit, I am finding that AFP offers many benefits, especially networking with the other nonprofits in my area of Northwest Ohio.

Q: Are you doing anything innovative at your organization (or a past organization) that you think other fundraisers could benefit from?
A: “Good artists copy, great artists steal” goes double in the fundraising world, I think. This is where groups like AFP are so important. There are so many nonprofits that are doing cool things that can be tweaked and applied to our own work. Two that are working well for us now are clickable/sharable reels and short videos, many of which mimic other viral videos out there, and the other is a giving society where patrons of a certain level get a ‘backstage look’ at how our organization works.

Full transparency: I work for Live Arts Toledo and working for an arts organization definitely allows for a lot of creativity!

Q: What is your favorite word? (only one word) How has this word influenced or inspired your career?
A: One word?! But language is so vast and beautiful! Also, like our donors, a word can’t really do much on its own. A word is always more impactful with others around it. 😊

Q: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: As a fundraiser, I feel like I should respond with the largest gift closed and its impact (a 7-figure scholarship gift) but I don’t know that this gift was the one I worked hardest at.

I think I personally feel the most pride when donors or other people outside the organization are pleased with the work that I’ve done and/or acknowledge the care I put into the donor experience.

Q: How has being an AFP member and participating in the AFP affinity groups benefited you in your career?
A: Being in AFP helps me to connect and collaborate with other local nonprofits. It helps me to be a better neighbor too so that our mailings or events don’t compete with those of other nonprofits.

The affinity group specifically was interesting because the one I attended (an LGBTQ+ affinity group) had other individuals that shared great tips on how to be our authentic selves with our colleagues and our donors.

Q: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing the nonprofit fundraising profession today?
A: I think the fundraising landscape is changing. People are giving to fewer organizations and they are wanting a more specific impact from their gifts. We are also seeing significantly less support from businesses and corporations. All this is happening at a time when the cost of doing business continues to go up! It is a tough time to be a fundraiser!

Q: What advice do you have for other fundraising professionals?
A: Just do it! Make that phone call, follow through with that promise, and write your contact notes. Do it now!