AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leaders Mentor Program Participants Announced For 2023

CONTACTS:
Natalie Paskoski, Manager of Content, (434) 236 – 5583, Natalie.Paskoski@afpglobal.org
 
(Arlington, Virginia) The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has announced the participants — six mentors and six mentees — for its 2023 Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, sponsored by Blackbaud.

Now in its third year, this program connects inspirational mentors with aspiring leaders, creating a pipeline of diverse fundraisers with the skills they need to grow their careers and create an inclusive and equitable future for our profession.

This year’s mentors include:

• Abby Addy
• Landis Erwin
• Chrissey Nguyen Klockner
• Sarah Cortell Vandersypen, CFRE
• Samuel Locke, CFRE
• James Howell

This year’s mentees include:

• Kelly Mu
• Angelique Zojonc
• Jacqueline Chan
• Kameela Lewis, MBA
• Marq Mitchell
• Andy Herring, MS

“Our current leaders have a wealth of knowledge to share and a genuine passion for the impact profession,” said Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA, president and CEO of AFP. “Mentorship provides an opportunity for up-and-coming nonprofit professionals to learn from the real-world experiences of seasoned fundraisers, committed to helping their mentees expand their skillsets and develop their professional pathways to become ethical and inclusive leaders.”

“We are proud to sponsor AFP’s Emerging Leaders Mentor Program to help increase inclusivity, advance equality, and amplify leadership skills in the fundraising profession,” says Catherine LaCour, chief marketing officer at Blackbaud. “Together, we have an opportunity to accelerate the impact of anyone dedicated to purpose-driven work. This program is a powerful way to amplify the specialized expertise that makes fundraising such a vital and impact-driving profession.”

This year’s AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leader cohort will participate in an eight-month long mentorship program, consisting of virtual meetings, as well as meetings at AFP ICON and AFP LEAD. Program pairs are matched based on compatibility of mentor expertise and mentee goals, ensuring that participants come away with the skills most relevant to them. 

For more information about the AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leader Mentorship Program, contact Taryn Gold, vice president, membership & chapter engagement. 

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Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. The association works to advance effective and ethical philanthropy by providing advocacy, research, education, mentoring, collaboration and technology opportunities for the world’s largest network of professional fundraisers. AFP’s more than 27,000 members in over 230 chapters raise over $100 billion annually for a wide variety of charitable organizations and causes across the globe. For more information, go to afpglobal.org.