AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leaders Mentor Program Participants Announced For 2024

(Arlington, Virginia) The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has announced the participants — 11 mentors and 11 mentees — for its 2024 Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, sponsored by Blackbaud.

Now in its fourth 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: 

• Charles “C.F.” Callihan II
• David Woodruff, MBA, CFRE
• Destiney Patton, CFRE
• H. Aldervan Daly, CFRE
• J. Renee Thompson Gill, CFRE
• JP Paul, MM
• Kenley D. Sturdivant-Wilson
• Linda P. Frank, PhD, CFRE
• Mariia Kupriianova, MBA, CFRE
• Melissa A. Gomez
• D. Scott Stephens, Ph.D., CFRE

This year’s mentees include: 

• Amelia “Amy” Herrera
• Brian Marquez
• Carlene Field
• Christine Nady
• Cloydia Garrette
• Dimetri O’Brien
• Justin Kuczma
• Morgan Smith
• Ngozi Robinson
• Robert Naimark
• Zenaida Landeros, EMNA

“For the past few years, AFP has placed an increased focus on investing in the future of philanthropy, through programs specifically designed for emerging leaders,” said Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA, president & CEO, AFP. “By providing them with the mentorship and training they need, we ensure that our sector remains innovative, resilient, effective, and diverse. I look forward to seeing the impact that the relationships built here will have on our profession and our world.”

“We’re proud to sponsor AFP’s Emerging Leaders Mentor Program for the fourth year,” said Catherine LaCour, chief marketing officer, Blackbaud. “With this leadership development opportunity, we hope to further equip and empower fundraisers from every background in their missions to make the world better. It’s an honor to continue our ongoing partnership with AFP to advance effective and ethical fundraising that impacts communities around the world.”

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 Othalene Lawrence, M.S., CDE, head of IDEA.

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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 26,000 members in over 220 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.

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