AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leaders Mentor Program Participants Announced For 2025

(Arlington, Virginia) The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has announced the participants — 10 mentors and 10 mentees — for its 2024 Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, sponsored by Blackbaud.

Now in its fifth 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: 

• Tammy Abshire, Vice President of Nonprofit Excellence at Baton Rouge Area Foundation
• Danielle Artis, Philanthropy Manager at World Wildlife Fund
• Tanya Frey, CEO at Terra Firma Consulting, LLC
• Melissa Gomez, VP of Philanthropy at New York Hall of Science
• Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, Founder & Chief Strategist at Equity Warrior Strategies
• Kenya Roberts, Executive for Development Management at United Women in Faith
• John Rutigliano, Development Director at Genesee Valley Conservancy
• Morgan Smith, Development Manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
• Kenley Sturdivant-Wilson, Director of Development and Communications at Project Houseworks
• David Woodruff, Consulting Partner at Marts & Lundy

This year’s mentees include: 

• Daniel Ensley, Director of Development and Partnerships at Oasis Youth Center
• Cyril Hamel, Head of Fundraising at ÉGIDES
• Shondrika Moss-Bouldin, Director of Development at Be the Bridge
• La Ruchala Murphy, Development Director at SC Humanities
• Raven Rainey, Manager of Philanthropic Services at Edgewood Center
• Maddi Riemenschneider, Chapter Manager at Lori's Hands in Metro Detroit
• Tony Sansalone, Director of Development at Wisconsin Humanities
• Lisa Vega-Fields, Donor Relations Officer - Major Gifts at The Action Center
• Terri Williams, Annual Giving Manager at Christian Hospital Foundation
• Isaiah Wright, Development Coordinator at Thunder Fellows

"I was a mentee of the AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program in 2022, and I know how important the professional development sessions and consistent check-ins with my mentor were to further developing my career,” said JP Paul, committee chair, AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leader Mentorship Program. “I am thrilled to be serving as chair of the program for a second year in 2025 as we develop leadership, fundraising, and nonprofit management skills of talented emerging fundraising professionals and nonprofit leaders. This program is a part of AFP Global's ongoing commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity & access (IDEA) and the intentional investment in shaping a philanthropic ecosystem that reflects the diversity of our global communities and peers."

“This is our fifth year sponsoring the AFP Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, and we’re so thrilled to see the impact this program has had in advancing effective and ethical fundraising,” said Catherine LaCour, chief marketing officer, Blackbaud. “We know that our communities are stronger when fundraising and philanthropy reflects the perspectives and needs of all in the community. We’re proud to play a small part in helping create more inclusion and equity by supporting the career development of fundraisers from a variety of backgrounds.” 

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 JP Paul, Committee Chair, AFP/Blackbaud Emerging Leader Mentorship Program. 

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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 180 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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