Association of Fundraising Professionals Appoints New Member Fair Behavior Policy Task Force

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Global, the largest organization of charitable fundraisers in the world, has convened a task force charged with reviewing the implementation and enforcement of the recently updated AFP Member Fair Behavior Policy.

The task force’s goal is to review and enhance the current process for handling member complaints within the AFP Community, and update this process to increase transparency, accessibility, and fairness. This task force will be responsible for outlining the next steps once a member files a complaint, determining how the policy is implemented, and establishing a framework for effective follow-through.

Their recommendations will be presented to the AFP Global Board of Directors for approval. If approved, these changes will go into effect in January of 2025 alongside the recently updated Code of Ethical Standards.

The task force was appointed by Birgit Smith Burton, AFP Global board chair (2023/2024) and founder & CEO of the African American Development Officers Network (AADO). Smith Burton has the distinction of being the first African American woman in AFP’s 62-year history to be voted chair of the AFP Global Board.

“This initiative is crucial to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability within AFP. By creating a task force to address member complaints and improve our resolution process, we demonstrate our commitment to maintaining a positive and equitable environment within the AFP community,” said Smith Burton. “These updates to both the Code of Ethical Standards and the Member Fair Behavior Policy are intended to promote accountability in the fundraising profession and provide all members with an equitable path to resolution when they encounter unacceptable behavior. I believe this proactive approach aligns with our values and will contribute to the continued success of AFP.”

Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA, president and CEO of AFP Global added, “Currently, there is a need for an updated structured process to be put in place for addressing complaints from members who feel they have been mistreated or unfairly treated by an AFP member or chapter and we look forward to seeing the improved recommendations that this important task force will bring forward.”

The task force is set to include the following AFP Global members:

• Kirstin Ling (AFP Greater Toronto)
• Clay Buck, CFRE (AFP Las Vegas)
• Jaye Lopez Van Soest, CFRE (AFP Washington D.C.)
• Amy Rowell (AFP Southeastern Wisconsin)
• Monica Grant, CFRE (AFP San Luis Obispo County)
• Ann Hale, CFRE (AFP Anchorage)
• Matt Stokes (AFP Connecticut)

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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 190 professional 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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