Belonging Begins with Us: Advancing IDEA Through Board Culture

Not Pictured Above: Marco Corona 

Last December, during our 2024 year-end board retreat, the AFP Global board undertook an intentional and reflective journey to explore a concept that is deeply personal and critically important to our mission: belonging. Guided by fellow board member Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, we engaged in powerful conversations that invited us to think deeply about what it means to belong—both individually and collectively—and more importantly, what it means to lead in a way that ensures others share in this sense of belonging. 

These discussions weren’t abstract. They asked each of us to show up fully and authentically, to name the conditions that make us feel welcomed and valued, and to acknowledge when those conditions aren’t present. It was an emotional, vulnerable, and transformative experience that built on years of IDEA work across AFP—and inspired us to articulate a shared vision that will now guide how we govern, how we connect, and how we grow as a board.

That vision—the AFP Board Vision and Governance Case for Belonging—emerged from that retreat and has since evolved into a living commitment. It outlines our aspirations for a board culture where each member feels included, safe, and empowered to be their full selves; where diverse voices are not only welcomed but actively sought and reflected in our decisions; and where systems are thoughtfully designed to remove barriers to engagement and build long-term sustainability.

This is not the start of our IDEA journey—but a deepening of it. Earlier this year, in my update Finding Belonging, Leading with Purpose, I shared how, as a person of color, I often felt I had to prove that I belonged. That experience shaped my leadership and made the work of IDEA—especially fostering belonging—not just professional, but profoundly personal. It still is. And I know many of you can relate.
Over the past few years, AFP has made significant strides in advancing IDEA across our association, centering IDEA principles in our strategic plans, with the goal of embedding these values into every aspect of our work. 

As the association’s governing body, we felt that a critical component of this was ensuring the AFP Global board was leading by example—demonstrating the behaviors, systems, and culture we expect across our chapters, staff, and the broader fundraising community.

We must examine not only who is at the table but how that table functions—whose voices are heard, whose are missing, and how power is shared. We must ask the hard questions, listen with humility, and take actionable steps to build a board that reflects our values and vision.

That’s why we’ve framed this initiative within the three modes of governance—fiduciary, strategic, and generative. Belonging is not just about how we feel; it’s also about how we function. It’s about how we make better, more inclusive decisions. It’s about ensuring that our strategy reflects the full breadth of our members’ experiences. And it’s about moving closer to AFP’s vision: a world of generosity and positive social good, made possible by the best of fundraising leadership.

Our next steps are already underway. Over the coming months, we will assess our current board culture through surveys, interviews, and open conversations. We’ll strengthen our interpersonal communications, identify areas of improvement in our systems, and ultimately create a roadmap for sustained change. This is a multi-year process, and we welcome accountability and curiosity from our community as we share updates along the way.

To our members: if you have questions, ideas, or simply want to be part of this dialogue, please reach out to me at [email protected] or connect with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas at [email protected]. Your voice is essential as we continue this work.

The journey to belonging is not linear. It’s layered and sometimes uncomfortable. But it is also powerful, healing, and necessary. As we take this next step, I remain inspired by the strength of our board, the clarity of our purpose, and the generosity of spirit that defines AFP. Together, we are not just shaping a better board—we are building a stronger, more inclusive future for our entire fundraising community.