Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) Unveils New Mission, Vision, and Governance Structure

(Arlington, VA) The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy and GivingTuesday, are excited to announce their new governance structure and strategic vision for the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), following two years of research and development. The new structure, which was confirmed at a key meeting on September 27, 2024, reflects the partners’ ongoing commitment to elevating diverse voices and enhancing collaboration across the sector.

Special recognition is extended to Scott Lange, Ann Fellman, and outgoing Chair Ben Miller for their leadership throughout this period of transformation. Their guidance has been instrumental in shaping FEP’s direction, and they will continue to contribute their expertise within the newly revised governance structure.

New Mission and Vision

The new mission of FEP is to provide trusted data insights that enable fundraisers to improve their outcomes, and its vision is to create a sector where actionable data guides every fundraiser’s decisions to increase generosity. These updates reflect the partners’ continued commitment to equipping nonprofits with data that leads to better decision-making and stronger fundraising performance.

“Our new governance structure is essential to ensuring FEP’s future growth,” said Tim Sarrantonio, newly appointed Chair of the FEP Steering Committee. “By bringing together diverse perspectives, we can foster stronger collaboration and guide nonprofits toward greater impact through informed fundraising strategies.”

A New Chapter in FEP's History

The newly appointed Steering Committee includes leaders from across the nonprofit sector, including experts in data, research, government relations, and fundraising consulting. The role of Practitioner Chair will be filled through a selection process that reflects the project’s broader support for the sector, ensuring that practitioner voices continue to play a central role in strategic conversations.
Key committee members include:

• Lauren Sheehan (Data Provider Chair)
• Alice Ferris, ACFRE (Fundraising Consultant Chair)
• Meena Das (Research Chair)
• Shannon McCracken, CAE (Government Relations Chair)
• Woodrow Rosenbaum (GivingTuesday Representative)
• Lori Gusdorf, CAE (AFP Foundation for Philanthropy Representative)

Both the AFP Foundation and GivingTuesday will provide critical backbone support to help advance FEP’s goals.

“We’re excited about the next chapter for this important sector resource. FEP represents a cornerstone in the GivingTuesday Data Commons’ commitment to inform nonprofits with actionable insights that will help them improve their fundraising practices,” said Woodrow Rosenbaum, Chief Data Officer of GivingTuesday.

Strategic Plan and Upcoming Report

The first priority in the coming year is developing FEP’s 3-year strategic plan, which will debut at AFP ICON 2025 in Seattle. This plan will lay out the key initiatives to support nonprofits in maximizing the use of data for their fundraising efforts. In addition, the Q2 2024 Report, complete with expanded supporting materials will be released, on October 30, 2024.

“This structure ensures that all participant perspectives, especially practitioners, are included,” said Lori Gusdorf, AFP Foundation representative. “By working together, we can help nonprofits grow their fundraising programs and achieve greater results.”

About the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP)

The Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) delivers trusted data insights that help fundraisers improve their outcomes, driving growth and increasing generosity across the nonprofit sector. We envision a sector where actionable data guides every fundraiser’s decisions, helping nonprofits become more effective and adaptive. Since its founding in 2006, FEP has become a leading resource for data-driven insights. FEP is a collaborative project of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy and GivingTuesday.

Media Contacts:

Natalie Paskooski– AFP Global
natalie.paskoski@afpglobal.org | (434)-236-5583

Tim Sarrantonio – Fundraising Effectiveness Project
tim@neonone.com | (312) 243-4954