Honoring Extraordinary Partnerships Between Staff and Volunteers

As a professional fundraiser, you’re used to working with countless volunteers. Some of those relationships are good, some mundane, and maybe even a few bad ones. But how many of those volunteer-staff relationships are truly extraordinary?

As Rebecca Powell (right) leaves AFP after 22 years of services, her impact on volunteers can be considered truly extraordinary.

Bob Carter, CFRE, chairman of Carter, a philanthropic consulting firm formed in 2011 and a past chair of AFP in 2013-2014, has made a $50,000 gift to the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy to name the “Rebecca Powell Board Room” at the AFP offices in Arlington, Virginia.

Rebecca was the director of board governance and ethics for much of her time at the AFP. Some of the highlights of her work at the association included:

• Overseeing revisions to and upholding the AFP Code of Ethical Standards and Principles. She provided important leadership to the Ethics Committee in ensuring this core pillar of the association maintained its integrity.
• Providing support to the different AFP boards in countless ways, serving as a historian and parliamentary expert, as well as a confidant and friend.
• Serving as the director of board governance for 12 AFP board chairs and 14 Foundation board chairs. She was also instrumental in the creation of the new AFP Canada Board.
• Managing the operations for the AFP Political Action Committee Board to solicit and administer gifts that enhance AFP’s work on Capitol Hill.
• Working alongside three AFP President and CEOs during her tenure.
• Being the go-to person on so many levels for our leaders and members.

Why did Bob make such a wonderful gift in recognition of a staff member? “Rebecca, and other staff we can each name, whose dedication and hard work to the organization are always expected and yet seldom are adequately recognized by the leadership outside management, deserve this kind of tribute,” said Bob. “Added to this opportunity is that all of us at Carter, my firm, recognizes the needs AFP has given the pandemic and likely shortfalls in operating funds.”

Bob first met Rebecca when she came to AFP (known as the National Society of Fund Raising Executives at the time) in 1998 as the executive assistant to Paulette Maehara, CFRE, then president and CEO. Bob was CEO of Ketchum at the time, and the firm was investing significantly in AFP. He recalls how Rebecca became the “go-to” person even in those early days of getting to know her.

“Rebecca always stressed transparency and was fearless and honest regardless of the circumstance,” continued Bob. “She took the high road and at times questioned my ideas, forced me to think twice about topics and ultimately made me a better leader. She is an enduring memory of my time at AFP. Added to all of this, I believe that during stressful times, it is important that those close to organizations they care about do what they can to help. Now is one of those times.”

At the same time Bob made his leadership gift, a group of previous chairs of AFP formed a committee to raise funds in honor of Rebecca that would be designated toward AFP’s ethics program. Bob challenged this group to raise an additional $50,000 to honor an extraordinary staff person and at the same time provide important support for one of AFP’s core pillars – ethics! The sentiments expressed above are repeated over and over again about a special staff person who made the volunteer experience and leadership fulfilling, meaningful and impactful. 

If you would like to recognize Rebecca Powell for her many years of commitment to AFP, please consider a gift to her Ethics Tribute Fund by donating here.

“In my view, the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy supports programs and opportunities for inclusion, diversity and equity—ideas and principles that could not be more timely or important,” concluded Bob. “That focus, in addition to projects in research, scholarships and continued convening of thought leaders, make AFP and the AFP Foundation more relevant than ever.”