Mike’s Monday Message: AFP Connect: Digital Connections and Collective Wisdom

One of the things that I hear frequently from members is that they find value in the fact that AFP is a global organization. Being a part of a group of fundraisers from around the world has significantly broadened their access to new perspectives and connections, something they couldn’t achieve by networking solely at the local level or within their organization. 

Events like AFP ICON and AFP LEAD provide an opportunity to meet fundraisers from around the world in person, but we know, especially for small shops, attendance at these events is not always feasible. 

That’s why having digital opportunities to exchange knowledge is so important. Today I want to lift up one of those opportunities — AFP’s online member discussion forum, AFP Connect.  

If you have not explored Connect, I highly recommend that you login and take a look, as there are numerous benefits for members: 

Tap Into Collective Wisdom: Regardless of whether you’ve been in the industry a few months or several decades, there are inevitably going to be gaps in your knowledge. AFP Connect allows you to tap into the collective brainpower of 26,000+ fundraisers from around the world, who can supplement your training, with their areas of expertise. 

Get Reliable Answers to Your Tough Questions: Yes, you can Google; you can ask ChatGPT, but the most valuable answer is going to be the one from the human who has had a similar experience. Posting a question on AFP Connect allows you to provide context, and have a conversation, resulting in a solution that takes the unique needs of your organization into account, as opposed to getting blanket best practices. 

Forge Meaningful Connections: Networking isn't just about swapping business cards at events—it's about building genuine relationships that can propel your career forward. Connect provides a virtual space where you can find fellow members, mentors, and industry leaders who have similar interests and can provide the guidance you’re looking for. 

Share Your Voice and Make an Impact: Your perspective matters, and our forum is the perfect platform to share your voice and contribute to meaningful discussions within our community. Check out the daily digest email in your inbox or login to see if there are discussions that you could be contributing to. 

Here are just a few of the popular topics from the last month: 

• Finding and Connecting with Donor Advised Funds
• Converting 1x Donors to Recurring
• When Ethics Plays into Declining a Gift
• Sending Two Letters?

I look forward to seeing posts from all of you in the near future! 

In the meantime, as always feel free to reach out to me via email at Mike.Geiger@afpglobal.org or on X at @AFPMikeGeiger if you have any questions or comments. I’d love to hear from you.