Mike’s Monday Message: The Words That Define the Fundraising Profession

If you read AFP’s daily newsletter or you follow AFP on social media, you may have seen our member spotlights, articles and videos highlighting individuals within the AFP community. These profiles are fascinating because they showcase both the unique career paths and perspectives that exist within our membership, as well as the commonalities that unite fundraisers and draw them to the impact profession. 

One of the questions that we ask in these interviews is, “What is your favorite word? (only one word) How has this word influenced or inspired your career?” Of the responses to this question that we have received so far in 2024, there are a few repeats — resilient, passion, and love — and many other distinct, but ultimately similar words, that define the fundraiser’s perspective. Here are some of my favorites and how they embody the spirit of the AFP community. 

“Learning” | “Curiosity | “Thoughtful” 
In the first episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, which was released earlier this month, AFP Global board member Michelle Flores Vryn highlights the fact that no one knows everything about a topic, regardless of how long you’ve been in the profession. This realization can help you overcome imposter syndrome and have greater confidence in your own abilities as a professional, as she and her fellow guests discuss further. It also alludes to the mindset many fundraisers have, of continuous learning. Throughout my time at AFP, I’ve been inspired by the openness with which fundraisers approach exploring new ideas, embracing new perspectives, and expanding their knowledge base. This curiosity drives AFP’s continued commitment to providing high-quality education, as well as the community’s continued desire to participate in the vast number of webinars, deep dives, online courses, and in-person events that AFP hosts. This is a profession of life-long learners, being the best they can be on behalf of the causes they serve.

“Collaboration” | “Community” | “Compassion” 
In the member spotlight interviews we also ask members what inspired them to join AFP. One of the most common responses is that they enjoy being a part of a community where they know they belong. Often, however, they only discover this community because they’ve been invited — or "lovingly kidnapped" according to one spotlight — or they have taken the leap and attended an event, participated in a discussion, or volunteered for a committee. Even if you don’t have someone in your network to specifically invite you, consider these interviews with your peers a personal invitation for you to join them at “fundraising nerd summer camp” (AFP ICON), an affinity group meeting, AFP LEAD, or online on AFP Connect. 

We work in various verticals, on behalf of different causes. Our lived experiences are unique and our cultures diverse. But what unites us is our shared belief in the power of philanthropy to change the world, and our ability as fundraisers to facilitate that change, especially when we come together as a community to share our expertise and support one another. 

“Growth” | “Adaptability” | “Resilience” 
The fundraising profession, not to mention the broader world, has had an unprecedented last four years. A global pandemic, movements for social justice, record-level inflation, international wars, and a charged political climate have all had an impact on how our nonprofits operate, how we approach our work, and the way that our world gives. As we’ve seen in the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy's Fundraising Effectiveness Project and the Giving USA reports, we have not been able to sustain the outsized increase in generosity seen during the pandemic, particularly when accounting for inflation. These discouraging reports, however, have inspired our profession to explore alternatives to our traditional fundraising strategies and appeal to new audiences. For example, technology such as AI is allowing for better prospect research and qualification, as well as time-saving writing and idea generation. Meanwhile, fundraisers are embracing gifts of stock, cryptocurrency, donor-advised funds, and other new vehicles for donation. This is an innovative profession that is ready to tackle any challenge it faces, together as a community, which is something that AFP is proud to be a part of. 

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. You can reach me via email at mike.geiger@afpglobal.orgor on X at @AFPMikeGeiger. If you have a fundraiser that you would like to see featured in an upcoming member spotlight, email afpmarcom@afpglobal.org. 

Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA