National Volunteer Week: The Power of Showing Up

FRANÇAIS

Reflections from Four Canadian AFP Leaders

Every year, National Volunteer Week offers an opportunity to pause and reflect—not only to say thank you, but to recognize the extraordinary role that volunteers play in strengthening our communities, our organizations, and our sector.

Across Canada, volunteers are showing up every day: serving on boards, contributing to committees, mentoring peers, advancing professional standards, and quietly doing the work that allows organizations and causes to thrive. Within AFP, that spirit of volunteerism is foundational.

To mark National Volunteer Week, the AFP Daily sat down with four Canadian leaders whose professional and volunteer journeys span chapters, national initiatives, and global leadership: Rea Ganesh, Roger Ali, Amanda Fritz, and Muneeb Syed. Their reflections offer insight into why people volunteer, what sustains them, and how volunteerism shapes careers, communities, and the future of philanthropy in Canada.

Finding the Invitation: How It All Begins

For many volunteers, the journey begins not with a grand plan, but with a conversation—an invitation that arrives at just the right moment.

For Roger Ali, that invitation came early in his career when he was named a Chamberlain Scholar and attended his first international AFP conference. That experience, he recalls, was transformative. What followed was a deepening path of service—beginning at the chapter level in Toronto and the Golden Horseshoe, and eventually leading to national and global leadership roles. What began as involvement became commitment, and over time, a powerful sense of connection.

“That initial experience really gave me a sense of the importance of connection through AFP.”
— Roger Ali

Amanda Fritz traces her AFP involvement back to her very first fundraising role. Encouraged by a supervisor who was deeply engaged in AFP, Amanda stepped into volunteer service on her chapter’s education committee in Quebec. There, she learned early the importance—and complexity—of serving a diverse, bilingual fundraising community.

For Muneeb Syed, volunteering began with a gentle but impactful volun tap. Early in his career and unsure where to start, he was invited to join an AFP awards selection committee. That invitation placed him at tables he had never sat at before and gave him a behind the scenes perspective on the work required to make large initiatives succeed.

“It gave me an appreciation for how much effort goes into making things look effortless.”
— Muneeb Syed

Rea Ganesh describes her return to volunteering with AFP as a moment of reconnection. After attending AFP Congress following some time away, she noticed greater diversity in the room and was invited to serve as a mentor in a program designed to support fundraisers from underrepresented backgrounds. Saying yes brought her back into AFP volunteer life in a way that aligned deeply with her values.

What Gives Volunteers Energy

Ask four experienced volunteers what gives them energy, and you’ll hear four distinct—but deeply connected—answers.

For Roger, energy comes from people. Relationships, stories, and authentic connection sit at the heart of his volunteer experience. Whether through chapter visits or one on one conversations, he is most energized when engaging with members and hearing their lived experiences.

“What gives me energy is hearing people’s stories—listening deeply and learning from their experiences.”
— Roger Ali

Amanda highlights the unique power of volunteer spaces to level hierarchies. When people come together as volunteers, job titles fade and shared purpose takes centre stage. That sense of equality and openness—where different perspectives are welcomed—continues to fuel her engagement.

“When you sit on a committee as volunteers, you come together as peers. That’s incredibly energizing.”
— Amanda Fritz

For Muneeb, motivation has evolved over time. Early on, volunteering provided community and a sense of belonging. Today, it is driven by a deep sense of mission—advocating for the profession itself and helping ensure future generations of fundraisers experience stronger support and opportunity.

Rea views energy through a strategic lens. Her volunteer work is motivated by a desire to strengthen the fundraising profession, by making leadership pathways clearer, mentorship stronger, and the overall experience more sustainable for those entering the sector today.

Moments That Matter: Defining Volunteer Experiences

When asked about their most meaningful volunteer experiences, the reflections focused not on accolades, but on moments of belonging and impact.

For Roger, it was often at the chapter level where he felt space was made for him to step into leadership. Those early opportunities—where the goal was building community rather than recognition—left a lasting impression on how he approaches leadership today.

For Amanda, one defining moment was speaking on the ICON stage on behalf of Canadian fundraisers—an affirming culmination of many years of involvement. Equally meaningful, however, was volunteering her fundraising expertise with community organizations like the Montreal Children’s Library, where her skills directly translated into keeping vital services alive.

“The things we do every day as fundraisers can be transformational as volunteers for organizations that don’t have those capacities.”
— Amanda Fritz

Muneeb describes his most meaningful AFP experience as his work with the AFP Foundation—advocating for fundraisers who often dedicate their careers to advocating for others. He also points to his earliest volunteer experience in high school as pivotal, crediting community volunteering with shaping his entire career path. “I owe my career to volunteering,” he reflects.

For Rea, one of her most vivid memories of the importance of volunteerism came from her first fundraising role, when she organized a volunteer appreciation event and wrote personal notes to every volunteer. That experience—of gratitude, recognition, and care—still shapes her view of volunteer engagement today.

A Message to Volunteers Across Canada

When asked what message they would share with volunteers today, gratitude was universal.

Rea speaks with deep respect for people who give their time—something she considers irreplaceable in a world where everyone is increasingly busy.

“Time is incredibly precious. Anyone who gives their time to volunteer deserves the highest regard.”
— Rea Ganesh

Muneeb emphasizes that volunteer responsibility doesn’t end when meetings do. Volunteers carry that commitment around the clock, often quietly. His message to those considering volunteering is simple: put your hand up. There is always meaningful work to be done.

Amanda encourages volunteers to seek roles that nurture curiosity and growth. Volunteering should be rewarding, not purely driven by obligation, and should offer space to develop new skills or explore new challenges.

For Roger, volunteer leadership is about authenticity—creating welcoming environments, listening deeply, and building cultures where people feel they belong.

“Are we creating inviting spaces? Are we making room for people to show up as their authentic selves?”
— Roger Ali

Volunteerism as a Canadian Value

Across all four conversations, one belief stands out clearly: volunteerism is deeply embedded in Canada’s identity.

From early school experiences to national leadership roles, volunteering builds connection, belonging, and community strength. It opens doors, shapes careers, and fuels missions that could not otherwise succeed.

As Amanda notes, while volunteerism can be invisible, its impact is immense—and its importance cannot be overstated.

A Final Word of Thanks

This National Volunteer Week, we celebrate not only what volunteers do, but who they are: leaders, mentors, advocates, learners, and builders of community.

To every AFP volunteer across Canada—on boards, committees, chapters, and beyond—thank you. Your time, insight, and dedication shape our profession and strengthen the communities we serve.