Raising Funds, Raising Futures is a storytelling series from AFP’s Women’s Impact Initiative that highlights the lived experiences of fundraisers who are also working parents and caregivers. Through written and video interviews, the series shares their challenges, triumphs, and insights, building a more inclusive conversation about balancing caregiving and careers in fundraising.
Formerly known as The Mental Load of Motherhood, the series has rebranded as Raising Funds, Raising Futures to more inclusively reflect the experiences of all working parents and caregivers in fundraising.
In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, guests Chris Evans and Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier share their experiences as working moms and emerging leaders in the fundraising profession. They reflect on their involvement with the AFP Women’s Impact Initiative, discuss how the nonprofit sector can better support parents through flexibility and a people-first approach, and offer practical advice for setting boundaries to achieve better work-life balance.
Danisha Bhaloo-Shivji, CFRE, who launched the initial Mental Load of Motherhood series, shares barriers, biases, and unexpected challenges she has faced while balancing career and caregiving. Her story highlights both the struggles and rewards of navigating fundraising as a helping profession, offering comfort, camaraderie, and inspiration to peers with similar experiences.
