Strategic Planning and Governance Evolution Process

Overview of Strategic Planning

In June of 2023, AFP Global, in partnership with a consultant, McKinley Advisors, started the process of developing a strategic plan for 2025 and beyond. 

This strategic planning process is an opportunity for us to review our current strategic plan, evaluate our progress on these initiatives, and develop priorities moving forward that support the needs of the fundraising community.

Our goal is to build on the rich history of success AFP has had with volunteer engagement and make improvements based on the lessons learned and challenges faced over the last few years. We are especially passionate about preserving and advancing our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) in all our efforts.

Overview of Governance Ecosystem Task Force

In conjunction with AFP’s strategic planning process, we will also be reviewing our entire governance ecosystem to ensure that our current structures and processes can support the new strategic plan and are in line with best practices and the needs of our members. This evaluation will be led by the Governance Ecosystem Task Force and cover review of the AFP board and division/committee structures, appointment processes, chapter relations, and management of volunteer opportunities. 

Strategic Planning Committee

Members: 

AFP Governance Ecosystem Task Force

Contact Us 

For more questions on this process or how to get involved, please contact Derek Mulhern, AFP Governance Consultant.

FAQs 

Haven’t we done strategic planning before? Why again? What will be different this time?
Our current strategic plan runs from 2021-2024. Over the last three years, the fundraising landscape, and the world, have continued to change. This iterative process allows AFP to assess the new needs of the profession and evolve as an organization to support our members.

We are looking to engage an ever more diverse group of stakeholders in this process so that the strategic plan is representative of the needs and wants of our entire membership.

During this process, we will also be evaluating AFP’s governance structure to ensure that it too is supportive of our membership, and the new strategic plan. 

What do the strategic planning and governance evolution processes look like? How long will they take?
This will be an iterative process, with numerous ways of garnering feedback from our members through one-on-one interviews, focus groups, member surveys, and committee/board workshop and planning sessions. 

While we have engaged a governance consultant as well, this process is being led by our volunteer members who continue to bring different perspectives that will result in a more comprehensive assessment of what AFP needs in the future. 

This planning process will continue for the next year, with an approved plan ready by mid-2024. The new strategic plan will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

How will a new strategic plan and governance structure impact our IDEA commitment?
We are only interested in AFP's growth to become more inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible.

That is why AFP’s head of IDEA has been highly engaged throughout this process, at the tactical level through recruitment of the committees and the language used in our interviews, as well as at the strategic level, as the committees discuss the broader vision for AFP that we aspire to at the end of this process. 

Our consultants have also been made aware of the focus on IDEA in this process and have taken that into consideration in their suggestions and strategy. 

Who’s in charge? How were the committee leaders and members selected?
Roger Ali, MBA, C. Dir., CFRE is the chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. He is chair by virtue of being the AFP Global chair elect. Adrienne Longnecker, CFRE was appointed by AFP Global chair, Birgit Smith Burton, to chair the Governance Ecosystem Task Force. 

The members of the committees are selected through in-depth consultation with our consultants and outreach within the AFP community. AFP is looking for diverse ranges of members, nonmembers, partners, donors, and stakeholders to be part of this process. 

Who is involved in the work? Why do we need consultants?
Our consultants are experts and have done this work with numerous association clients in the past. The intersection of strategy and governance is complex, and we know that having an outside perspective can and will push AFP to think dynamically throughout this process.

AFP staff leadership and AFP board leadership have been highly engaged in this work, as well as the entirety of the AFP Global Board. We are calling on our diverse community to be part of this initiative and do not want to limit this to those individuals who are highly engaged with AFP.

AFP’s Head of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access is also engaged to ensure this process continues to strengthen our IDEA work and that the new strategic plan is aligned with our IDEA values.

What changes should we expect in the governance structure? Will there still be opportunities for volunteer leaders to contribute?
Yes, volunteer leaders will be able to participate! The committees are aware that the AFP governance ecosystem is multi-faceted. We welcome volunteer leader involvement as we assess how our stakeholders engage and consider the impact of potential changes. 

Are we looking at AFP chapters? What’s going to change?
Yes, we will be looking at how chapters operate, their relationships with AFP Global, and what that means for our members, nonmembers, and their experiences. 

At this time, we don’t know if this review process will result in any changes to the chapter structure. We will be completing a year-long process of gathering data and feedback and looking at many options as we move forward. 

How will all these changes impact my member dues and member experience?
We don't see this process affecting AFP member dues at this time. Our goal is to improve and grow the AFP member experience through this process.