April 2014 Newsletter

April Monthly Meeting

Nonprofit Advocacy: What is at Stake and Why Your Voice Matters

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2014
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm
Location: CPCC Harris Center, 3216 CPCC Harris Campus Dr Charlotte, NC 28208
Fee: $30 for Early Bird Members*, $40 for Early Bird Non-Members*, $40 for Members**, $50 for Non-Members**

(*Early Bird Pricing Ends Monday, April 14, 2014. **Event registration closes Monday, April 21, 2014)

With the continued threat from Congress to cap and/or limit the charitable deduction, can the charitable sector afford to lose billions of dollars per year? And what can you do to prevent that from happening? Quite a lot, in fact. Please join us for an informative session to better understand what you can do to support the sector's vital advocacy efforts. You will also learn how our chapter can bolster our own advocacy efforts in 2014 and beyond.

Engaging Your Whole Organization

At the start of the year, our board set a theme for 2014, "Philanthropy for the Whole Organization." You're probably finding what we are, that everyone in a non-profit has an impact on, even a role in, philanthropy that benefits your mission.

AFP Charlotte committees have set goals pertaining to this theme and this year four of our monthly programs will focus on engaging with your colleagues outside of the development department. I hope you were able to attend our popular communication workshop we co-presented with IABC Charlotte last month. There are three more programs to come this year that focus on our theme:

June - Working with Finance
September - Working with the Board
December - Working with Programs

We anticipate all of these sessions to be panel-type format with teams that have a good working relationship to talk about how they work together. I hope you'll come and that you'll bring others from your agency.

As always, our members are the focus of our programs. If you have suggestions or questions, or would like to have a hand in helping to plan AFP Charlotte monthly programs, please contact Program Chair, Rachel Smith.

Michelle Hamilton, CFRE
President-Elect, AFP Charlotte
VP Development,Charlotte Symphony

Mark Your Calendar: Affinity Groups

Major Gifts

If you spend at least 50% of your time raising gifts of $5,000 or more then please join fellow major gifts officers to discuss best practices, strategies and ideas around key topics.

Date: Monday, May 5, 2014

Time: 9:00AM -10:30AM
Location: Catholic Center, 1123 Church Street, Charlotte 28203
Fee: Free for members, $10 for non-members

Small Shop

This forum roundtable discussion is for people who work in a small development shop of less than three people and would like to share ideas and best practices with colleagues.

Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Time: 3:30PM-5:00PM
Location: Sugar Creek Charter School, 4101 N Tryon Street, Charlotte 28206
Fee: Free for members, $10 for non-members

Learn More About Affinity Groups

Are you a non AFP Member interested in attending an affinity group meeting for the first time? Please contact Jennifer Player to find out about out free "guest pass": 704-227-2794 or jplayer@crisisassistance.org

Last Call for 2014 National Philanthropy Day Awards Nominations!

AFP Charlotte's annual awards are the most prestigious awards designated exclusively to individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to our community, and you are invited to submit nominations for the 2014 National Philanthropy Day awards--deadline is Friday, April 4^th!

This will be AFP Charlotte's 23^rd year honoring individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to our community through their impactful generosity and philanthropic work. The award recipients will be honored at the AFP Charlotte National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon at The Westin Charlotte on Wednesday, November 12, 2014.

Nominations from all community members are encouraged. The nomination form, list of past winners, and sponsorship opportunities are all accessed here.

Please consider nominating your highly accomplished peers and/or organizations that helped strengthen our great Charlotte community, and then proceed to the nomination form to ensure they are considered for these prestigious awards.

Make your nominations now, before submission close on Friday, April 4^th at midnight!

For questions about nominating, sponsoring, or purchasing tickets for the event, please contact National Philanthropy Day Chair, Julie Drinkhahn.

Member Confession: David Ibsen

Associate Director, Patton McDowell & Associates LLC

I recently had the honor of being able to attend the AFP International Conference in San Antonio, TX. It was an amazing experience being surrounded by almost 3,000 individuals working a variety of roles within, not only the fundraising community, but within the nonprofit community as a whole. I had the opportunity to meet people representing organizations of all different shapes and sizes, from faith-based to community centric to nationally-based agencies. The theme of the conference was SHIFT, attributing to the fact that we all know that the fundraising landscaping, while always evolving, has certainly shifted substantially in the past few years.

During my time, I got to listen to experts with a variety of backgrounds. Some individuals were in the technology field, some in direct fundraising, some were consultants. Now, while we are in this shifting landscape in this modern age, the one thing that kept being discussed, maybe not intentionally, was that old-fashioned conversations and relationships are what helps to raise the money. It isn't flashy direct mail pieces or overwhelming social media presence, but it is the one-on-one conversations that people can have with organizations that they trust and believe in. Though this may not sound revolutionary, and it took me a while to determine what truly inspired me from the conference, it was truly this one main aspect of fundraising that has stood the test of time.

While I am not here stating that brochures and mailings are not important, I encourage each of you to consider this as you move forward on your upcoming campaign or ramp up your annual fund and consider what donors that are out there that simply need that human touch!

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

There are some great new jobs posted including:

Corporate DevelopMint, LLC	Senior Consultant
LIFESPAN, Inc.	Director of Development
YMCA of Greater Charlotte	Senior Financial Development Director
Children's Theatre of Charlotte	Development Grant Writer and Manager
Clemson University	Development Officer - Gift and Estate Planning
Florence Crittenton Services of NC	CEO
Safe Alliance	Events Coordinator
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte	Donor Database Coordinator

Visit our Jobs page for all current openings!