Author: afpwnc.org

National Philanthropy Day is the highlight event of the year for local philanthropic organizations, nonprofits, and Asheville area businesses – think celebration meets recognition and awards plus lots of networking, all in the name of philanthropy and community impact.

Since the early 1990s, our local AFP chapter has participated in this national, annual event. This day celebrates the importance of giving and renews our sense of community and shared purpose in impacting this community.

This year, instead of celebrating with a seated luncheon, the AFP WNC Board of Directors has re-imagined what this event could look like, including the nominations and awards process. We hope to strike a balance between honoring this decades-long legacy of philanthropy while also embracing a new vision for this day, culminating in a rich, meaningful experience for all.

National Philanthropy Day will be held on Wednesday afternoon, November 13, at the Highland Brewing Event Center. We’ll be sharing more information about National Philanthropy Day when registration opens next month, but for now, we invite you to recognize those in our community who have made a truly exceptional impact.

The success of National Philanthropy Day depends on you submitting nominations! This is the perfect event to thank and engage your donors, celebrate your colleagues and community, and honor your nonprofit partners who are doing the work and impacting Western North Carolina for good.

Submit your nominations now through September 13 for three awards:

1. Outstanding Fundraiser (those who raise) – This category includes Youth, Fundraising Professionals, and/or Volunteer Fundraisers.

2. Outstanding Philanthropist (those who give) – This category includes Philanthropists, Volunteers, Businesses, Organizations, and Foundations.

3. Outstanding Nonprofit (those who put the money to work) – This is a new category highlighting a specific program, project, or initiative of a Nonprofit in Western North Carolina.

National Philanthropy Day is more than a celebration; it’s an opportunity to recognize and amplify the voices of those making a difference. Your nominations play a crucial role in showcasing transformative power of philanthropy.

Get ready to celebrate!

Kate Frost
AFP WNC Board President

Happy July AFP Friends.

I’m excited to jump in on this month’s newsletter as AFP-WNC’s Treasurer and resident Advancement Services professional. During June’s professional development topic Beyond CRM Data, our presenter Philip King asked an interesting question, “Who are pre-donors?” or put another way, “What are the actions a person takes before they make their first donation to your organization?” I wanted to share the resources that Philip outlined and provide some database tips and tricks for capturing pre-donors.

Here is my first tip. Ask yourself if there are data sources that you can add to your database. For example, event attendance, newsletter sign-ups, volunteer participation are all indications that a person has an interest in your mission. I would encourage you to add individuals from each of these sources.

My second tip relates to the first. Consider taking a systematic approach to adding data. Pick a day each month that you look at new newsletter sign-ups and move them over your database. Create a template for adding event attendance. Document your process so that when you add your next fundraiser’s attendees, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

These are some methods for identifying and adding constituents to your database. Philip shared with us some incredibly powerful tools to help identify pre-donors before they are added to your database. Here is a summary of what he shared:

• Google Analytics – Use to measure your websites audience. Get your IT folks involved in implementing this.
• Google Ad Grants – Apply for this grant to use on Google Ads. Get your interns involved in preparing this application.
• Performance Max Fundraising Campaigns – Use to market your organization across all of Google’s platforms, including, google search, google images, and YouTube.
• Fundraiser Up – Use to start integrating AI to help you raise more money online.

It’s important for us to capture donor data because donors are our partners in achieving our mission. I would encourage you to think about the sources of data that you could add to your database, along with leveraging new technology to help you identify pre-donor outside of your CRM. Who will your next donor be?

Onward,

Andrew Nelson
Board Treasurer, AFP-WNC

School’s out for summer! If you embraced your inner nerd like me during your formative years, then diving into your class’s summer reading list was a highlight of the summer. Whether you prefer podcasts, audiobooks, Kindle editions, or paperbacks, you can find a wealth of resources for nonprofit professionals who want to sharpen their skills.

I’m currently reading “The Happy Healthy Nonprofit: Strategies for Impact without Burnout” by Beth Kanter and Aliza Sherman. It’s a timely reminder, especially for those of us Type A personalities deeply passionate about our work, offering practical assessments to navigate away from the cycle of burnout and towards prolonged self-care.

I was curious about what was capturing the attention of our AFPWNC board members, so I reached out to gather some recommendations:

Laurel Amabile, our Communications Chair, swears by “Boards on Fire! (2nd Edition)” by Susan Howlett. It’s an accessible read packed with fundraising inspiration, and it doubles as a go-to reference for both board members and fundraisers alike.

Kristen Aquino, our Sponsorship Chair, recently rediscovered Lynne Twist’s “The Committed Life” and “The Soul of Money.”  Twist has profound insights into transforming our relationship with money, especially in fundraising. She loved how these books inspired deep values and bold aspirations in philanthropy.

Bellamy Crawford, our Secretary, recommends “The Fundraising Talent Podcast,” highlighting the episode titled ‘Will fundraising ever learn that the conversation is the work?’ Additionally, she loves “The Soulful Art of Persuasion” by Jason Harris. While it’s not specifically a nonprofit fundraising book, the message is applicable to donor relations.

Jessica May, our Membership Chair, learned a lot from “The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey” by Ken Blanchard, a book focused on effective team management, and “The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable” by Patrick Lencioni.

Jess McLean, our IDEA Chair, is a big fan of the blog and newsletter “Nonprofit AF,” by Vu Le. It’s a bold resource that’s not afraid to call folks out and address nonprofit and funding disparities while also being super funny!

As you bask in the summer sun, remember to indulge in the three “Rs”: rest, relaxation, and, of course, reading. Hopefully these recommendations will give you some inspiration as you curate your own summer reading list!

Kate Frost
AFP WNC Board President