Fellowship

Fellowship Program

Introducing the inaugural year of the Collective Impact Fellowship Program. This program has combined the current AFP NWA chapter scholarship and mentor/mentee programs to create leadership opportunities for individuals to sit at the table, participate in training, mentorship, networking activities, be a future board leader, and join as full-time members. This will ensure our chapter is representative of our entire community and enrich all our learning experiences. In addition, inclusion will have a wide-reaching impact within the populations of donors, volunteers, and clients with whom fundraisers work.

The Collective Impact Fellowship is a year-long program for fundraisers from underrepresented communities, including fundraisers of color (Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Hispanic, Asian), LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented communities. The Collective Impact Fellowship will provide participants with full access to all the benefits of Chapter membership, including:

Membership & Orientation

· 12-Month Membership to AFP Global and the Northwest Arkansas Chapter. Each member will be awarded one of the following named followships: Clay Edwards Fellow, Chamberlain Scholar Fellow (AFP Global), IDEA Champion Fellow (AFP Global), Allison McElroy Fellow, Ten Star Gold Fellow (AFP Global) Fellow, Collective Impact Fellow.

Virtual Fellowship Orientation Session: Meet NWA Chapter board members, learn about program commitments and opportunities, sign up for activities, and engage in a community-building exercise with your fellowship class.

Professional Development & Education

Mentoring Program: Fellows are paired with a senior AFP mentor for one-on-one guidance throughout the year, tailored to their experience, interests, and organizational needs.
Six AFP Global Webinars provided through the Northwest Arkansas Chapter.
Five to Six Chapter Luncheon Workshops on a variety of topics, held bi-monthly.
Bi-Annual Summit Educational Event – A full-day program featuring expert speakers and professional development sessions.
Access to AFP Global's Online Educational Resources for continued learning.

Networking & Community Engagement

Two Networking Mixers with AFP general membership.
Two Webinars with Networking & Discussion Sessions for fellows to connect and engage.
Volunteer & Attend National Philanthropy Day, celebrating and recognizing outstanding contributions to philanthropy.

In addition to all the training benefits, fellows will have opportunities to network, meet.

leaders in the fundraising and philanthropic sector and participate in leadership.

opportunities.

Eligibility

The Fellowship seeks to identify and engage voices that are not currently engaged in the

broader nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization fundraising community. Individuals from underrepresented communities, including people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, new nonprofit professionals, emerging fundraisers, and those who work at smaller, under-resourced nonprofits are encouraged to apply. You do not need to be a current member to apply to the Association of Fundraising Professionals organization to be eligible for this opportunity.

Clay Edwards Fellowship (AFP NWA Chapter)

Clay Edwards Fellowship includes AFP ICON conference registration and up to $1,000 toward. travel and lodging. Strong preferences will be given to first-time attendees of the AFP International Conference. The Clay Edwards Memorial Scholarship is a Chapter scholarship, named in honor of Clay Edwards, who was associate vice-chancellor of development at the University of Arkansas. Clay was instrumental in the success of the university’s $1 billion “Campaign for the Twenty-First Century.” He always had time to mentor and encourage new fundraisers. He was a committed member of AFP and served on the Chapter Board of Directors.

The recipient is expected to use the awarded funds exclusively to attend the next ICON, AFP International Conference. If they become unable to attend, they must immediately notify the Chapter President and return the scholarship funds. The awardee must register for the ICON Conference by AFP International during the early bird conference rate and submit travel expense receipt following the conference. Reimbursement conference registration and travel expenses up to $1,000 will be paid out in July for the conference year. The recipient is required to write a letter to Sandy Ewards highlighting their experience from the conference by June 30 of the conference year. One will be awarded.

Chamberlain Scholar Fellowship (AFP Global)

Chamberlain Scholarship and Clay Edwards Scholarship Application this application is for both the AFP Foundation Chamberlain Scholarship and the Chapter Clay Edwards Memorial Scholarship. You will apply once for an opportunity to receive one of the two scholarships. AFP Foundation Chamberlain Scholarship (Conference Registration Fee Paid, plus $1,000 Travel and Lodging. Must be a first-time attendee at the ICON AFP International Conference.

AFP International provides the awardee of the Chamberlain scholarship the cost of the registration fee for attending the Spring 2024 AFP International Conference except for a $10 processing fee. The Northwest Arkansas Chapter reimburses an additional $1,000 to defray other costs of attending the conference. The recipient is required to write a letter to AFP Chapter Board of Directors highlighting their experience of the conference by June 30 of the conference year. One will be awarded.

[The Chamberlain Scholarship program honors Ralph E. Chamberlain, CFRE. Mr. Chamberlain had a long and distinguished career of service to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), beginning in the 1960s when the organization was formed, until his death in 1999.]

Allison A. McElroy Fellowship (AFP NWA Chapter)

Supported by AFP NWA Chapter co-founder, Allison A. McElroy, one of the following three types of membership scholarships to defray the costs of joining or continuing an AFP membership. One will be awarded.

IDEA Champion Fellowship (AFP Global)

Intended for fundraising professional who self identifies as coming from an eligible diverse community as defined by AFP (African-American/Black, Asian, Disabled, Faith-based, LGBTQ+, Hispanic, Jewish or Rural) or fundraising professional/fundraising executive director employed by an eligible AFP diverse community where 50% or more staff members are from that diverse community or work for a nonprofit organization that serves a 50% or more eligible AFP diverse community client base. One will be awarded.

Ten Star Gold Followship (AFP Global)

AFP of Northwest Arkansas awards three types of membership scholarships including Small Nonprofit Organizational Membership, Young Professionals Scholarship, or Professional Membership to defray the costs of joining the Association of Fundraising Professionals. One will be awarded.

Collective Impact Followship (AFP NWA Chapter)

Fellow Advisors Scholarships Available

Jill Wagar Diversity Membership Scholarship

Supported by AFP Chapter member, Jill Wagar to increase participation of underrepresented groups in the fundraising profession in northwest Arkansas so our fundraising community better reflects the individuals we serve. The individual will self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group in one of the following categories: race, ethnicity, age, sexuality, or ability/disability. Preference given to individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous or a person of color. One will be awarded.

Cyndi Bilyeu Memorial Leadership Scholarship

Named in memory of Cyndi Bilyeu, who was a long-time member of our Northwest Arkansas Chapter as an Executive Director and CEO of local nonprofits in our region. She was a committed member of AFP and encouraged and inspired leadership, continued professional development, mentorship, and fundraising relationships. This scholarship is open for Executive Directors/CEOs of organizations with responsibilities over fundraising. One scholarship is available in this category. One will be awarded.

CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) Scholarship

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be responsible for fundraising for a 501(c)(3) organization and must be a current member of the AFP NWA Chapter. Additionally, the CFRE exam must have been taken and passed within the past 12 months. If awarded the scholarship, the recipient must also be willing to serve as a mentor to a young or new fundraising professional through AFP NWA’s mentorship program. The selected scholarship recipient—or their organization—will receive reimbursement of up to $700 to cover CFRE exam expenses. One will be awarded.

Fellowship Application (hyper link) Fellows Advisor Application (hyper link)

Fellowship Link: Click Here

Advisor Link: Click Here

Questions Regarding the program please contact Kayla LaCavera - AFP NWA Chapter Board Member, at kayla.lacavera@peelcompton.org