Ask accomplished leaders what the key to their career success has been and most will tell you they had great mentors. Mentors have walked a similar journey ahead of you. Even if a mentor hasn’t held your exact job before, chances are they know the industry and the hard and soft skills needed to excel. Mentors are committed not to performance objectives or organizations but to their mentee to help you achieve your goals.
Most of us didn’t study fundraising in college. When you ask a fundraising professional how they entered the field, more often than not you’ll hear some variation of, “Well…I just fell into it!” So, it makes sense that most fundraising professionals learn on the job. With this in mind, the AFP Greater Arizona Chapter developed the Professional Mentorship Program for those new to the field. Now in its 31st year and adopted as a model by AFP International, this year-long program is designed for professionals newer to the field (1-5 years), whether a young professional or one making a mid-career change.
Over the course of a year, AFP Mentees will:
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be matched with a veteran professional fundraising mentor
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participate in more than 15 educational workshops covering key fundraising topics and skills to expand their knowledge and experience
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grow their network in the fundraising community
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plan and execute a strategic fundraising-related project for their organization
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develop a solid foundation for a successful career in the fundraising field
Mentees have found many benefits, both personally and professionally, by participating in the AFP Professional Mentorship Program. These include:
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an opportunity for hands-on professional development with proven, structured curriculum at an affordable cost
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an opportunity to expand skills and knowledge of fundraising practices
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increased job-related wellbeing, self-esteem, confidence and better work-life balance
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increased productivity, better time management and a higher rate of promotion
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opportunities to establish a variety of long-term professional relationships
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earning CFRE continuing education credit to begin a path toward achieving the CFRE credential
The Arizona nonprofit sector is a strong and vibrant community of people willing to help each other. We are fortunate to have a dynamic pool of development professionals who choose to support the future of our sector and myriad of important missions by mentoring our AFP mentees.
Thank you for your interest in joining the Class of 2027 program. We look forward to another successful year of education, mentorship, inspiration and camaraderie. If you would like to discuss the opportunity with an AFP Professional Mentorship Committee member, please contact the AFP Greater Arizona Chapter at admin@afpaz.org.