Fundraising Day

Fundraising Day is AFP-CNY’s largest educational event of the year for fundraising and development professionals. The conference offers professional development, networking, and collaboration with peers and community partners. This year’s conference theme is Diversity in Fundraising.

Thank you to the attendees, presenters, sponsors, and committee for making the event a success. It was a great day of learning and networking with peers and community partners. We cannot wait until next year's conference!

EVENT INFORMATION:

Thursday, May 4, 2023
9:45am - 5:00pm

Rosamond Gifford Zoo
1 Conservation Place
Syracuse, NY 13204

Pricing (includes materials & lunch)
Members: $50
Nonmembers: $70

Registration Deadline - EXTENDED
Wednesday, April 19, 2023


Conference Schedule 

Note: Speakers and session descriptions will be updated as they are confirmed. 

9:45am - 10:15am

Registration and Check-In

10:15am - 10:30am

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

10:30am - 12:30pm

Keynote Speaker: Kesha Carter
Incorporating DEI into the business of fundraising
DEI initiatives are often seen as separate projects that can distract from fundraising. Participants will examine and challenge some of their assumptions and biases, understand inclusive language, and gain practical skills and knowledge to model equitable decision making in reaching fundraising goals. Behaviors are learned and as such can be unlearned. The process of unlearning takes time and involves both an intellectual and an emotional commitment to the work in a way that allows for:

  • Increasing awareness of the participant’s own biases and experiences with difference
  • Building specific professional skills in cultural competence
  • Expanding knowledge and competence to work effectively in a multicultural environment

12:30pm - 1:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm - 2:30pm

Afternoon Session 1 with Elizabeth Fallon Quilter, CFRE

2:30pm - 2:40pm

Break

2:40pm - 3:40pm

Afternoon Session 2 with Carolyn Hendrickson and Beth Lynn Hoey, CFRE

3:40pm - 5:00pm

Meet and Mingle
Zoo Ambassador from 3:40pm-4:00pm
Complimentary headshots will be offered from 3:30pm-4:30pm

For questions or more information please email afpcny@gmail.com.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Being a sponsor of the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Central New York (AFP-CNY) chapter is a great way to connect with the region’s nonprofit community. AFP-CNY members represent a multitude of organizations including health and human services, education, religious institutions, the arts, and consulting firms. Click here to learn more!

Meet Our Speakers

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Kesha Carter, CCSI

Kesha Carter is the Chief Diversity Officer for CCSI. There she leads the organizational strategy on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and antiracism. She has facilitated DEI workshops, conversations, and trainings, both locally and nationally. 

Prior to coming to CCSI, Kesha developed policies and programs to attract, retain, and promote a diverse workforce. In another previous role, she assisted the Director and CEO with a broad spectrum of programming for employees.

Kesha is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP) and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt, as well as a Professional Human Resources certification from the Human Resource Capital Institute. She was also a Young Athena Award Finalist 2019-2020 and a Democrat & Chronicle “Woman to Watch” in October 2016.

Integrally involved in the community, Kesha is a board member of Rochester RHIO, The Women’s Council, Mission Fulfilled, and Willow Domestic Violence Center and is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. 

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, as well as a Master of Science in Business Administration and Management, both from Keuka College.

Kesha brings over 15 years of experience to her role and is committed to creating continuous growth through education and collaboration.

Elizabeth Fallon Quilter, CFRE Nonprofit Strategist

Elizabeth has worked in, with, and for, nonprofit organizations for more than 30 years as leadership staff, consultant, board member, donor, trainer, mentor, and coach, helping myriad human service organizations raise millions of dollars. Her proudest work is helping organizations build sustaining development infrastructures, based on relationships, in support of their missions. 

An award-winning fundraiser, Elizabeth is a certified fundraising executive (CFRE), a master trainer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), is a consultant for the Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute. She is in her fourth year as a lead trainer, coach, and consultant for the Shineman Foundation’s Nonprofit Education & Training (NET) Series, which she co-developed. She chairs the Development Committee of the Friends of the Central Library (FOCL) board in Syracuse and is a past chair of the Women’s Fund of Central New York – an affiliate fund of the Central New York Community Foundation. She has recently joined the board of the Loretto Management Corporation and serves as chair of the governance and nominating committee for the Management Corporation and the Loretto Foundation. 

Among her favorite volunteer work was service on both the leadership council and the board of directors of Horizons for Youth, Chicago. As chief development officer and campaign director of the YMCA of Greater Syracuse, Elizabeth helped the community build the $22 million Northwest Family Y in Baldwinsville. A highlight of her professional career was leading the growth of The Night Ministry’s Youth Shelter Network (for teens and their children for whom the streets were safer than home) in Chicago - by hosting Michael Jordan’s birthday party for three years in the mid-1990s, in his restaurant.

A native Virginian, Elizabeth earned her B.A. from Boston College in Human Development where she received the Moynihan Award for Best in Major. She lives in Baldwinsville, NY with her family and rescue dog, and likes to be on or near big water, with a book, as often as possible. 

Carolyn Hendrickson

A native of Central New York, Carolyn is the Director of Planned Giving at the Upstate Foundation where she helps individuals and families with a philanthropic intent, meet their personal goals—focused on the four-fold mission of: patient care, education, research and community health and well-being.

While Carolyn’s education was achieved at Syracuse University in English and photojournalism her career has primarily focused on financial services with Met Life and New York Life, and the field of philanthropy in the local community over the past 26 years.

For two-decades, Carolyn was at the Syracuse Rescue Mission in the roles of director of planned giving, director of development, capital campaign manager as she raised funds to care for the homeless in our region. Upon the successful completion of a $6 million capital campaign Carolyn looked to focus full-time on her favorite topic, legacy giving. In 2020 Carolyn moved to the Upstate Foundation, in her current position.

Building relationships with individuals and helping them create plans that fulfill their charitable goals gives her great pleasure.

In addition to her professional role, Carolyn volunteers on the board of David’s Refuge, a nonprofit that cares for the caregivers of special needs children, is always networking in the community to make connections for the sake of others and loves to cook & bake-- regularly sharing with her neighbors. Carolyn thoroughly enjoys time outdoors and especially time in the Adirondacks with her husband, David.

Beth Lynn Hoey

Beth Lynn Hoey is passionate about sharing her 30+ years of experience in development and non-profit management to help organizations achieve their missions. Ms. Hoey is currently the Executive Director of the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, a position she has held since October 2021. She inspires and facilitates philanthropy for the seven-county diocese serving 196,000 parishioners in 116 parishes; Catholic schools; and other diocesan ministries. She is also responsible for the HOPE Appeal raising over $4.5 million annually. 

Ms. Hoey previously served as the Director of Development for Francis House for 25 years, creating its strategic development program. Under her leadership, annual support increased from $250,000 to over $1 million and the home’s endowment, The Caring Fund in honor of Sister Kathleen Osbelt, was created and continues to grow to provide long-term financial sustainability.

In her spare time, Ms. Hoey is a consultant for non-profit organizations, specializing in strategic development planning and implementation, creating a culture of philanthropy, board development and non-profit management. She serves as a consultant for the Richard S. Shineman Foundation NET (Nonprofit Education Series) in Oswego County, NY. She is certified as a Non-Profit Lifecycles Consultant. Ms. Hoey has been accredited as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) since 2000.

Throughout her professional career, Ms. Hoey has always served on non-profit boards of directors including board member and past president of the Central New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP); board member of the Central New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA); and founding member and past chair of the Leave a Legacy program for Central New York. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Exceptional Family Resources and the Leadership Council of the Women’s Fund of CNY. 

Ms. Hoey has been married to her husband, Terry, for 29 years. They have been blessed with four children. They live in Marietta, NY where they also raise one dog, two cats and three miniature donkeys.

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