Community Announcements

  • Creating a Culture of Philanthropy: Pathways to Burnout Prevention

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 4 months ago

    Please join us!

    8:30am: Check-in & Networking

    9:00am: Session Begins

    $25 for AFP Members

    $75 for Non-AFP Members

    Tired of fundraising feeling like a lonely, uphill battle? Let’s shake things up! Learn how a culture of giving can bring your team together, keep donors excited, and make work a little more joyful. Walk away with fun, practical ideas to spark change and remind everyone why you love this wild work in the first place. (This presentation was co-authored by Jessica Franz & Amanda Rinehart.)

    Emily Leitzinger, MS, CFRE, CNP, is the Senior Philanthropy Officer at American Farmland Trust, where she works with donors to help protect the planet and our food source, one farm at a time. Emily thinks of herself as an "eternal learner" and has a Master of Science in Nonprofit Administration from LSUS, along with a certification from The Lilly School of Philanthropy. She was lucky enough to be part of Cohort #2 in AFP’s Leadership Institute, and is currently working on her Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) certification.

    In 2015, Emily chartered the Rotary Club of Mid-City, New Orleans and is excited (and a little nervous) about becoming District 6840’s Governor in 2026. In 2019, she was named the Champion of Volunteer Service by the State of Louisiana, though really, that's just a fancy way of saying she loves getting involved and working with awesome people who want to make the world a better place.

    When she’s not busy fundraising or running from one project to the next, you can find Emily training for her next race, planning her next adventure, or rewatching The Office with her Elvis-impersonating husband in the heart of Mid-City, New Orleans.

  • Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 7 months ago

    Please join us!

    8:30am: Check-in & Networking

    9:00am: Session Begins

    $25 for AFP Members

    $75 for Non-AFP Members

    Kris Autry is a dedicated human resource professional with a passion for fostering a positive workplace culture and facilitating employee development. With over 20 years of expertise in HR and Operations, Kris is results-focused, driven by the advocacy for employees. She holds an associate degree in criminal justice and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Lyon College. She has recently completed training through Wicklander-Zulawski in forensic interviewing techniques. Currently she is the District Human Resource Leader for the Kroger company where she oversees the employee relations for 12 stores in the Little Rock Metro area including Benton and Hot Springs.

    Kris is an Arkansas native, she was raised in Batesville, has lived in Jonesboro and Fayetteville but has called the capital city her home for the last 12 years. She enjoys watching stand-up comedy and true crime with her husband Dillon. Her son, Kelten is currently an EMT in paramedic school and her daughter Izzy is a senior in high school with aspirations for going to UCA to study Law.

    In this interactive session we will navigate each step from receiving a complaint to case review in workplace investigations. We will discuss common ethical issues within the non-profit, fundraising sector. If you have a common occurrence, or one that was significantly unique we would love to discuss it.

  • Understanding the Grant Funding Landscape

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 8 months ago

    Please join us for a panel on understanding the grant funding landscape!

    Lesley Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor – How to best partner with the Community Foundation
    Regional Development Director, Arkansas Community Foundation

    Dr. Ginny Blankenship, CFRE, CNP - Understanding the Grant Fundraising Landscape
    Owner, The Blankenship Group, LLC

    Sara Drew – Grant Funding Landscape
    Development Director, Arkansas Imagination Library

  • We need your feedback!

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 8 months ago
    We value your feedback! AFP strives to provide outstanding professional growth opportunities. Help us tailor our programming by taking a few minutes to answer these questions for the Arkansas AFP chapter. Follow the link to the survey and thank you in advance!! 

  • 5th Thursday Meet and Greet

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 8 months ago

  • Festival of Philanthropy on Nov. 7

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 8 months ago

    Join us for the Inaugural Festival of Philanthropy on Nov. 7 as we celebrate the 2024 National Philanthropy Day Honorees.

  • AFP Government Relations with Lisa M. Chmiola, MS, CFRE, CSPG

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 9 months ago

    Can understanding public policy and advocacy make you a better fundraiser? Yes it can!

    What is advocacy and why should I care? How does public policy affect my day-to-day work with donors? The ways our donors choose to give to nonprofits have their roots in legislation and regulations, and in this session you’ll learn why it is important to be aware of what is happening on a federal level that could impact giving to your organization. You don’t have to have a government relations title to integrate key concepts into your philanthropic work!

    Learning objectives:

    · Learn about advocacy and lobbying, and how nonprofit professionals can participate in outreach to legislators and other policymakers on issues related to charitable giving.

    · Review past and proposed legislation related to philanthropy, such as the Pension Protection Act, the Legacy IRA Act, and the Charitable Act.

    · Understand how to build relationships with legislators and their staff and what is typically covered in a public policy meeting.

    · Participate in skill-building small group exercises to develop your elevator pitch and practice conversations to prepare for policy meetings.

  • Giving USA Annual Report with Melody Sugg, CFRE

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 9 months ago

    Melody Sugg, CFRE, VP of Philanthropy for the National Eczema Association will share the Giving USA report and discuss giving trends.

    Psst…have you heard? The latest Giving USA: The Annual Report on Philanthropy in America just came out! We know you’ll want to hear about the latest trends in giving and discuss fundraising strategies to help your organization in 2024 and beyond. Join AFP on July 18 when Melody Sugg, CFRE, VP of Philanthropy at the National Eczema Association, will share the Giving USA report and what the data might mean to our organizations.

    Giving USA is a public outreach initiative of Giving USA Foundation and is researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IU Indianapolis. Giving USA Foundation, established in 1985 by The Giving Institute, endeavors to advance philanthropy through research and education.

    All members who register for this session will receive a complimentary Giving USA annual report presentation in digital format (valued at $169).

  • Cultivation of Major Gifts with Jill McIlroy

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 10 months ago

    Jill McIlroy, MBA, CAP, CFRE, Executive Director of Philanthropy at Arkansas Children’s Foundation, will discuss cultivation of Major Gifts.

    Jill McIlroy, a native of Arkansas, began her career with Arkansas Children's Foundation in 2010. She has established herself as a leader in the Foundation focusing on principal gifts and gift planning, board engagement and strategic planning. Today, she serves as Executive Director of Philanthropy, leading a team that advances mission through investment level philanthropy. Jill recently graduated with her MBA, is CFRE certified and received her certification as a Charted Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP). She is active with the local Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter and currently serves as a board member on the Estate Planning Council of Arkansas.

  • 5th Thursday Meet & Greet on May 30

    By: Cara Neal Cara Neal , 11 months ago