1:00-2:00 PM Eastern | Presenters: Birgit Smith Burton, Jaye Lopez Van Soest, CFRE, Matt Stokes, and Amy Rowell, Ed.D.
Eligible for 1 CFRE Education Point
We are thrilled to invite you to a special webinar where we’ll introduce the newly updated AFP Member Code of Conduct. This essential guide outlines clear expectations for behavior, fosters a culture of integrity, and ensures that all members and volunteers are equipped to thrive in a respectful, professional environment.
During this session, we’ll provide a thorough overview of the Code’s key principles, its significance, and how it will help shape the future of our organization. Whether you’re a new or long-standing member of AFP, understanding the Code is crucial for upholding our shared values and creating a positive, supportive membership experience.
Presenters:
Birgit Smith Burton is the chief executive officer of AADO, the African American Development Officers Network, which she founded at Georgia Tech in 1999 to provide professional development, education, employment support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for fundraisers of color. She is a well-regarded speaker on the topics of fundraising and diversity and has authored articles on diversity in the fundraising profession. Birgit co- authored the book, The Philanthropic Covenant with Black America, contributed to the book Five Minutes for Fundraising, A Collection of Expert Advice, and tells her personal story in the book Collecting Courage, which shares the lived experiences of Black women and men working in the nonprofit and charitable space (published fall 2020).
During her 26-year career at Georgia Tech she led her team in raising over $700M from private philanthropic foundations to support programs, scholarships, and capital projects. Birgit was selected to participate in the first cohort of Leading Women @ Tech and was a recipient of the team award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development for the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing.
For over a decade, she has served on the global board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and has the distinction of being the first African American woman in AFP’s history to be voted chair of the AFP Global Board. Birgit received the Opportunity and Inclusion Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education which recognized her leadership in fostering inclusion and diversity within the fundraising profession. In 2020 the R.I.S.E. Fund was established in Birgit’s honor with a mission to advance women of color in fundraising by providing Resources, Inspiration, Support, and Education.
In addition to serving as chair of the A.E. Lowe Grice Scholarship Fund, which honors her grandmother, Birgit serves on the advisory council for Somos El Poder (A National Latinx Fundraising Institute) and the advisory committee for Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC). She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
She holds a bachelor's degree in media communications from Medaille University in Buffalo, New York.
Jaye Lopez Van Soest, CFRE, principal at Flourishing, LLC, is a strategic leader with a proven track record in nonprofit management and fundraising, Jaye has dedicated over 25 years to driving positive change through fundraising efforts in education, advocacy, food security, the performing arts, and accessibility. Jaye is committed to helping nonprofits grow smartly.
Matt Stokes has been in the fundraising industry for more than eight years, working largely with educational nonprofit organizations. He is currently the senior associate director, prospect management and research at Morehouse. Matt has also served as the senior development officer for Posse Atlanta, the administrative services manager for development at Berea College, the development associate/executive assistant to the CEO at Christopher House, and the development assistant at Holy Trinity High School (Chicago). Over the course of his career, he has performed both development and development operations work.
Matt is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), and the African American Development Officers Network (AADO). He is an advocate of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). He volunteers for APRA's Editorial Advisory Committee for its weekly online publication called Connections, AFP Global's Research Council and Emerging Leaders Task Force, and Men of Color in Development's (MOCID) Mentoring Committee. He is on the board of the AFP Greater Atlanta Chapter.
A native of Chicago, Matt graduated with a BA in history from Oberlin College and a MA in organizational leadership from Western Kentucky University. He works and lives in metro Atlanta. In his leisure time, he likes to write, bowl, brunch with family and friends, and travel.
Amy Rowell, Ed.D. is an accomplished nonprofit leader and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Arts in Public Service from Marquette University, and a Doctorate in Education from Alverno College. Amy serves COA Youth & Family Centers as executive director and is an adjunct instructor in the graduate school at Marquette University. She serves the AFP Southeastern Wisconsin as the chapter’s immediate past president and AFP Global as a member of the Code of Conduct committee.