President's Message

Composing this first “letter from your president” seemed such a daunting and serious task. I’ve decided to take a lesson from direct mail experts and go for a more informal, personal approach. Let’s call it the first of many conversations about fundraising, about philanthropy, and our personal and professional place in both. So, let me start our conversation with a question or two. Why do you do the work you do? Why are you a development professional, a fundraiser?

Okay, I know many of you will say that the profession chose you, not the other way around. That’s true for many of us. It certainly is for me. But at some point your first year in the profession turned into two. Maybe you even consciously looked for and accepted a new development position for a new organization, and boom! You wake up and find yourself a dyed-in-the-wool development professional.

Fundraising is rewarding work. It’s meaningful. It’s transformative. We work with our organizations to identify problems and opportunities that will improve our neighborhoods, our communities, our world. We, in turn, work with those communities to create a culture of philanthropy. We connect people who need help to people who can help. And in the end, we all benefit.

Fundraising is some of the most challenging work you will ever do. Just look at the current state of the economy, which has created some daunting challenges for nonprofits and the fundraisers who work for them. And I know from personal experience that fundraising can sometimes be lonely work. The development office is often the most misunderstood office in our organizations.

As President of our AFP Greater Cincinnati Chapter, my promise is this: To provide you with the support, camaraderie, and resources that you need to raise the money that your organizations must have; to inspire your donors and volunteers to give back; and for you to feel a sense of satisfaction and meaning about your work. My hope is to strengthen philanthropy in our community by investing in you, our members and our “almost members.”

Let me know what resources you need and how your AFP chapter can help you do more, and do better. I invite you to contact me or any of your board members and let us know how we can better serve you. Let’s not stop the conversation here!

Wishing you every success in your fundraising efforts!

Amy C. Scrivner
Chapter President