Recorded webinar and discussion

As the COVID-19 crisis persists, increasingly fundraisers are working under a “new normal.”  Solicitations must continue but are now doing so in an entirely new environment and manner.  How should we individually and collectively navigate our relationships with donors and need to advance our missions through philanthropy? The leaders of AFP-NYC bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to a conversation that explores these and the other realities we're all now facing. 

Click here to access the recording. Free to all, on demand.

AFP-NYC Chapter Leadership Team

	PRESIDENT Steven G. Jacobson President & CEO Jacobson Consulting Applications, Inc.
	IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Gary Laermer Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Pace University
	PRESIDENT-ELECT Jill Scibilia, CFRE Vice President, Development Phelps Hospital Northwell Health
	TREASURER Craig Shelley, CFRE Managing Director Orr Group
	SECRETARY Michele Hall President & CEO EnCourage Kids Foundation

Steven G. Jacobson, President

April 15, 2020

Fellow AFP-NYC Members:

I hope that you are all safe and in good health as we continue to isolate ourselves to combat the spread of the coronavirus.  These are difficult times, both personally and professionally, and it can be a real challenge to stay positive and effect change for the better.  As fundraisers, you are the torchbearers for your organizations and you carry a tremendous amount of responsibility to provide the financial resources to fund your organizations’ missions.  But, these days, it may seem that the hill is too steep to climb, that the demands are just too great to bear.  Please know that you are not alone.  Your AFP-NYC chapter is here to help.  Whether it’s guidance on how to succeed in a crisis or a forum to share your concerns, we are there for you.  Here are a few of the things that we’re working on.

As we have been hinting at over the past few weeks, it’s now official: Fundraising Day in New York is going 100% virtual.  While our esteemed FRDNY committee is hard at work hammering out all of the details and logistics, I’ll just give you a brief overview of the format.  Over 40 of the conference sessions and the keynote will be recorded ahead of time. “Virtual attendees” will be able to select a package of sessions that they are interested in – or the entire conference.  Yes, you’ll now have the option of experiencing the entire session line-up from the comfort of your own home at a time of your choosing! We are really excited about all of the educational possibilities that this will afford us. Watch your email inboxes for more details in the near future. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our good friends and longtime partners at the Marriot Marquis for hosting us for Fundraising Day these past many years.  We certainly look forward to being back in-person at the Marriott in 2021.

On Monday, April 20^th, at 12 noon, the AFP NYC leadership will be hosting our second virtual fireside chat.  Please join us for an hour’s worth of insight and interactive discussion.  So, grab some lunch and saddle up to your screen on Monday and join our moderator, Craig Shelley (treasurer), and fellow chapter officers Steve Jacobson (president), Jill Scibilia (president-elect), Michele Hall (secretary) and Gary Laermer (immediate past president).  We will make sure that we leave plenty of time to answer your specific questions. Register for free here.

Please stay safe.  We hope to see you virtually on Monday!

Chapter Leadership Brief

By Michele Hall, AFP-NYC Secretary 
President & CEO
enCourage Kids Foundation

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

I believe that everyone is familiar with this quote from Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. In this current climate, it applies more than ever to everyone on the front lines battling this pandemic.

AFP members, we are also the helpers. For many of us the vast majority of our careers have consisted of moving resources from where they are to where they are needed. This time is no different.

Here in NYC, the current epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not unfamiliar with crisis. The people of this city have rallied and rebounded from 9/11, destructive hurricanes, and other historical pandemics. But in every recovery I’ve ever seen, the power to rebound was generated by an incredible feeling of connection - connection that feels dampened by our current reality. 

One of the most important roles we have in moments like these is to communicate. It is our job to remind people that there are still ways to stay connected to causes they care about.

Speaking personally as the CEO of a team dedicated to helping sick children, the themes that have bubbled to the surface during the Covid-19 crisis have hit close to home. Speaking about sickness and the prospect of death – and how we meet the challenges they present - is a conversation most people do everything they can to avoid. Speaking about what happens when resources run low, or how to maintain morale in the face of a formidable foe is rarely top of mind for most people in the general population. For many AFP members, these are salient themes in our work. When advocating for our missions, we must understand the scope and scale of our challenge, somehow summon the guts to be hopeful about them and exercise the discipline to craft a playbook to get others to buy into that hope.  Many of us have spent years pouring over facts, figures and anecdotes that could easily generate fear, apathy and despair – were it not for OUR ability to refine these narratives into invitations to act.

However, “acting” looks a little different than it looked a few weeks ago. For most people the most radical action they can now take to help improve the lives of others is to stay home. People who built homes while using their vacation days, or passed out meals en masse to the homeless on weekends, supported medically challenged kids, or read books to seniors, are all being asked to stay inside, away from the communities they have steadfastly supported.

You can confine a person, but thankfully you cannot confine their energy. People who have never hesitated to invest a bit of sweat in the change they believe in are still looking for ways to reach out, improve, and connect to the causes and communities they love. You are all working to help guide them now more than ever.

Your superpower is that you have trained your entire career to help people harness their resources and energies in the ways that generate maximum benefit for the missions they love. You have the knowledge and the power to help the helpers feel less powerless, and more involved than they might have ever imagined. You have the power to guide the conversation about how we continue to build towards the futures our communities deserve, even as we weather this storm. We have spent years learning how to convince people that even in the face of intimidating challenges they can individually and collectively be agents for change. That is why we must lean in now more than ever.

Lastly, continue helping each other and looking to one another for support, advice and opportunity. Your AFP-NYC Chapter is dedicated to continuing to provide professional advancement and fellowship opportunities for its members and the fundraising community at large. Together, we will meet this challenge as only we know how.

Steven G. Jacobson, President

Fellow AFP-NYC Members:

As many of you know, the chapter sends out our NYC Fundraising Matters newsletter on a bi-weekly basis. In normal times, this frequency seemed to be fine.  We didn't bombard you with content while it gave us the time to generate the appropriate content for you. However, these are not normal times. We are all in crisis mode. So, we hope that you'll appreciate the chapter leadership's commitment to provide more frequent communication with you.

Sometimes, this communication will take the form of emails like this one.  Other times, we will be letting you know of other opportunities for an interactive exchange of questions, insights and ideas - as we did with our recent Fireside Chat, which, by the way, engaged more than 380 people in our fundraising community. We're also in the planning stages of bringing our top-notch professional advancement curriculum online. To say that we're excited about this would be an understatement. No longer will we be bound by a set day, time or place to get you expert advice on your critical fundraising issues.  Stay tuned for more info.

Now, to a really important matter: the $2.2 trillion economic relief package that the federal government has put into law. Today is April 3rd, the first day for small businesses, including nonprofits, to apply for a loan under the Payroll Protection Program. While the banks have balked at participating until clearer guidelines were in place from the US Treasury and the Small Business Administration, it now looks as if they are satisfied and online applications should be able to be processed shortly on your bank's website. I can't stress enough how important this lifeline can be for you. While there are plenty of websites out there that can give you much more complete descriptions of the program, I will just say that this is an opportunity for you to obtain a forgivable loan for an amount equal to 2.5 times your monthly payroll. There is $359 billion available, but the program is being administered on a first-come, first-served basis, so you need to apply now! Read more here.

I hope that you, your colleagues, family and friends are in good health. Stay safe and be well!

Chapter Leadership Brief

By Jill Scibilia, CFRE, AFP-NYC President-Elect
Vice President, Development
Phelps Hospital Northwell Health

As I write this, I am on the campus of the community hospital I serve, Phelps Hospital Northwell Health in Sleepy Hollow.  Our hospital sits on a 69-acre campus overlooking the Hudson River and my office is in a building up the hill from the main hospital.  I am not on the front lines the way my medical colleagues are who care for patients, but I am a close witness to the work in which they are engaged. These are unprecedented times and it is an honor to work with them always and especially during these times. 

As the world has shifted in response to the novel coronavirus, our hospital has shifted.  Like all healthcare settings it is fair to say we are taking it hour-by-hour and there has been a great deal of change.  I will fully admit to you that I have changed my mind more than a few times over the last few weeks. But the change has been about details.  And we know details matter in our work and I certainly know how much they matter in our healthcare settings right now.  As the world begins to feel topsy-turvy with all of this change, I think it is important we remember that the heart of what we do has not changed.  There are some constants.  For me it is helpful to remember them at these times as both an anchor and source of inspiration. 

Here is my list…

1. My organization’s mission remains constant and the people we serve are worthy of the highest level of investment and support.
2. My role as its lead fundraiser is to be a champion and to connect people who want to make a difference with those who can.
3. People respond to people—and in order to respond, they need to be asked. 
4. Our donors and those who care about our organizations want to hear from us during the good times; they often crave hearing from us during the bad times. 
5. Authenticity beats perfection every time.

Perhaps you have some constants you would add to this list.  I would be very interested to hear them.

I will close with a note that one of my donors sent me last week after I had checked in to make sure he and his family were safe and well.  His note warmed my heart and moved me to tears. It also reminded me that our donors care about us and want to see our organizations succeed. 

“It is heartening to know that the community is bonding together to spread the available knowledge and ways to deal with this dreadful pandemic. May you never tire and cease to reassure people on this all-of-a-sudden strange planet we are all in.”

I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well.  Remember that the work you do to facilitate philanthropy is noble whether you are a fundraiser or a consultant who serves our industry.  Our organizations and all those we serve will need us now more than ever in the days and months to come. 

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place.

Steven G. Jacobson, President

Fellow AFP NYC Members:

First of all, let me start by saying that I hope that all of you are safe and in good health.  Like you, I’ve received a number of COVID-19 update emails from various suppliers, consultants, partners, associations, and companies.  Thirty-seven, in fact, over the past two days.  I was hesitant to send a message about COVID-19 to you, fearing that it would get lost in all this noise.  After all, how many times do you need to be reminded to wash your hands? 

But then I realized that these are not normal times.  In fact, these are times that happen once every two or three generations.  There is a lot of uncertainty and fear out there and it’s really hard to see the future when you’re concerned about a potentially deadly but unseen enemy lurking about.  It is important, however, to maintain a semblance of normalcy in these chaotic times. And with that in mind, I thought that you might appreciate hearing what we are doing to adapt and continue being of service to the membership.

First, everything is going virtual.  In a change that we made prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, all of our chapter committee and board communications are now being done through Basecamp, a cloud-based workflow and collaboration tool.  It allows us all to work together while working apart.

Given current circumstances, you’re probably already using at least one of the many video conferencing software products on the market.  Happily, prior to the contagion, our chapter implemented Zoom and it has been great, allowing the board, officers, and committees to have productive virtual-face-to-face meetings and planning sessions.  So, even as we practice social distancing, we don’t miss a beat operationally.

While we have postponed our March and April in-person professional advancement sessions, we plan to deliver our top-notch content online. Look for more details as we have them. And we’ll also bring you information from other chapters that we find particularly valuable and relevant. We are all in this together and AFP’s international network is a resource we can all draw upon.

And, pssst….  Don’t tell anyone, but we are exploring options for holding a virtual Fundraising Day in New York this year.  More info on our plans will be forthcoming.

Please stay safe.  And, remember to wash your hands!

March 20, 2020

Recorded webinar and discussion

These are unprecedented times.  As professional fundraisers, our top priority, after the well-being of our families, is to attain the resources needed to continue the valuable work of our nonprofits.  The world has dramatically changed over the past three weeks - and so has fundraising.  How are donors reacting?  How are fundraisers leading?  How are organizations meeting their urgent needs?  The leaders of AFP-NYC will bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to a conversation that explores these and the other realities we're all now facing. 

Listen now

AFP-NYC Chapter Leadership Team

	PRESIDENT Steven G. Jacobson President & CEO Jacobson Consulting Applications, Inc.
	IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Gary Laermer Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Pace University
	PRESIDENT-ELECT Jill Scibilia, CFRE Vice President, Development Phelps Hospital Northwell Health
	TREASURER Craig Shelley, CFRE Managing Director Orr Group
	SECRETARY Michele Hall President & CEO EnCourage Kids Foundation

Chapter Leadership Brief

By Steve Jacobson, AFP-NYC President and CEO, JCA, Inc.

While I typically would wish you a happy Friday, today is not, by any means, a happy day.  We are all under threat from COVID-19, and its potentially devastating impact on our health and safety and the health and safety of our colleagues, family and friends.  As a leading voice in our community for the professional advancement of fundraisers, we have a responsibility to enhance the lives and careers of our members and our fundraising community.  But, we always have to consider the best interests of this community as we assess our engagements and interactions.  With that said, AFP-NYC has decided to postpone all of our professional advancement programs and networking events through April 30^th.  Specific details on each activity will be forthcoming shortly. 

This is a decision we have not made lightly.  In recent days, the virus’s rate of infection has taken on seemingly exponential growth and there is no sign that the contagion will abate any time soon.  Best practices indicate that we not take public transportation, congregate in large groups or come in close contact with anyone.  We have to be smart.  We have to be vigilant.  We have to be safe.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball and we need to take our actions for the time horizon that we can see.  As we move forward, we will be regularly reviewing the upcoming events calendar.  For now, our signature event, Fundraising Day in New York, is planned to be held as scheduled on June 5^th at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square.

In terms of virtual, online educational and networking opportunities from AFP-NYC, stay tuned.  We’ll be hitting up your inbox over the next couple of weeks.

Stay safe, everyone!

By Craig Shelley, CFRE, Chapter Treasurer & Managing Director, Orr Group

I’ve been thinking a lot about fundraising as a profession of late.  I just renewed my CFRE credential (I’ve written about this before but I’m happy to discuss the process with people and encourage fundraisers to pursue this distinction), which I initially pursued as a commitment and recognition of the profession.  But I’ve also of late been thinking about the difference of volunteer driven vs professional driven fundraising efforts and where the line of distinction is drawn.

On the one hand you have entirely grassroots driven fundraising, like the parent association fundraiser my wife recently got involved in.  These efforts are driven by shoe leather, grit and enthusiasm.  While the group was quick to ask for my advice, I’m not certain the types of fundraising strategies I espouse, and implement are effective for their purposes.  There’s no need for a theory of change and we won’t need a pitch deck or network mapping to billionaire philanthropists interested in our cause area.

The opposite is the highly professionalized fundraising operations I tend to work with.  Experienced fundraisers are working through deliberate cultivation and stewardship plans.  Large gifts are being solicited.

Those two ends of the spectrum sound very different but as I’ve reflected, they really aren’t.  In both instances, particularly if you’re going to be successful in the professionalized model, you are still relying on volunteers (board members and others) to make introductions, open doors and to set the tone and giving expectations.

The nonprofit sector and philanthropy generally take many shapes and approaches with a myriad intended outcome.  But at its heart, all efforts rely on the generosity of both time and money from well intentioned, kind and optimistic people.

I’m not sure what that all means but it’s been a topic I’ve been musing on and thought I’d share.  I hope to see you soon at one of our chapter events.  They are informative and truly a nexus of well intentioned, kind and optimistic people.

This is my first Chapter Leadership Brief and I pondered for weeks on what I wanted to write. Should I share some cheeky advice on loving donors, volunteers, board members or your co-workers in honor of Valentine’s Day? Or delve into the current status of diversity in fundraising in a nod to Black History Month? Both are certainly worthy topics to explore; however my thoughts are in the vice grip of event planning…. Gala season is upon us!

My team and I are once again faced with the increasingly complex task of creating an event that is not just another “charity chicken dinner” as one of my esteemed fundraising colleagues recently and accurately described the never-ending stream of sit-down dinners littering the New York City social calendar. Early last month my fellow panelists and I discussed the complex challenge of executing exciting events at the AFP-NYC 2020 Annual Meeting at Current at Chelsea Piers, and throughout the lively discussion, there was one common thread and shared frustration – how to make your event stand out among the competition so that new donors will be interested enough to stay for the mission pitch and existing donors will remain engaged year after year.

Whether your gala is your largest annual fundraiser or the event that your board insists on keeping because “we’ve always done it”, there is always an opportunity to make it new and exciting. Consider the following when planning your big event.

• Keep it Fresh. Stay on top of trends and new technologies that can improve upon tried and true fundraising tools, and don’t be afraid to take a chance on trying something new.
• Cater to Your Audience. If you know your attendees love to network, build in the time for them to do that. But be sure to dispatch well-trained staff and volunteers to interact with them.
• Steward on Purpose. You’d be surprised at how many organizations do not have a “play book” when walking into their event. Your entire staff should know all of the key players in the room. Greeting someone by name without having to look it up can go a long way toward making a guest feel special, and that feeling will be remembered. Be sure to provide your staff and board members with talking points and targeted lists and seat locations of donors to cultivate at the event.
• Recap Immediately. Find out what worked and what didn’t, and share information while it’s fresh. Have a staff member compile notes and share them back out to the team for review.
• Survey Your Event Volunteers. They often have great insight and a fresh perspective to share.
• Streamline Your Program. Pay attention to whether or not your guests are leaving before the program ends. Use video to introduce honorees for efficient time management and to change it up. Try not to have the same person on stage for long periods of time, like the Oscars but shorter.

When all is said and done, remember that the gala is the hook. You want to make your guests fall in love with the mission and want to expand giving beyond the event. We all know that a well-diversified revenue stream is the ultimate goal. To that end, I invite you to attend our next professional advancement event30 Ways to Move Your Donors: Cultivation Ideas and Tactics to Move Your Donors to the Next Level of Givingthat the chapter has planned this year where you can learn from industry leaders about corporate social responsibility, capital campaigns, tips for closing the ask and much more.