AFP FL First Coast Chapter

For our March Member Spotlight, we’re excited to introduce you to Tami Garrett from Pace Center for Girls, Jacksonville. With 13 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Tami has a true passion for fundraising. She believes that "being an advocate for those who are less fortunate is both rewarding and a blessing." One of Tami's favorite things about being an AFP member is the amazing resources, supportive colleagues, and the opportunity for monthly training sessions. If you’re just starting in the field, Tami has some fantastic advice: "No is never the end of a conversation. It just means 'not right now.' Keep building those relationships, and you’ll eventually hear a 'Yes!'" As a personal note, Tami loves to fish and is looking forward to an upcoming trip to Gatlinburg, TN this September where she is organizing a Women's Retreat at her church. A huge thank you to Tami, and to all our members for their incredible commitment to making a difference in our communities!

Our 2025 mentorship program is going strong and some mentors and mentees choose creative spots to link up! Pictured here is mentor Sara McMillan, CFRE with mentee Leila Zefri at the Gate River Run. Participants in the program meet up once a month for at least an hour to engage in discussions on a variety of professional development topics. Thank you to everyone participating in our 2025 program!

Your support for the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy fuels the future of fundraising. From scholarships and leadership development to diversity initiatives and groundbreaking research, every donation helps strengthen the nonprofit sector. Join us in making a difference—because when fundraisers thrive, communities flourish. Donate today by visiting: https://lnkd.in/gfg8jMA Watch our video here: https://lnkd.in/eTSrnhhi

Congratulations to Elizabeth Reeger with City Year Jacksonville on receiving the 2025 Chamberlain Scholarship from our AFP chapter. Elizabeth will have her conference registration covered by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global) and receive up to $2,000 from our local chapter to offset expenses at AFP ICON in Seattle. This scholarship will have an immediate impact on her career as Elizabeth shared, "The timing of this opportunity was perfect, as I recently stepped into a role that involves managing other fundraisers for the first time. Attendance at AFP ICON will allow me to sharpen leadership skills and bring back learning to share with my team." If you are interested in attending AFP ICON from April 27th to 29th, please visit https://afpicon.com/ Also, more scholarship opportunities like this one are available on our website at https://lnkd.in/e2WQS-ar Congrats Elizabeth and enjoy the upcoming conference! #scholarship #fundraising #afpicon2025 #AFPICON2025

Join us on Thursday, March 27, from 8:30–10:30 AM for Climbing the Ladder: Strategies for Career Growth and Advancement! Gain insights from industry leaders on leadership, workplace dynamics, and career development. Don't miss it! Register at: https://lnkd.in/eGQq5Gf2

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Educational Program Meeting! Special thanks to Jana K. Olslund for sharing valuable insights on being a top performer in a shifting environment through change management principles.

For our February Member Spotlight, we would like to introduce you to Lovely Sainsurin-Greer, M.A. Lovely is the Associate Executive Director at Children's Home Society of Florida and has been in the nonprofit sector for 7 years! When asked, she tells people that she works to make a difference in children’s lives by leading efforts that empower families, strengthen communities, and ensure children have the support they need to thrive. A fun fact about Lovely is she once completed a two-mile Army Halloween fun run with her squad while chanting army cadences dressed as her favorite superhero. As an AFP member, she loves the sense of community. "The people in this chapter are incredible and being around like-minded individuals inspires me to grow in my career as a leader in philanthropy." Next on her travel bucket list: Bali, Indonesia, for its stunning beaches, serene temples, and rich culture. Her personal hashtag: #MissionDriven

Join us in congratulating Nancy Palmer, CFRE from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation on being an AFP member for the past 5 years! We are so proud of the great work our members are doing in the NE Florida community.

We are excited to announce the launch of our 2025 mentorship program! The mentors and mentees will meet once a month to share career advice, how to handle challenges and other professional development lessons. This year's mentorship pairing are as follows: Mentor - Jan Kary, CFRE (Jan Kary & Associates) with Mentee - Mindy Cederquest (Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville) Mentor - Lee Anderson Louy, CFRE (North Florida Land Trust) with Mentee - Danae Leake (Bright Sail Communications) Mentor - Courtney Weatherby-Hunter, CFRE (YMCA of Florida's First Coast) with Mentee - Alexa Stucke (The Sanctuary on 8th Street) Mentor - Sara McMillan, CFRE (Baptist Health) with Mentee - Leila Zefri (Communities in Schools) Mentor - Nicola Barnack, CFRE (Barnabas Center) with Mentee - Anne Marie Van Wie (Allison Brundick Haramis Foundation) Mentor - Jeff Davitt, CFRE (Flagler College) with Mentee - Niki McCrimon (Feeding Northeast Florida) We hope everyone in our mentorship program finds this to be a rewarding experience.

Join us on January 30 for our first program meeting on 2025 with Kimberly O'Donnell, CFRE, ACC (she/her/hers)! She will be presenting on Creating a Culture of Innovation and High Performance and we can't wait to host her. Reserve your spot today: https://lnkd.in/gMwgDaUq