The Power of Mentorship and Community

By Craig Shelley, Partner + Chief Group Officer, Orr Group

As we enter a New Year, it is a natural time to reflect on what’s come before.? For me, I’m fortunate to look back on a career full of mentors and friends that helped me learn and hone my craft as both a fundraiser and leader.? Many of those people I met through AFP, and I’ve recognized that for many others, AFP is the only place they can find these mentors as they may not have the good fortune to work with the compelling leaders and mentors they deserve.

AFP is the only place to work with compelling leaders and be matched with top-notch mentors.

At our Chapter’s annual meeting on February 12 we’re going to have an opportunity to recognize someone who has been a mentor and friend to so many in our New York City fundraising community and beyond.? Gregory Boroff, Chief External Affairs Officer at City Harvest, will be honored with our Ralph E. Chamberlain Award.

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From mentor to mentee: Lifelong Learning as Leaders

By Dee Dee Mozeleski, Senior Vice President of the Office of Institutional Advancement, Communications and External Relations, & Executive Director of the Foundation for City College

A few years ago, as part of my annual evaluation, my boss shared with me that he thought it was time I started thinking about the world outside of our campus. For years, my head was definitely facing inward. But, I told myself, I had so many wonderful reasons (ie: excuses): we were building a school, then we were building a board, then, of course, we were merging foundations and, well covid, what about covid? However, he was right: I was spending a lot of time thinking about everyone on the team and no time thinking about myself.

Of course, that’s exactly when I needed to be mentored by someone outside of my circle.

Years ago I was always ‘moving my cheese’ or looking at five year goal setting and thinking about pivots. Then I got to an age, and to be honest, a title, where the opportunities to be mentored were far less identifiable and I felt a bit adrift. It’s also possible I was worried that people wouldn’t take me seriously if I articulated a need for support. Maybe they’d question how I’d gotten to this point - maybe they’d think I wasn’t ready after all of this time.

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U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Chapter Annual Membership Meeting, 2025?

Non-Profit Partnerships: Collaborative Solutions for Complex ChallengesThis event promises to kick off 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose, encouraging us to discover how, together, we can make a meaningful difference. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experts and discover how, together, we can all contribute to a more equitable future.?

February 12, 2025, 8:30-11 a.m. Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, F.I.T.227 West 27th St, NYC Chapter Annual Meeting LEARN MORE and REGISTER HERE

Beyond the Buzzwords?

Centering Equity in Fundraising PracticesJoin us for this panel discussion to move beyond Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) as a checklist and into authentic action. Panelists will share strategies for hosting events that honor community integration, aligning development work with social justice, and advocating for meaningful shifts in leadership structures. Expect to leave with a renewed understanding of your role in creating a culture of care and equity.?

February 27, 2025, 8:30 am- 10:30 am Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, NYC Panel Session LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE