September eNewsletter

AFP Oklahoma Website

In this issue:

• The President’s Corner

• Position Announcements

• September Luncheon Speaker - RSVPs Required!  Download last month's notes!

• September Greeter

• CFRE Is The Way To Be!

• National Philanthropy Day

• Every Member Campaign

• Welcome Our New Members!

• Get Involved!

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER

From the President …

“Champions aren’t made in gyms.  Champions are made from something they have deep inside-a desire, a dream, a vision.  They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have skill and will.  But, the will must be stronger than the skill.”                                                                                                                                              Muhammad Ali

The spirit of philanthropy is deeply imbedded in the culture of America.  Dozens of programs and partnerships have touched thousands of lives in all corners of the country.  Our community has responded positively to this spirit and has given generously to all of our causes.  They have collected food for the hungry, built homes for the poor, mentored the disadvantaged and helped in countless other ways.  That is what makes this such a great community.

While the tradition of philanthropy has deep roots in America, we cannot take it for granted. Clouding the future of philanthropy are a number of colliding trends, including society’s growing reliance on the non-profit sector, non-profits’ increasing need for contributions, the growing “consumer” orientation among donors and government’s potentially disruptive regulation of philanthropy.

Who will champion philanthropy itself as a cause?  As social distraction and fragmentation increase, it is uncertain how values of “giving back” will be handed on to each new generation.  Who will help the people discover philanthropy as a way to make a difference in the world?  Increasingly, that task is falling to fundraisers and other non-profit leaders.  By drawing forth and channeling human compassion in service to others, fundraisers are helping to build community. 

As fundraisers, we are all Champions!  Oklahoma Chapter AFP expands the capabilities of area fundraisers through education, mentoring and advocacy efforts.  By equipping these professionals, and by building public awareness of the power of philanthropy, we have the desire, dream, and vision -- an element essential to our community’s future.

I hope you use all the resources made available to you through our Oklahoma Chapter AFP.  We hope to keep you up-to-date on the future of philanthropy and the latest trends.  Mark your calendar to attend the Day of Philanthropy for October 20^th at Metro Tech.  Thank you for all that you do for our community and for leaving this world a bit better.

Sincerely,

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Position Summary

The Development Director works with the Executive Director and the OPSRF board to ensure financial stability of the foundation through fundraising and marketing activities.  This is a full-time position that reports to the Executive Director.

Position Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements a resource development plan to meet anticipated budget needs
• Public, donor and community outreach

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Professional experience in fund development with demonstrated success in securing gifts from private individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and public speaking experience

Salary is negotiable and based on education and experience.  

Applicants for this exciting and challenging position should submit a cover letter and resume to:

The Director of Development is responsible for the following activities at Catholic Charities:  directing and implementing the fundraising efforts, creating and implementing long range and short-term plans for fundraising, overseeing fundraising data system, identifying funding priorities, supervising implementation of fundraising from individuals, foundations, corporations and major gift cultivation events (including the annual appeal), and coordinating public relations effort to ensure consistency with development planning.  Position requires a minimum of 5 years of demonstrated and successful development experience. Interested applicants may apply by sending a resume and salary history to Executive Director, 1501 North Classen Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK  73106.  EOE

www.catholiccharitiesok.org

To view these and other job opportunities in their entirety, please visit Position Announcements.

SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON SPEAKER

Be sure to join us for a special presentation on “Your Board and Major Gifts” by Rick Bragga, JD, FAHP. Rick is President of Philanthropy1^TM , the consulting firm he founded. He has 35 years of communication/fund raising experience, including 25 years in health care fund raising and eight years nationwide consulting. His education includes a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mass Communication. He also has a Law degree from Oklahoma City University.

Rick has been involved with campaigns from $2 - $90 million. He won the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Journal Professional Papers Competition in 1993 and was co-author of the article that received the AHP Journal First Place Award for 2002.

Rick is also a past President of the Oklahoma Chapter of AFP during the year when the Chapter won the AFP 25^th Anniversary Chapter Award. His recent article on Board orientation was published in the Advancing Philanthropy (AFP Journal), September/ October 2005. Currently, he is a Board member of CFRE International.

AFP members pay only $10 to attend monthly luncheons. Guests pay $15. But the benefits don’t stop there. Become an AFP member today and gain access to a wealth of resources just for Development professionals. Click here for more information.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW BY AUGUST 31^st! Contact Martha Stone at afpoklahoma@gmail.com.

If you enjoyed the August Presentation by J.P. Audas and Tripp Hall, you may download their notes from the AFP Oklahoma website.  Visit http://www.afpoklahoma.org/Newsletter.asp.  You can also download past newsletters from that page.

SEPTEMBER GREETER

• Brenda Arambula
• Employment:  Development Director, St. James School
• # of years in fundraising:  21 (but all as a volunteer until June 1 this year when I started the Development Director position at St. James)
• Career highlight: Still waiting for it!
• Best fundraising tip you received:  From the AFP meeting last week – I think it was J.P. Audas.  He said FRIENDraising, instead of FUNDraising.  I have been using this ever since that day!  I LOVE IT!  If I can raise FRIENDS, the FUNDS will follow!
• Career mentor:  Many of my friends who are professionals and/or have had development/fundraising experience.
• Why you love non-profit work:  I love to help people and to meet new people.  The people in the non-profit world are all friendly, kind, and giving.  We are all working for the same goal, just under different titles.  We are all trying to make a difference in someone’s life, and in return they are making a huge difference in ours! I am passionate about Catholic education. My 4 children will have attended Catholic schools for 23 consecutive years as of the year 2008.  As a parent, it was one of the best things I could have done for them. 

CFRE IS THE WAY TO BE!

Whether you consider fund raising an art, a science, or both, nothing demonstrates your commitment to becoming the very best Development Professional you can be more than earning the designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive.

On average, CFREs earn 17 percent more over the course of their careers than their non-certified counterparts. Additionally, certification is a ringing endorsement of your skill and commitment and proves to your peers and potential employers that you are at the top of your profession.

To find out how you can earn the title of CFRE and why you should, visit www.cfre.org.

NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY

OCTOBER 20, 2006

National Philanthropy Day is quickly approaching. As a Development Professional, you won’t want to miss this exciting day of networking and education.

This year’s event will be held at Metro Technology Centers Springlake Campus, located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Avenue and Springlake Drive between N.E. 36th and N.E. 50th just south of the Oklahoma City Zoo and Kirkpatrick Center. Click on this link for detailed Driving Directions.

The registration deadline is October 2, 2006. AFP membership has its advantages – tuition for members is $115. This includes the morning and afternoon sessions as well as the luncheon. Non-members can attend for $150 each. You may also choose to attend just the luncheon for $35. To reserve your space for National Philanthropy Day 2006, click here. You can also view a slate of speakers, download a scholarship application and an award nomination form, and sign up to volunteer for the NPD Planning Committee.

Register Online!

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Award Nominations Deadline – August 15, 2006

Scholarship Deadline – August 18, 2006

Registration Deadline – October 2, 2006

The next NPD meeting is on Wednesday Aug. 23 at 11:45 at the McClendon Family Boys & Girls Club, 3535 N. Western.

ATTENTION MEMBERS! Members will be voting on revisions to the chapter's bylaws at the Annual Meeting during National Philanthropy Day. Changes have been made to Article VII, Section 7 regarding board member attendance and grounds for removal. Article VII, Section 3 has also been amended to allow special meetings of the board to be held via conference call. Please read the bylaws and contact Jennifer Harrison, jharrison@regionalfoodbank.org if you have questions or comments.

EVERY MEMBER CAMPAIGN

It is Every Member Campaign time! The Every Member Campaign is AFP’s annual campaign which all local AFP chapters participate in on behalf of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy.

Thanks to the following members for their generous contributions to our campaign:

Be sure to thank these members when you see them. Their contributions will help us reach our goal of $2,400 for 2006. After reaching our goal, the Oklahoma chapter will receive a grant from the AFP Foundation.  To date, we have raised 59% of our goal.

Make a contribution to the Every Member Campaign. For more information about the Every Member Campaign, please contact Paula Porter, VP of Philanthropy, at 272-6430 or paula_porter@ssmhc.com.

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS!

GET INVOLVED!

You just became a new member of AFP (or you'd like to do more) so what next? It’s time to get involved! How do you do that? Try one of these:

• Attend monthly meetings. These are a great way to meet your fellow members and learn the tricks of the trade from professionals in your field.
• Volunteer to be a greeter at a monthly meeting. Greeters welcome members and guests to each meeting. More importantly, members learn your face and your name.
• Make a contribution to the Every Member Campaign.  Read more about the Campaign in this newsletter.
• Volunteer to serve on the National Philanthropy Day Planning Committee. This committee is one of the easiest ways to take an active role in AFP.
• Volunteer to serve on a Board sub-committee. Establish yourself as a leader in your profession.
• Submit an article or other content for the monthly newsletter. Help your fellow members stay informed.