Professional Mentoring Program
Now in its 30th year, the AFP Greater AZ Chapter's nationally recognized Professional Mentoring Program is designed for professionals who are newer to the field (1-5 years) – whether a young professional or one making a mid-career change.
For inquiries regarding interest in the class of 2027, please contact Lindsi Baldwin.
KEY DATES FOR REFERENCE:
- AFP Mentor-Mentee commitments will begin in January and will be completed by November.
- Mentee applications will be open in the fall and accepted through December 31, 2026.
- Mentee Graduation will be held in November.
The AFP Mentoring Program is for Both New and Advanced Professionals.
Most of us didn’t grow up dreaming of being fundraisers. Or study fundraising in college. When you ask a fundraising professional how they got into the field, more often than not, you’ll hear some variation of, “Well…I just fell into it!” So, it makes sense that most fundraising professionals learn on the job.
This year-long program provides fundraising professionals with the foundation they need for a successful career. This program is a good fit for professionals who are new to the field (1-5 years), whether young professionals or making a mid-career change.
Over the course of a year, Mentoring Program participants will:
- Take workshops in various fundraising topics (including Annual & Monthly Giving, The Case for Support, Capital Campaigns, Career Development, Donor Stewardship, Making the Ask, Major Gifts, Membership Programs, Prospect Research, Special Events, Volunteer Management and more!)
- Be matched with an experienced professional mentor.
- Grow their network in the fundraising community.
- Plan and tackle a fundraising-related project for their organization.
- Develop a solid foundation for a successful career in fundraising.
The Mentoring Program also offers an Advanced Program Track for more seasoned development professionals. This is the ideal program for those looking to transition to a new specialty or who just want to learn more about a particular aspect of development. This track is a good fit for professionals with 5+ years of fundraising experience.
This customized track will allow participants to:
- Enhance and broaden knowledge and skills
- Be paired with a professional mentor to help them through customized skill-building
- Grow their specialist professional network
- Participate in relevant class workshops, as recommended by their mentor
- Start the path towards pursuing their CFRE and publish an article