Chamberlain Scholarship

2022 Winner Katya Vanganyan of Child Burn Foundation

I had a fantastic time at AFP ICON 2022! Thank you to AFP Global and the Greater Los Angeles Chapter for providing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to network and learn about the fundraising world. I have so many new ideas and have shared them with my team. Attending the conference was both eye-opening as a new fundraiser, and also a wonderful opportunity to learn from others who are in a fundraising role. The sessions were informative and touched up on topics that are currently affecting the non-profit world. I really feel as though attending this conference has given me the tools to become a better fundraiser and I feel more confident as a speaker and becoming a fundraiser. Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.

2018 Winner Haley Jain Haggerstone of the 5 Gyres Institute

I’ve been a member of Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) for the past three years and I’ve always wanted to attend the AFP International Fundraising Conference, but never had the means to do so. This year, I was honored to receive a Chamberlain Scholarship from the AFP Greater Los Angeles Chapter, which allowed me to attend the conference in New Orleans – a city I’ve always dreamed of visiting.

The conference was amazing, but also overwhelming as there were so many great sessions and networking opportunities to choose from. I left every session with notes and three particular sessions with actionable items that I plan on implementing. I even spent the plane ride home going over my notes and developing action plans with timelines, which I shared with my boss upon my return.

Thank you to AFP for putting on an incredible conference in New Orleans and to the Greater Los Angeles Chapter for giving me the opportunity to experience my first (and hopefully not my last) International Fundraising Conference.

2017 Winner Melissa Froehlich, Director of Development, Pasadena Conservatory of Music

I am beyond grateful to have received the 2017 Chamberlain Scholarship to attend AFP’s International Conference in San Francisco. The Conference provided me with a variety of useful tools and perspectives to become a more effective fundraiser and grow my department. I appreciated the variety of session topics at the Conference and found the session speakers to be thought provoking, innovative, and inspiring. I have already shared some of my key takeaways with my development committee and how we can incorporate new strategies into our fundraising plans. They are excited by my enthusiasm and inspired to take our fundraising efforts to the next level. The Conference was an invaluable experience for me personally and professionally, and will impact how I approach fundraising and donor relationships for years to come. Thank you for this truly incredible opportunity!

2016 Winner Nina Popoff

The AFP Conference was completely re-energizing for me and helped me refocus on  the current fundraising needs of my current organization, as well as what my career goals are as a professional fundraiser. The conference was completely inspiring, particularly with outstanding speakers such as Kofi Annan and Kumi Naidoo. It was amazing to see that many fundraisers in one space, not to mention the extraordinary exchange of ideas and information to help one another work through some of the fundraising challenges we face in our own organizations. I was truly honored to be a part of the conference. Professional development has always been a personal passion of mine. Having now been the recipient of a scholarship made possible through the generous donations of AFP members and my local chapter, I plan to be an annual donor to the Be the Cause campaign to allow others, like myself, to have inspiring and re-energizing experiences like the International Fundraising Conference.

2015 Winner Amanda Green, Assistant Director of Development, Union Station Homeless Services

Having the opportunity to attend the 2015 AFP International Conference in Baltimore was an incredibly exciting experience. The conference provided an opportunity to meet development professionals from around the world and learn from leaders in the field. Most importantly, the conference was inspiring, motivating and energizing! It was such a unique and beneficial opportunity to be surrounded by colleagues who are so skilled and passionate about their careers and their organizations. I was able to bring back new ideas and best practices to share with my team – many of which have been implemented! Thank you, AFP-GLAC!

2014 Winner Cynthia Short, Director of Development, SCOPE

Attending the international conference offers the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, learn from their experiences, and develop relationships that will last for years. It will broaden my horizons and I will come away feeling part of a truly international effort to raise funds for those in need. The conference will enable me to refine what I have been doing while providing new ideas and perspectives that will help me develop new fundraising activities for my organization as well. Additionally, the information that I learn at the conference won't just benefit me but will benefit my colleagues as well as I share what I've learned at the conference, whether through chapter meetings or individual meetings.

2013 Winner Jeanne Warlick, Development Director, Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center

I was very excited and appreciative to be a recipient of the Chamberlain Scholarship. It was not only an opportunity to learn from some of the best, but an opportunity to be inspired and energized by those who share our core belief in philanthropy and to interact and build relationships with leaders and fundraisers from many nonprofits. It was an honor to represent AFP GLAC at the International Conference in San Diego. I encourage you to take advantage of one of the many wonderful membership benefits of AFP GLAC and apply for the Chamberlain Scholarship next year. You and your organization will greatly benefit.

2012 Winner Dan Maljanian, Director of Development, Huntington Medical Research Institutes

As the recipient of the Chamberlain Scholarship, I appreciated the opportunity that I was given by our chapter to attend the AFP International Conference in Vancouver, BC. Now that I have had a chance to participate in an AFP International Conference, I see the organizational and personal benefits and have included money in my agency’s budget for the next conference. I encourage you to take advantage of the outstanding opportunities that our chapter offers members. Scholarship funds can help you build your qualifications and benefit your organization.