Beyond the Badge

Beyond the Badge

  By Yoko Coleman

September 2025

The 2025 AFP ICON Conference... what an experience! It was suggested to me by a member of the Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter, Brian Lam, (you all know him well!), to apply for a scholarship to attend AFP ICON. After he shared his incredible experience, I did just that. Thank you Brian because it was the best decision I had ever made! I was chosen as one of the recipients of the Diversity Scholarship and I am so grateful (thank you AFP!) From the moment I started to prepare for the trip, to the moment I arrived home, I enjoyed every moment. I knew it was an invaluable opportunity I was provided and that this is certainly a conference I will never forget. 

There were many sessions to attend and takeaways from each presentation that I knew I would implement immediately in my development endeavors. Each program had its own unique style, such as singing instructors, comedic sessions, some with much interaction amongst the attendees, other with personal life stories shared, and more! 

The creative ways that the speakers presented their information made sessions easier to focus on and engage, as well as brought on reflective moments. The background of the instructors and panelists who presented the programming were expert-level, top-notch well-versed executives, and book authors speaking on their subject matter. The value is certainly there.

The AFP ICON conference spanned over three to four days, depending on the programming the attendees scheduled. So, choosing the right speakers and relevant content for these sessions was crucial. I believe AFP did an excellent job in achieving that to ensure continued engagement and focus by the conference goers.

Along with the programming, the exhibit hall was actually enjoyable to visit, which could have been mundane and passed over, but was quite fun. I learned a lot from visiting them, and who doesn't like premium swag, because that's what they had. I don't know if many of you experienced the outrageous wacky colors and shapes of the tasty Voodoo Donuts?! They were superb and... who wouldn't want to put their hand in a large glass box with swirling air blowing $50 bills inside it to catch?! Yep, it was one of the attractions at an exhibit booth! 

Let's talk about venue! I loved that the ICON conference can take you to places you've never been! Seattle is beautiful and it was ever so green! The best part, although cold, was the combination of the cooling winds and the rain that swooshed about in the evenings when we all got together with our jackets and scarves to walk down the streets of the city, riddled with smiles and laughter, anticipating delicious food, good conversation and warm company. 

Getting to know fellow chapter members and Board members is hard to accomplish when we are all so busy in our day-to-day routines, but mission accomplished in Seattle this year at AFP ICON! Takeaways? Making close connections are golden.

Beyond the Badge: Weaving Community Through AFP 

By Tarry Kang, CFRE

July 2025

When I first attended AFP ICON, I thought I was simply pinning on another professional badge—another credential to wear on my fundraising journey. What I didn’t realize then was that I was threading myself into something far more enduring: a vibrant tapestry of community, learning, and support.

Before ICON, my local AFP chapter meetings were like quick stitches—efficient, but fleeting. We met monthly, if that, and those brief educational gatherings often moved too fast to foster real connection. But at ICON, something shifted. Those same chapter members I’d only known in passing became the warp threads—the foundation—of a growing professional fabric. We spent time not just learning best practices, but unspooling the real texture of our work: the messy knots, the unexpected patterns, and the bright moments that make it all worthwhile.

In that shared space, we wove bonds stronger than any single conference could contain. Friendships formed—tight, colorful threads that now run throughout the year, supporting and sustaining me. That first ICON was the loom where our local community came to life.

By the time I returned for my second ICON, my tapestry was already rich—but it grew even more. This time, I added new threads from across the country and beyond. I found a cohort who studied for the CFRE together, tightening our professional weft. I connected with fundraisers who, like me, navigate the delicate patterns of otherness in our field—those conversations added new colors, complex and vital.

Yes, we explored tools and tactics at ICON. But those, while helpful, are just embellishments. The true value lies in the network we weave: strong, interlaced, resilient. Through AFP, I've stitched myself into a living fabric of fundraisers who teach, challenge, and uplift one another.

Beyond the badge is a weaving—of voices, values, and vision—that I carry with me in every thread of my work.

Beyond the Badge: Reframing My Why

  By Rizwana Jmari

August 2025

I stumbled into fundraising through the side door of communications. When I attended ICON earlier this year, I expected to walk away with strategies, templates, and a deeper understanding of the areas I still didn't fully grasp in the fundraising profession. I thought it would be a valuable professional development opportunity, and if I made a few new LinkedIn connections along the way, that would be a bonus.

What I didn't expect was the internal shift that happened. I walked in as a communicator who supported fundraising. I left feeling like a fundraiser with a new sense of purpose. That experience helped me understand that fundraising is not simply an extension of communications. While the two disciplines are naturally intertwined and mutually supportive, fundraising requires a distinct mindset. It calls for a deeper level of intentionality, courage, and connection.

Coming from a background in communications and marketing, my focus has always been on crafting stories that inform, inspire, and emotionally engage. I measured success in terms of resonance. Did the message land? Did it spark conversation? Was it shared, liked, or remembered? Part of my role was to elevate awareness and foster engagement. That work still matters deeply. But at ICON, I realized that resonance alone is not the goal.

One of the sessions helped me connect the dots in a way that shifted my thinking. Fundraising is a form of service. It is not just about creating compelling narratives. It is about inviting someone into a shared story. It is about building trust, recognizing shared values, and creating space for people to make a difference through their generosity.

What surprised me most was how empowering that realization felt. I had previously viewed the ask as the hardest part of fundraising. But I came to understand that asking, when done with clarity, care, and authenticity, is actually a gift. It gives someone the opportunity to express their values, extend their impact, and become part of something meaningful.

That was the moment I understood that fundraising is not about asking for help. It is about facilitating someone's philanthropic dream. In the speaker's words, I am a Facilitator of Dreams. Donors often want to contribute to something greater than themselves. Our role is to connect their intentions with opportunity. We are not just raising money for a cause. We are helping people live their values through action.

This mindset shift has changed how I approach my work. I now see donors as partners, not just supporters. I think more intentionally about how we build relationships, how we communicate our needs, and how we express gratitude. I am learning that good fundraising is not about transactions. It is about aligning purpose with possibility.

I am still relatively new to this space, and I know I will continue to evolve. But ICON gave me more than tools and templates. It gave me clarity. It reminded me that new paths do not require us to leave our previous experiences behind. Instead, we carry our skills forward, shaped by fresh insights and guided by new convictions.

To anyone else who is moving from one lane of work into another, especially into fundraising, I offer this reflection: the discomfort you may feel is not a signal that you are in the wrong place. It might just be the growing edge of your next chapter.

And one more thing. Beyond the badge, beyond the breakout sessions, and beyond the LinkedIn connections, I found something even more valuable: friendship beyond FUNdraisers.

Newly met FUNdraising professionals turned friends, post-AFP ICON 2025 in Seattle. From LA, NY, CO, and Canada: friendship beyond borders. Shared with permission.

This photo captured what my journey into fundraising has come to mean. What once seemed intimidating has become a space of service. What once felt like a leap now feels like alignment.

Nothing is as it seems…and sometimes, that's where the magic begins!