We are fundraisers and that means that we know Ottawa is full of possibilities and exciting potential. So, how awesome is it that each of us are a part of a vast network of professionals in the charitable sector making our city stronger!
When we give ourselves permission to be creative, to dream and imagine how our interconnectedness across our fundraising ecosystem makes us all part of something bigger and better, well, we are all in with our shared values of trust, respect, humility and empathy.
I love being out in the community learning about other non-profits and their philanthropic work. I am inspired to hear from my peers and observe pride, curiosity and purpose. We all thrive when we share common challenges, pain points and their solutions. We are not afraid to fail as we know our growth mindset prevails and we choose to be bold and creative as we are fundraisers.
That is our community and, with our collective connections, we believe that being partners elevates our sector. At AFP Ottawa, we are proud community-builders — from the board of directors to our volunteers and, of course, our members. We believe that, as fundraisers, we make a difference every day by connecting donors to impact and that we act on our organization’s behalf to advocate for our causes. We are in the business of transformation so that donors foster the goals we all so richly believe in.
I would like you to consider joining AFP Ottawa — whether you are in the fundraising/non-profit sector or not. A membership with AFP Ottawa is about achieving the potential of collective connections and the intersection of our growth mindsets. We enjoy our own development, sharing information, discussing common challenges and solutions, engaging in dialogue on case studies or best practices.
We do this as we know we are part of a community that has purpose and, at AFP Ottawa, we want to discuss the meaningful issues that we face collectively as a sector while promoting to the broader community the importance of fundraising and fundraisers. Our local non-profit sector needs a champion and we aspire to be your voice.
Some of the amazing initiatives by AFP Ottawa focus on mentorship and coaching, such as the AFP Ottawa Future Leaders mentorship program, the first of its kind in Canada, thanks to the support of RBC. We are also honoured to celebrate the life and leadership of Barbara McInnes through the new Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund, which is designed to support new executive directors from underrepresented groups in Ottawa and from small NGOs and charities.
Finally, we love to bring our sector together for the annual Philanthropy Awards, which is a premier event in our nation’s capital bringing together visionary businesses, organizations, professional fundraisers and philanthropists who are trailblazers in our city. This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and showcase acts of service, hope and commitment happening within our community.
Our growth mindset is our collective ecosystem of values, purpose and identity. A membership with AFP Ottawa supports our sector and ensures that we can continue to deliver top-quality programs, professional development and other tools to the fundraisers in our city. We are ready to make a difference and empower even more donors and philanthropists in Ottawa to invest in impact. A membership with AFP Ottawa is about our collaboration, connecting over mentorship, coaching and learning. Join us today!
David Gourlay is the CEO of the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation and leads a team of fundraisers who raise money for the programs and services offered by Shepherds of Good Hope to end chronic homelessness in Ottawa.
