New 2020 Board | AFP Northeast IN

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Northeast Indiana Chapter (AFP NEIN) Honored as 2022 Ten Star Gold Chapter and 2022 IDEA Champion Chapter

(April 12, 2022 - Fort Wayne, IN) – The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Northeast Indiana Chapter has been named a 2022 Ten Star GOLD Chapter. The Chapter has also received the designation of 2022 IDEA Champion.

Every year, AFP, the largest association of professional fundraisers in the world, honors chapters for achieving goals that align with key objectives in its long-range strategic plan. Chapters receive the Ten Star GOLD Award for performing specific activities designed to increase professionalism within fundraising and public awareness of the importance of philanthropy.

Less than 20 percent of AFP’s 200 professional chapters earn the Ten Star Gold Chapter recognition, making the Northeast Indiana Chapter one of the association’s leading chapters around the world.

“Although these last few years have been challenging with the COVID-19 health crisis, we are fortunate to live in such a generous community here in Northeast Indiana that whole heartedly believes in and supports our non-profit sector. It’s because of our community, as well as the resilience and fortitude of local fundraisers that our chapter was still able to achieve these goals.” – Clarissa Reis, CFRE, AFP Northeast Indiana Chapter President

Ten Star Gold Chapters are recognized at the AFP International Conference on Fundraising (ICON). Chapters also earn the privilege of displaying the Ten Star Gold logo on their website, newsletters and stationary.

Criteria for the award are determined by AFP Global Headquarters. A list of several goals is published annually, and chapters must accomplish 15 of these goals during the year and submit a nomination form for verification to be honored.

AFP Northeast Indiana is also one of 98 chapters who earned the 2022 IDEA Champion Designation! The IDEA Champion Designation recognizes those chapters who have accomplished many of the key objectives in our goal of advancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA). Thanks to you and your chapter for its commitment to IDEA in the fundraising profession.

For more information on the Ten Star Award or IDEA Champion Designation process, please visit www.afpglobal.org.

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Since 1960, AFP has inspired global change and supported efforts that generated over $1 trillion. AFP’s more than 31,000 individual and organizational members raise over $115 billion annually, equivalent to one-third of all charitable giving in North America and millions more around the world. For more information or to join the world's largest association of fundraising professionals, visit www.afpglobal.org.

The Northeast Indiana Chapter empowers individuals and nonprofit organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy.

2022 Board Members: President - Clarissa Reis, CFRE (Chief Development Officer, Fort Wayne Ballet); President Elect – Melinda Perry (Director of Development, Canterbury School); Past President / Secretary – Mary Shankster (Chief Development Officer, Stillwater Hospice); Treasurer– Monica Chamberlain (Director of Development, Stillwater Hospice); Vice President of Communications – Amy Johns (Director of Partnership Impact, Destiny Rescue); Vice President of Membership – Matt Rowan (Executive Director, Give Hear); Vice President of Education - Ashley Stoneburner (Vice President & CDO, Fort Wayne Museum of Art); Vice President of IDEA - Yusanda Blackmon (Director of Community Engagement & Fund Development, Joshua's Hand); NPD Chair - Erin Ward (Corporate Development Officer, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo); Members At-Large – Janelle Taylor (Major Gifts Officer, Community Harvest Food Bank).