AFP Announces Continued Strategic Partnership With AFP ICON Presenting Sponsor, Blackbaud

CONTACTS:
Natalie Paskoski, Manager of Content, (434) 236 – 5583, Natalie.Paskoski@afpglobal.org
media@blackbaud.com 

(Arlington, Virginia) The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the largest association of fundraising professionals in the world, has announced a continued strategic partnership with Blackbaud, the leading provider of software for powering social impact.

Blackbaud has been a prominent supporter of AFP’s inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) efforts for the last several years. Through the Blackbaud Development Fund, the AFP Foundation has been able to provide scholarships to fundraisers from underrepresented groups to attend events such as AFP LEAD, AFP’s annual leadership conference, and AFP ICON, the largest gathering of fundraising professionals in the world.

Blackbaud has also provided support for the Emerging Leaders Mentor Program, which connects young professionals and those new to the profession with mentors to help develop leadership skills and create an inclusive and equitable future for the profession.

“Blackbaud’s partnership has been invaluable as AFP has expanded our commitment to IDEA,” said Chris Amos, senior director, business development for AFP. “Their dedication to social good is evident in their unwavering support of programs that advance ethical fundraising and equitable access to leadership opportunities. We’re excited to welcome them back in 2024 as a Strategic Partner and the Presenting Sponsor of AFP ICON and AFP LEAD. All of us at AFP are pleased to continue to work with Blackbaud and look forward to the expertise they will provide in the year ahead.”

“It’s an honor to support AFP in advancing effective and ethical fundraising around the world,” said Catherine LaCour, chief marketing officer, Blackbaud. “Through the provision of scholarships, leadership development opportunities, educational programs and insights, we hope to further equip and empower fundraisers in their missions to make the world better.”

The AFP Partners Program provides participating organizations with year-round opportunities to engage the fundraising community and pursue corporate social responsibility through tangential support of the causes for which they work. Through thought leadership, marketing, content, and professional development channels, AFP Partners position themselves as industry leaders committed to advancing philanthropy and ethical fundraising worldwide. Their financial and programmatic support also enables AFP to develop highly competent fundraisers and educate the public on the industry’s ability to fuel societal change in critical arenas like education, healthcare, community development, equity and inclusion, and countless other missions.

For more information about the AFP Partners Program, contact Chris Amos, senior director, business development, at Chris.Amos@afpglobal.org.

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Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. The association works to advance effective and ethical philanthropy by providing advocacy, research, education, mentoring, collaboration, and technology opportunities for the world’s largest network of professional fundraisers. AFP’s more than 26,000 members in over 220 chapters raise over $100 billion annually for a wide variety of charitable organizations and causes across the globe. For more information, go to afpglobal.org.

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Blackbaud is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud’s essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud’s solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, Quartz’s list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at www.blackbaud.com or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. 

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