For this month’s Board Member Spotlight, we spoke with Drew Kaufman Director of Fundraising at The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. Drew serves as the I.D.E.A. Chair for the AFP Central Ohio Chapter and participated in our 2025 Dale Abrams and Elliot T. Fishman mentorship program. During his interview, he shared some of the highlights and rewards of being a mentor.
This was my first time serving as a mentor through the program. The experience was really meaningful and uplifting for me. I’m so proud of the progress my mentee has made this year. It was an honor to be a part of supporting her in this moment of growth in her career. I’m looking forward to continuing our relationship after the formal program ends.
Q:What did you cover during your time?
We covered a variety of topics during our meetings. We dealt with workplace dynamics, career transitions, board management, and more. My mentee did a great job of identifying areas where she needed support. She was also very dedicated to taking the advice I had, trying it out, and reporting back on the results. It really showed me that the time and effort I was investing was meaningful and appreciated.
Q: What did you find most valuable about your experience?
As a mentor, this experience helped me reconnect with what I’ve learned in my career. It also helped me to see what I’ve learned in a new light. It can be easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day of our work. Being a mentor helped me to get back above the day-to-day and draw from my collective experiences. This experience increased my confidence as a leader and fundraising professional.
Q: Would you recommend the program to other mentors/mentees? Why?
Each mentorship is going to look a little different, but I truly felt like I got as much from this experience as I gave. It was a highlight of my year professionally. If you come with an open mind and a willingness to share, you could have a really wonderful experience.