The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Central Ohio Chapter’s Dale Abrams and Elliot T. Fishman Mentorship Program has supported the professional development of local fundraising professionals in central Ohio for several decades. The Mentorship Program is a one-year program (January through December) that pairs new and emerging fundraising professionals with seasoned fundraising professionals and is open to AFP Central Ohio members at no cost. Mentorship pairings are established based on the professional development interests of each mentee and the professional skill sets of each mentor. Both emerging and seasoned development professionals who participate in the program are exposed to fundraising best practices, the high standards of the AFP Code of Ethics, and both the hard and soft skills needed to be successful as a fundraising professional. 

The Mentorship Program seeks to provide all program participants with a safe, inclusive, and impactful mentorship experience. Program participants will have the ability to strengthen professional relationships and networks, engage in meaningful professional development experiences, participate in AFP programming, and uphold AFP’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) and AFP’s Code of Ethics. 

Individuals applying to participate in the program as a mentor or mentee must meet program requirements and expectations, adhere to AFP Central Ohio’s IDEA statement, complete an application, and be an AFP Central Ohio member. While there are no fees directly associated with participation in the Mentorship Program, all program participants are expected to maintain an active AFP Central Ohio membership for the duration of the program. All mentors and mentees who are accepted into the program are required to attend the program kickoff event in January, where mentor-mentee matches will be introduced along with additional program requirements, expectations, guidelines, etc., meet with their match partner at least eight times throughout the year, and attend the program wrap up event in December. Each mentorship pairing will decide on its own meeting schedule, how they will meet (in person or virtually), and agenda of topics, including agreed-upon professional development goals. If necessary, AFP Central Ohio will provide recommendations for social distancing requirements based on local, state, and federal guidelines and AFP Global guidelines. 

Applications for the 2025 Mentorship Program will be open October 1 through November 30, 2024.  Mentorship Program Chair Emily Campbell (she/her) is hosting two separate 45-minute informational sessions as an opportunity for interested mentors and mentees to learn more about the program and ask questions.  Informational sessions will be held on Friday, October 18, 8:15-9:00am and Tuesday, November 12, 4:00-4:45pm (both via Zoom). Please click here to register for your preferred session and a calendar invitation with Zoom link will be sent to you.

If you have questions regarding the program and are unable to attend either of these informational sessions, please email Emily Campbell directly at mentorship@centralohioafp.org.

This program is possible thanks to generous annual support from the Dale Abrams and Elliot T. Fishman Fund of The Columbus Foundation.