About Our Chapter

The AFP Genesee Valley Chapter is a volunteer-based organization representing more than 200 fundraising professionals in the Greater Rochester region. Our mission is to advocate for philanthropy and to promote ethical and successful non-profit development by addressing the needs of diverse fundraising professionals in our region. Our members represent colleges, universities and secondary schools, hospitals and health care facilities, social service and cultural agencies, and local charities.

When you join the Genesee Valley Chapter, you become a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising for more than 40 years with over 167 chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Since 1960, AFP has inspired global change and supported efforts that generated over $1 trillion. AFP’s nearly 30,000 individual and organizational members raise over $100 billion annually, equivalent to one-third of all charitable giving in North America and millions more around the world.  

Our mission is to advocate for philanthropy and to promote ethical and successful non-profit development by addressing the needs of diverse fundraising professionals in our region.  We strive to enhance philanthropy and volunteerism through a series of programs designed to benefit all those who lead, serve, and support non-profit institutions. 

Our chapter offers unlimited opportunities to meet and work with fellow fundraisers, develop mutually beneficial relationships, learn the ins and outs of the business, and gain invaluable bench-marking information about your market. There are also several educational opportunities including:

• Monthly Programs featuring national and local presenters addressing the interests of fundraising professionals
• Free Networking Groups that provide opportunities for fundraising professionals to share ideas and solutions to specific focused fundraising topics
• AFPGV Annual Conference offering world-class educational experiences for local development professionals and their staff
• AFP International Conference (ICON) on fundraising is the largest and most comprehensive educational conference of its kind
• AFP Courses - Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Refresher Course (including information on how to become a CFRE) and Fundamentals of Fundraising
• AFP Webinars
• Job Postings allow non-profit organizations to advertise fundraising (and related) positions that are often not advertised in other employment venues.  Members receive weekly notice of new job postings.
• Regular Communication via newsletters, articles, tips and much more

Click here to learn more about all your available benefits.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Genesee Valley Chapter (AFPGV) has been proud to receive the IDEA Champion Designation (formerly Friends of Diversity) each year since 2021, from AFP Global.

Our chapter embraces a broad representation of experiences, perspectives, and cultures. Inclusiveness is an essential source of vitality and fosters the unique contributions of every member of our community. The pursuit of mission for AFPGV is strengthened by including people from all cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and differing abilities in programming, events, education, and leadership.

AFPGV Strives to:

1. Develop strategies and program resources for assisting organizations in engaging and raising philanthropic support by constituents from diverse backgrounds – specifically race, national origin, physical ability, and sexual orientation; 

2. Create a welcoming and respectful environment that is open to all; 

3. Expand strategies for recruiting and promoting professionals from diverse backgrounds into the fundraising field; 

4. Assist fundraising professionals in advancing their work with diverse constituencies through education, training, and development.

(Revised 2024)

 Read more about AFPGV's IDEA commitment here.