Welcome to AFPTeaches. We started this blog to document the launch of the first ever undergraduate fundraising concentration taught by AFP members. Ideally, we hope it becomes a resource for other AFP chapters interested in emulating the model as a revenue source, and as an asset to their own fundraising and collegiate communities.
Here's a brief history and timeline of how the idea came about and where the project stands today. For more details, please ask questions in the comments section after this post.
JANUARY 2008
American Humanics Management Institute Conference is hosted in Kansas City, MO. Diane Marty, adjunct instructor at Rockhurst University and 2nd year president of the AFP Mid-America Chapter is in attendance, as are members from AFP IHQ. The international organization is formally launching AFP collegiate chapters. Ideas about bringing AFP members to the table as college instructors begin to simmer ...
OCTOBER 2008/DECEMBER 2009
Marty and others attend the AFP Leadership Conference in Louisville, KY. The idea gains traction. According to student surveys from the "Fundraising for your Nonprofit Organization" course taught once a year at Rockhurst, students want more courses in fundraising. Jenny Rinella, Director of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies and American Humanics Department at Rockhurst, partners with Marty to discuss a plan in response to student feedback.
MARCH 2009
Marty reviews a grant application being put forward by Jenny Rinella, Director of Nonprofit Leadership Studies & American Humanics Nonprofit Management Certificate Program at Rockhurst University. Funding to support curriculum development by AFP members and courses taught by AFP members is getting closer.
Funding is a success! A $7,500 grant through the Jerome & Jeanette Cohen Fund at American Humanics will support curriculum development plus attendance for two individuals at the 2010 International AFP Conference in Baltimore, MD.
SUMMER/FALL 2009
A call for instructors is circulated among AFP Mid-America Chapter members. Marty and Rinella, along with current AFP President Jan Murfield brainstorm an outline for presentation to the Deans at Rockhurst.
Rockurst University approves the offering of four courses: Developing Annual Sustainability and Major Gifts and Capital Campaigns to be taught in fall 2010, and Technology and Marketing Trends in Fundraising and Prospect Research and Proposal Writing to be taught in spring 2011.
JANUARY/MARCH 2010
Initial meetings of curriculum development committees are held. Course instructor interviews are being conducted.
More to come!
