ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS
ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER

2008 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

2008 Mentorship Program Chairs: Lisa Marcus and Kay Vickery

Goal: To enhance the competency and careers of both professionals who are new to the field of fundraising and for seasoned development officers who wish to hone their development and leadership skills.

Objective: To assist a minimum of eight mentees during 2008.

Description/Implementation: The Mentorship Program is a professional development program offered as a benefit of membership in AFP Orange County. It is a one or two-year program and is designed to enhance the competency of professionals who are recent entries to the field of fundraising. In addition, mentors have the opportunity to expand their fundraising skills by teaching the mentees. Participants may choose to continue the program for a second year, but only new mentees will be eligible for scholarships to attend the Conference on Philanthropy.

Orientation Sessions/Additional Meetings:

An Orientation Session will be held in January annually. During this session the mentees and mentors will develop specific objectives for the year. The mentors and mentees will communicate a minimum of four times a year to review and discuss fundraising challenges and education and to evaluate progress within stated objectives. Additional meetings will be held during the year as needed and desired. A final Evaluation Session will be held at the end of the year in October to evaluate the program, revise objectives as necessary, and offer suggestions for next year’s program. The recommendations will be brought to the AFP Board for review.

Suggested Mentor Responsibilities:

• Be a member in good standing of the AFP Orange County Chapter.
• Have a minimum of five years experience in the fundraising profession.
• Attain professional experiences equivalent to the minimum eligibility requirements for the CFRE examination
• Commit to a minimum of four group and/or individual interactions with an assigned mentee.
• Complete and submit a year-end evaluation report.
• Encourage participants to visit each other’s organizations.
• Encourage mentees to get their CFRE certification.
• Encourage head of organization to attend an AFP meeting.
• Work with mentee to change objectives as appropriate.
• Introduce mentee to AFP members and assist them in networking at the meetings.
• Exchange resource materials.
• Communicate regularly with mentee.
• Submit a letter of resignation to the program chair if unable to continue participation in the program.

Mentee Responsibilities:

• Be an AFP member in good standing.
• Have less than three years experience.
• Be currently employed in an entry level position with a non-profit organization.
• Submit a letter from the executive director/vice president to endorse the applicant’s participation.
• Commit to a minimum of four group and /or individual interactions with an assigned mentor.
• Take initiative, i.e. call your mentor, ask questions, and be available for meetings.
• Develop objectives and be committed to achieving them.
• Encourage the head of the organization to attend an AFP meeting.
• Agree to attend a minimum of five fundamentals sessions and AFP luncheons.
• Agree to attend the annual Conference on Philanthropy to which the chapter will provide a scholarship.
• Submit a letter of resignation to the program chair if unable to continue participation in the program.