Dear Fellow Fundraisers,

As I come to the end of my term as President, I’ve been reflecting on what this role has taught me. What surprised me most is how much leadership is about listening, deeply listening, and trying to find common ground. That work isn’t easy, particularly when there are different perspectives in the room. As a Board, we set out to build trust and a sense of belonging in service to our members and to fundraisers more broadly, and that commitment guided us throughout the year.

One of the most important lessons I learned is that leadership isn’t about fixing everything. I’ve always been someone who wants to solve problems. This role taught me instead to lean on others, to share leadership, and to trust the collective wisdom of the Board and our community. I didn’t always get it right, and that’s okay. What matters is accountability, learning, and changing behaviour. What I did not expect was the grace shown to me when I stumbled, and the continued support I received even then. That grace is something I will carry with me.

While our sector still has important work ahead in the pursuit of justice and equity, I have also felt an incredible amount of care and commitment along the way. There are so many talented, thoughtful fundraisers doing meaningful work. As leaders, our responsibility is often to step aside, create space, and make pathways for others to lead, especially those who have not always had access or opportunity. The best leadership, I’ve learned, is about making room for others to shine.

At our most recent Board meeting, we spent time reflecting on whether we could take on another Maritime Fundraising Conference next fall, recognizing the very real risk of burnout in volunteer-led work. I’m grateful to Bernadette Hamilton-Reid, who reminded us why this conference matters; because of our commitment to access, inclusion, and removing barriers for fundraisers. I’m happy to share that we will be hosting the conference next fall, with a community-led and collaborative approach, and IDEA continuing to guide our work.

It has been a challenging and rewarding year. While this is my last message as President, I will see out my term as Past President and continue to support our incoming President Basim Sobeih, and the Board in any way I can.

Thank you for your trust, your generosity, and your continued commitment to this profession and to one another.

Fiona

Fiona Valverde

President, AFP Nova Scotia

2026 Maritime Fundraising Conference - Call for Volunteer Chair

The Maritime Fundraising Conference (MFC) takes place in the fall of each year and is organized by volunteer committees. The MFC Committee Chair is responsible for the general oversight of conference planning, coordination, education, committee recruitment, sponsorship recruitment, sponsor activation and other aspects required to execute the Conference. 

Deadline for Application is January 15th, 2026

2026 Maritime Fundraising Conference - Call for Volunteer Vice-Chair

The Maritime Fundraising Conference (MFC) takes place in the fall of each year and is organized by volunteer committees. The MFC Vice-Chair supports the Chair as required.

Deadline for Application is January 15th, 2026

New Year Mixer

You are invited to AFP Nova Scotia’s New Year Mixer, presented by the Donor Motivation Program.

Join us at Pazzo Ristorante (1566 Barrington Street) for an evening of meaningful conversation and connection with tasty appetizers and drinks on Wednesday, January 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We are pleased to share that the venue is accessible and barrier-free. 

Registration is $20 and you can add a guest for free!

If you feel the cost is a barrier, let us know and we'll do our best to ensure you can participate.

AFP Nova Scotia Fundraising Field Notes

AFP Nova Scotia Fundraising Field Notes is a Substack channel for articles, stories and reflections by fundraising professionals for fundraising professionals. 



Check out, Learnings from a year of using TipTap, our first post by AFP NS Board Member Shaylyn MacAulay. 



If you are interested in contributing to Fundraising Field Notes check out the contributor guidelines and share your idea on our form! 

Reach out to Shaylyn at Shaylyn.MacAulay@nscc.ca if you have any questions.

Job Posting Rate Increase

AFP Nova Scotia strives to provide the best value possible with our job posting service. As a non-profit organization, our chapter has to meet the demands of the rising costs in providing this service. 

Effective January 1, 2026, our job posting prices will increase for the first time in over 15 years:

NEW AFP Member Rate: $200.00 per posting.

NEW Non-Member Rate: $300.00 per posting.

National Philanthropy Day

Thank you to the guests of this year’s AFP Nova Scotia’s National Philanthropy Day Panel and Mixer, presented by CharityCan. We hope you enjoyed this year’s theme, “The Threads that Connect Us”. We are grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, CharityCan, for their generous support. 

A warm thank you to our panelists – Sarah Lyon, Fiona Valverde, and Ethan Edwards – along with our moderator Joanne Bath and emcee Alison Clements for an inspiring and engaging discussion. We also extend our gratitude to the National Philanthropy Day Committee for their time and dedication in organizing this celebration.

Finally, thank you to all who contributed to the AFP Nail Art Board by sharing moments that shaped their careers, enjoy the photo collage!