January 2025

There’s something about January that I absolutely love. It feels like a fresh start. A time to reset, reflect, and set new intentions for the year ahead. I also appreciate the gentle transition back to work after the holiday season, especially when it means getting to enjoy my work-from-home January wardrobe: flannel PJs, my Oodie, and cozy sheepskin slippers! As I sit here, reflecting on my goals for 2025, at the top of that list is my commitment to serving you as your new president

 

I follow in the footsteps of some truly remarkable past presidents. Their leadership has been inspiring, and I’m deeply grateful for their service. I’ve got big shoes to fill, but I’m ready to do my very best to continue their work in building trust and creating a sense of belonging.

When I think about my role this year, the word service stands out. For me, being your president is about what we, as a board, can do to support you and meet your professional needs. A big part of that is listening to you. That’s why we conducted the IDEA Survey. It was an important step in our IDEA Pathway to uphold the values of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. We are reviewing the IDEA Survey results as a board and will share these findings with you next month. 

 

We spent much of last year figuring out what it means to be welcoming and inclusive. This work is never done, but I feel hopeful that we are making progress here. Our board is diversifying to better represent our membership and the communities we serve. We know that education and professional development matter to you, and we’re committed to offering current, relevant, and IDEA-informed programming that meet your needs. To ensure we’re on the right track, we’ll be launching an Education Survey soon.

 

We’re excited to share that the Maritime Fundraising Conference will be back again! Save the dates of September 15 & 16. We’re thrilled to announce that Glenn Massad will be returning as Chair, with Su Khatri stepping in as Vice Chair. A heartfelt thank you to both of them, as well as to Shaylyn MacAulay for her outstanding leadership. 

 

There is so much more to look forward to in 2025, and we can’t wait to share it with you. I hope to see you at our New Year’s Social on January 23 at The Arms from 5 to 7pm. It’s one of my favourite events of the year, and I’ll be there along with other board members to welcome you and hear your thoughts. It’s just another reason why January is the best!

 

Warmly,

 

Fiona


Fiona Valverde

President, AFP Nova Scotia

AFP's Canadian National Scholarship Program

The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy—Canada offers fundraising professionals from Canada, working for charitable and nonprofit organizations, the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in fundraising.


Financial scholarships, up to a maximum of $1,000, are being offered to cover registration and travel costs for educational programs at the local, national and/or international level.

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AFP ICON 2025 Registration Now Open

The world's No. 1 fundraising conference is heading to Seattle, April 27-29, bringing together thousands of fundraising professionals from around the globe. Immerse yourself in cutting-edge strategies, inspiring keynotes, and unparalleled networking opportunities designed to elevate your mission and drive impact.

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Free Virtual Workshops

Oyler Consulting provides guidance on Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) policy for registered charities to support efficient administration, strong governance, and appropriate compliance. Three free upcoming virtual presentations will be offered from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.:


  • Tues, Feb 11: Receipting for Gifts: This presentation covers Canadian Revenue Agency policy for registered charities to provide tax receipts to donors.
  • Wed, Feb 12: Registered Charities and Business Activities: This presentation is to provide clarity on how the Canadian Revenue Agency identifies and classifies business activities and what types of business activities registered charities are allowed to carry on.
  • Thurs, Feb 13: Financial Reporting for Registered Charities: This presentation covers the financial reporting requirements for registered charities.


To register for any of these presentation, please email david@oylerconsulting.ca or call 902-476-4755

Shape the Future of AFP Nova Scotia Education

We want to hear from you! Help us design educational programming that meets your needs by sharing your input through our Member Input Survey. The survey will take just 8–10 minutes and is open until February 11. Your feedback will directly inform the future of AFP NS’s education portfolio.

Take Survey

AFP Member Exclusive: $100 Credit for Online Learning Opportunities

Whether you’re trying to find a solution for a particular problem, learn additional skills to open up new professional opportunities, or earn certification credits to ensure long-term career success, AFP is here to support YOU.


AFP has expanded its vast suite of programs and services, all designed to help you grow as a fundraiser and as a leader, and we want you to take advantage.


You can use the $100 credit on any one of our many upcoming premium webinars (12 this year!), archived webinars (more than 100 to choose from!), past conference recordings—including those from AFP ICON and AFP LEAD—or anything else in our online learning platform. And whatever portion you don't use on a product will remain there for your next purchase!

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AFP Deep Dive: Fundamentals of Fundraising Virtual Course

The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course was developed with a foundation from the Essentials of Fundraising Program and the First Course and is composed of seven modules that have been designed by experienced fundraising professionals to meet the real-world needs and challenges nonprofit organizations face every day.

January 28 & 30 and February 4 & 6, 2025 (4-day series) 

12:00 – 5:00 PM ET Each Day 

$419 USD (Members); $529 USD (Non-Members)

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Maritime Fundraising Conference 2025

Announcing MFC25 Leadership

We are excited to confirm that Glenn Massad will be returning as this year’s Maritime Fundraising Conference Chair. Joining Glenn as MFC’s Vice Chair is Su Khatri.


And mark September 15 & 16 in your calendars and join us for this year’s conference being held at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. We are excited to build on the success of MFC 2024 and will share details as the conference develops!


We hope you will join us!

Sponsored Content

Let's Get Social!

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


Date: January 23rd, 2025

Time: 5-7pm

Location: The Arms, Lord Nelson Hotel


Tickets $10 each PLUS you can bring a guest for free! Enjoy a drink and tasty appetizers from our hospitality partner RCR Hospitality Group.

Register Today

Announcing Chamberlain Scholar

We would like to congratulate Bernadette Hamilton-Reid for being awarded this year’s ICON Chamberlain Scholarship. The Scholarship covers the recipient’s conference registration and is available to individuals who have yet to attend ICON.

Bernadette is an 8th generation Afrikan Nova Scotian* woman who grew up in the nation of Beechville, Nova Scotia where she still participates actively in church and community life. Her passion is working to improve education for children of Afrikan ancestry and ensure people of Afrikan ancestry receive equitable treatment in all facets of life. 


Bernadette is a very active community activist & advocate and has been employed by the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of Afrikan Descent Coalition (DPAD) for the last 4 years as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Operations, and was recently appointed as the Executive Director in June 2023.  

 

* Most vernacular or traditional languages on the continent spell Afrika with a K; therefore the use of K is germane to us. - For more info visit - https://soh.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/ - Search - Four Reasons for Using 'K' in Afrika.

AFP Events Calendar

We have launched our calendar of events on the AFP Nova Scotia website. This allows you to view all of our events and activities with one quick click.

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Canada IDEAA Audit

AFP Canada is looking for one-on-one participation in the AFP in Canada IDEAA audit. This is a valuable opportunity for you to share your experiences and aspirations for AFP in Canada. 


Each interview will be approximately 30 minutes long. To schedule a time that works best for you, please click on the links below: 


Book an Interview in English: Donneil’s Schedule , Ruth’s Schedule , Venecia’s Schedule 


Book an Interview in French: Rim’s Schedule

Senior Manager, Direct Response Fundraising

Remote

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Director of Philanthropy and Engagement

Dartmouth, NS

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Visit our website for a full listing of current postings or to share your own opening.
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AFP in Canada -- Vision Statement
To stimulate a world of generosity and positive social good through fundraising best practice.

AFP in Canada -- Mission Statement
The Association of Fundraising Professionals empowers individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research and advocacy. 

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