June marks Indigenous History Month and the start of summer—a season rooted in celebration and ceremony. I’m reminded of my first introduction to Kris Archie and the Circle on Philanthropy, whose work aligns with the teachings of the four seasons. Summer, they say, is a time to honour what we’ve grown and gathered, to connect, and to give thanks.

There is certainly much to celebrate. Our education offerings are in full swing, with something for everyone. We had an enthusiastic turnout at our mentorship mixer, delivered our first-ever professional development session in Cape Breton, and awarded eight free memberships to fundraisers across the province—deepening our commitment to access and inclusion. As we recognize both Indigenous History Month and Pride Month, we honour the diverse identities, stories, and contributions that strengthen our sector and our communities.

Momentum is building for the Maritime Fundraising Conference—we’ll be announcing our keynote speaker next month! And this month, we’re thrilled to welcome AFP Global CEO, Art Taylor, at our Annual General Meeting. (Don’t forget to submit your questions to Art when you register.) We’ve also formed exciting new partnerships with the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre and AFP New Brunswick.

At the same time, this season also brings sobering reminders—of communities impacted by wildfires and the urgent need to care for one another and the land. A colleague recently shared with me how Indigenous fire stewardship practices are rooted in generations of knowledge—wisdom that’s critical to how we move forward. In our EAT, MAKE, SHARE exhibition at the Museum, we’ve seen similar teachings come to life: how the Indigenous peoples guided settlers in gathering, preparing, and preserving foods like maple syrup. These lessons continue to shape us.



As we celebrate all we’ve achieved, may we also listen deeply, learn humbly, and carry forward our work with gratitude and responsibility.

Fiona

Fiona Valverde

President, AFP Nova Scotia

Mentorship Mixers

At our recent Mentorship Mixer, we were joined by a diverse mix of professionals: seasoned fundraisers, consultants, communicators, connectors, grant writers, grantmakers, those in transition, and even an executive director preparing to recruit their first-ever fundraising staff. The conversation flowed naturally as we shared experiences around career transitions, lay-offs, workplace dynamics, alternative pathways beyond the 9–5, and how to keep the spark alive in a demanding field.

To wrap up, we shared thank-you cards and encouraged each other to send a note of appreciation to someone who’s been part of our journey—because mentorship isn’t always formal. Sometimes, it’s a quiet reminder that someone sees and supports you.

Up Next: A Day in the Life: Fundraising Edition

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

4:00–6:00 PM Atlantic

Community Foundation of Nova Scotia, 6074 Lady Hammond Rd, Halifax

Free Registration – snacks + great convo included!

Curious what a “day in the life” looks like across different roles in our sector? Join us for a light-hearted, PowerPoint-party-style session where we’ll explore fundraising career journeys.

This is a low-pressure space to learn, connect, share your story, and be reminded of why you do what you do. Whether you're new to the sector or decades in, there's something here for you.



All are welcome—we’d love to see you there!

Tom O'Handley MFC Bursary

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Nova Scotia Chapter is proud to offer two $500 bursaries to attend the 2025 Maritime Fundraising Conference in Halifax, NS. 

The funds for these bursaries were raised in honour of fundraising friend and colleague Tom O'Handley. One of the first fundraising professional development events Tom attended was MFC as a bursary recipient. We hope these bursaries will support and inspire a new fundraiser on their career path.

One bursary will be awarded to a fundraiser living in Cape Breton. The other will be awarded to a fundraiser anywhere in Nova Scotia. Funds must be used expenses associated with the 2025 Maritime Fundraising Conference.

Deadline for nominations: August 15th, 2025

For over 35 years, the Maritime Fundraising Conference has been the touchstone for strengthening and growing our not-for-profit community. With the world of philanthropy rapidly changing, influenced by emerging technologies, shifting donor expectations, and new approaches to social impact MFC25 will dive into the "Evolving Landscape of Philanthropy". Attendees will discover innovative fundraising strategies, hear from thought leaders on cutting-edge strategies and future-forward approaches, growing cultural diversity, and engaging in meaningful discussions about how to foster lasting donor relationships.

Pre-Conference Workshop: Monday, September 15, 2025

Conference Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 

Venue: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 - Ken Rowe Hall, 1055 Marginal Road, Halifax, NS. 

The venue has been Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certified. To ensure any barriers you may face are considered please email Krista O’Connor at krista.oconnorccs@gmail.com

Ticket Prices include entrance to the September 15th social event (inclusive of registration and credit card fees).

As part of our commitment to community outreach and engagement, members of the AFP Nova Scotia Board recently met with Tim Bernard, Executive Director of the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC), and members of his team. We learned about their inspiring campaign to build a new cultural centre in Debert, Nova Scotia — a site where the Mi’kmaw people have lived for more than 11,000 years and continue to live today. To support this new partnership, we were proud to help promote two new fundraising positions with MDCC last month.

Learn more about the campaign and opportunities to get involved:

AFP Nova Scotia is pleased to invite you to our Annual General Meeting. This year we are pleased to announce a special virtual presentation by incoming AFP President and CEO H. Art Taylor. Art will be delivering an informative keynote address followed by a Q&A session. We will round out the meeting with an opportunity to socialize and network.

Join us Thursday, June 26th, 2025 at the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation Boardroom: 5657 Spring Garden Road, Park Lane Mall Suite 3005, Halifax, NS

Agenda

4:00 - 4:30: Annual General Meeting

4:30 - 6:00: Presentation and Q&A with H. Art Taylor, President and CEO, AFP

6:00 - 7:00: Networking

All are welcomed and registration is free. Light refreshments will be served.

*Virtual attendance option available.



Guests have the opportunity to submit questions for the Q&A session during the registration process. Our 2026 Slate of Candidates will be presented for election.

On June 12th the NSCC Waterfront Campus in Sydney was host to Carly Levy from Community Foundations NS as we hosted our very first workshop on Practical Stewardship for Genuine Donor Relationships. 

During the workshop we were award two free memberships to Michelle MacDonald from Elizabeth Fry Society Cape Breton and Kenneth MacKenzie from The Gaelic College. Congratulations!

AFP Member Dues will increase a total of $50 for Professional and Associate members. 50% ($25) of that increase will go directly back to the Chapter.

The new dues structure will go into effect on August 4, 2025. Members renewing on or after that date will pay the new rates. All professional and associate members will be given the option to renew early at the current rate for 1,2,3 or 5 year memberships. All other membership categories are not changing

New Membership Benefits:

• Beginning in January 2026, all AFP premium webinars (currently $99 per session for AFP members) will be included in the cost of membership
• Each Chapter will receive 5 additional Chapter membership Support scholarships and have 4 extra months to award the scholarships