March/April 2026 Newsletter | |
Happy Spring AADO Members,
As we continue moving through the year together, I want to begin with a personal note of gratitude. Many of you reached out with kind words and encouragement while I was recovering from recent eye surgery. I am happy to share that I am doing very well and am now back on the road traveling again. I am especially excited about the opportunity to see many of you in person in the months ahead. Being together, even for a short time, always reminds me how powerful and affirming our community truly is.
The energy around AADO Connect 2026 is already beginning to build as we prepare to gather in cities across the country. These convenings are about more than a program or a single day. They are about relationships, real conversations, and the shared experiences that strengthen us as fundraising professionals and as a community. Each time we come together, we create space to learn from one another, celebrate one another, and continue growing together.
In this issue, you will find opportunities to stay engaged and contribute, including the Call for Sessions for AADO Connect 2026. We are also continuing to uplift the leadership and contributions within our network through AADO Voices of Impact, along with updates, resources, and ways to stay connected to each other’s work and journeys.
This is your community. Take advantage of all AADO has to offer and find meaningful ways to connect, contribute, and participate. Please don’t keep AADO a secret. Share it with your colleagues and peers. I continue to meet people who say they wish they had known about us sooner.
Thank you for the care you show one another and for the commitment you bring to this profession. I am deeply grateful to be part of this community with you and look forward to seeing many of you very soon.
Peace and health,
Birgit
AADO Founder & CEO
| | |
AADO Connect 2026 is going on the road with gatherings in Los Angeles, CA; Atlanta, GA; Old Westbury, NY; and Carbondale, IL. The Call for Sessions is now open.
AADO is seeking experienced fundraising professionals to lead practical, real-world workshops that reflect diverse perspectives across career stages and organizations.
If you have insights, strategies, or stories to share with the community, we invite you to submit a proposal.
| |
What AADO Leaders are Reading
In the last newsletter, we invited you to share books that have influenced your fundraising practice or leadership journey. Read the thoughtful recommendations our members shared.
Click here or the image below to view the full list in PDF format.
| |
|
Design Your Success Circle: Building Your Personal Board of Directors
by Birgit Burton
A Personal Board of Directors is a small group of trusted individuals who each contribute something different to your growth, confidence, and career trajectory. Unlike a formal governing board, this is an informal circle of advisors you can turn to for perspective, support, and honest feedback at key moments in your professional journey.
A strong Personal Board of Directors might include:
1. The Truth-Teller
This is the person who will keep it real with you. They are direct, honest, and grounded. They will challenge your thinking, help you see blind spots, and tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear.
2. The Fundraising Expert
Someone deeply knowledgeable in the fundraising profession who understands strategy, donor dynamics, and sector trends. This person can help you think through complex situations, career moves, and big opportunities with an informed lens.
3. The Mentor and/or Sponsor
A trusted guide who helps you grow, build confidence, and navigate your career path. This person may also actively advocate for you, open doors, and connect you to opportunities that accelerate your advancement.
4. The Professional Presence Coach
Someone who helps you refine how you show up in professional spaces. They can offer insight on communication style, executive presence, personal brand, and how you position yourself for leadership.
5. The Strategic Visionary
This person helps you think bigger. They encourage long-term thinking, help you step back from day-to-day pressures, and challenge you to imagine what is possible for your career and impact over the next five to ten years.
How to Build and Use Your Personal Board
You do not need to formally invite someone to serve on your Personal Board of Directors. In fact, people are often hesitant to commit to something that feels official or time-intensive. Instead, you can simply recognize the role they play in your life and reach out when you need perspective. A focused request for 15–20 minutes of their time is often welcomed and makes it easier for them to say yes.
It is also healthy to refresh your Personal Board every few years. As your career evolves, your needs will change. Bringing in new voices and perspectives helps keep your thinking fresh and ensures you continue to grow.
| | | | |
AADO Voices of Impact
AADO Voices of Impact is an AADO feature that celebrates leaders whose work, presence, and commitment are making a meaningful difference in our profession and communities. This is not a nomination process, instead, we will thoughtfully seek out and invite individuals whose impact we witness—through shared stories, written work, conversations, and the ways they show up and lead. We are listening. We are watching. We see you.
This month we feature Christopher Beck. Christopher is a highly respected leader in the fundraising profession whose work reflects a deep and authentic commitment to community, mentorship, and impact. He serves as a member of the AADO Board of Directors and leads Men of Color in Development (MOCID), where he has helped create powerful spaces for connection, leadership development, and professional growth for fundraisers across the sector.
Known for his generosity, collaborative spirit, and ability to bring people together, Christopher is widely admired by colleagues and peers. His leadership is grounded in relationships, faith, and a strong belief in the importance of building a philanthropic sector that truly reflects and serves the communities at the heart of the work. We are honored that Christopher is sharing his reflections with the AADO community in this edition of AADO Voices of Impact.
| |
|
Your work reflects a deep commitment to community and impact. What experiences or influences have most shaped your approach to philanthropy and leadership?
"Coming from a teaching and fitness background, the charity space was very new to me. Having a great first Leader in the space, Harold Witherspoon, at the time, Boy Scouts of America, (now Scouting of America). Harold took a chance on me, gave me a solid foundation, and taught me the importance of Relationship Capital, learning how to lead from a place of authenticity, and taking a community- and donor-centric approach. This approach has served me well and paid major dividends, both personally and professionally. I will forever be grateful!"
What change would you most like to see in the philanthropic sector over the next decade?
"I’d like to see a revamped metric system for assessing our work and the work of front-line individuals. Currently, our metrics contribute to high burnout, especially with our new donor landscape. We also must do more than just talk about involving the Next Gen. I know some really strong Next Gen philanthropists with great ideas to improve our sector. As leaders, we must bring them to the table and get them involved in a meaningful way."
Read Christopher's Full Interview here.
| | | |
|
We’re celebrating Christian Mitchell Murphy, CFRE (C’2007), on her return to Spelman College as Acting Vice President for Institutional Advancement. In this role, she will help advance priorities including expanding access and affordability, strengthening faculty support, and enhancing institutional infrastructure.
Congratulations, Christian, on this exciting leadership role!
| | | | | | |
We’re also celebrating Shelby Busha on her new role as Associate Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship at United Way of Greater Atlanta.
Congratulations, Shelby, on this exciting next step! 🎉
| | | | | |
Join us in congratulating Lakisha McNair, MPA, CNP, in her role as Director of Development and Donor Engagement at Outdoor Afro.
Congratulations, Lakisha. We’re excited to see your impact continue to grow!
| | | Have you recently taken on a new role or made a move you would like to share? We want to celebrate with you. Let us know at the link below to be featured in our next "Members on the Move." | |
Honoring Monica Brewton
Recently, we paused to honor and celebrate the life of Monica Brewton, an extraordinary professional and an even more beautiful person.
Two years ago, AADO made a bold and necessary shift. After 12 years of partnership with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), we stepped out on our own to produce our annual conference. It was a pivotal moment for our organization and, candidly, a challenging one.
We were seeking a venue in Atlanta willing to take a chance on us. Without the established credit history of producing the conference independently, we faced “no” more times than I can count.
But Monica said yes.
As Senior Event Manager at the Emory Conference Center and Hotel, Monica saw us. She believed in what we were building. She extended trust when it wasn’t easy to do so, and because of that, she opened the door for AADO to move forward.
What followed were two incredible years hosting our conference at Emory. Those experiences were not just successful, they were transformative for our organization. And Monica was at the center of making it all happen.
She led with professionalism, grace, and a genuine spirit of partnership. She cared deeply, paid attention to every detail, and made us feel not just like clients, but like we belonged.
We were devastated to learn of her sudden passing after a brief illness.
Today, at her memorial service, Donna Stewart and I stood alongside her family, colleagues, and friends to reflect on a life that made a lasting impact on so many.
Monica’s presence, her kindness, and her willingness to show up for others will not be forgotten.
I am personally grateful. AADO is forever grateful.
Sometimes, all it takes is one person to say yes, and change everything.
Rest well, Monica. Your legacy lives on in all of us who were fortunate enough to experience your light.
| | Resources and Opportunities | |
|
New AADO Advisory Committee
The AADO Advisory Committee is a rotating group of fundraising professionals who offer insight and guidance to help shape AADO’s programs and direction. Members bring real-time experience from the field, ensuring AADO stays responsive to the evolving needs of fundraising professionals of color.
The committee reflects a range of perspectives across career stages, organizations, and lived experiences. Members gather several times throughout the year to share feedback, surface emerging needs, and offer thoughtful counsel. While not a governing body, the committee plays an important role in keeping AADO connected to the field.
Applications are open to AADO Plus Members only.
| |
Recruiting an AADO Website Advisory Task Force
The AADO Website Advisory Task Force is a short-term group supporting the ongoing improvement of AADO’s website. Members provide feedback on content, navigation, accessibility, and overall user experience to ensure the site serves members, partners, and the broader fundraising community well.
Participants will review updates, share ideas to strengthen engagement, and help highlight AADO’s programs, events, and impact. This work helps shape a more inclusive, user-friendly digital presence that reflects AADO’s mission.
Applications are open to both AADO General and Plus Members.
| |
|
What is Your AADO Story
Share your journey, your work, and the impact you’re making. Submissions are now open, and selected member stories will be featured throughout the year beginning with our AADO May newsletter.
| |
| |
The Joy Raising Summit returns June 22–23, 2026 at the University of Chicago.
This national gathering brings together leaders of color across philanthropy, nonprofit, corporate, and civic sectors for learning, connection, and celebration. Tesha McCord Poe is the mastermind behind this conference.
Early-Early Bird registration is $500 through March.
Register here:
joy-raising.com/thesummit
| |
Become an AADO Plus Member
Consider upgrading your membership to AADO Plus and be part of the movement year-round. Plus member benefits include:
- Invitations to Plus-only events
- Professional development & resources
- Priority registration and select discounts
- Expanded networking & mentorship access
Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your skills, expand your network, and make a difference in the world of fundraising.
| | | | | | |
