Monthly News & Updates

May 2025 | Issue 5.25

President's Message

Dear friends,

The AFP Fort Worth Metro Chapter board is committed to fostering an environment that reflects the values of our profession. The principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) guide our decisions, our programs, and our vision for a strong and supportive fundraising community.

As part of our mission to deliver high-quality educational content, we invite speakers based on their professional expertise and the relevance of their topics to fundraising practice. We understand that the choice of speaker for April’s program caused concern for some members, and we sincerely apologize for any distress this may have caused.

As we all navigate fundraising in a time when many of our causes are unfortunately being politicized and polarized, it is vital that our chapter remains a place where you feel safe to gather, share, and grow as professionals. Our non-profits deserve your best, and we are here to help you achieve that. Because we have stayed focused on our mission, your Fort Worth chapter continues to expand to include more members, speakers, sponsors, and partners; and each brings their networks, experiences, and perspectives.

I want to thank you for being a model chapter when it comes to addressing a broad range of topics and beliefs and I encourage you to reach out to me or a board member if you ever have concerns that we are not living up to our mission and values. Our work is dynamic and deeply human, and there is not always a simple solution for every challenge, but we have a great volunteer board and a strong community of members who have worked together to overcome obstacles for 45 years and counting!

I hope to see you all on May 14 for Beth Cannon’s program on leadership development. This will be an insightful and unique program topic for our group - perfect for those of you who lead teams or would like to lead a team one day!

Also, don’t forget to register for the DFW Philanthropy in Action Conference, happening next month, June 5-6. It’s going to be another amazing conference that you’ll definitely want to attend!

Warm regards,

Hillary Bessinger, CFRE

2025 AFP Fort Worth Metro Chapter President

• Thank You To Our May Sponsor! •

Program Title

"From Burnout to Well-Being"

If you’re ready for a clear path to stability—both personally and professionally, Beth will share actionable strategies for realigning with your values, nurturing yourself and your relationships, and creating systems that withstand the pressures of operating a program. If you’re ready to prevent burnout and take back control, this session is your first step toward building a sustainable, balanced, and thriving environment.

Presented By:

Beth Cannon

Beth Cannon is known for her unique and effective approach to equipping and empowering early education leaders and teams. A sought-after speaker, coach, and consultant, Beth is the creator of a variety of strategy development and training programs and has delivered thousands of transformational keynotes and workshops for conferences, retreats, and schools.

With a bachelor’s degree in communications and education from the University of Texas at Arlington, Beth’s certifications in business, fitness, and education cover her office wall three times over.

Upcoming Events

5/12 | May Luncheon

6/5-6 | Philanthropy In Action Conference

7/14 | July Luncheon

8/11 | August Luncheon

Chapter Recognition

Congratulations to our chapter and its members for earning the 2025 Ten Star Gold, and IDEA Champion Designations!

The Chapter Ten Star Gold Awards honor those chapters who have accomplished many of the key objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan. AFP’s Strategic Plan is the blueprint for organizational growth and success in the future. For the strategic plan to be effective, it must be implemented through a partnership between AFP Global and the local chapters.

The IDEA Champion Designation recognizes those chapters who have accomplished many of the key objectives in AFP Global’s goal of advancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA).

New Members

So glad you have joined us!

Let us know what we can do for you - that's why we're here!!!

Paul Barton

University of Texas at Arlington (Student Fellow)

Kelli Graham

Laundry Love of Fort Worth

Derick Perry

Hope Through Housing Foundation

Zoe Taylor

University of North Texas (Student Fellow)

AFP Job Bank

Is your organization hiring? Did you know you can be highlighted in our weekly "We're Hiring Wednesday" social media post?

Visit our website and check out who's hiring, or submit open positions that are available at your organization!

Congratulations New and Recertifying CFREs

If you've earned your CFRE or been recertified recently and want to share the great news, let us know!

Quick Links

AFP Fort Worth • AFP Global

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