Our very own chapter president has been featured in AFP Global's Member Spotlight!

AFP member spotlights are a recurring series of interviews with AFP members, highlighting the unique individuals and career paths that exist within the fundraising profession. If you would like to see yourself or a colleague featured, submit your profile here. 

In this member spotlight, interviewed Elena Nicklasson, M.A., vice president of university relations at Fielding Graduate University. She shared with us how a conversation with a mentor led to a career pivot into fundraising. Her advice to fellow members is to embrace courageous conversations, advocate for necessary change, and prioritize meaningful donor stewardship to strengthen the profession.

Q: How did you start your career in the fundraising profession, and what led you there?

A: My journey into the fundraising profession began while I was working in program operations at the Global Fund for Women. One day, as I was walking from the subway station to the office with our vice president of philanthropy, Pilar Gonzales, we shared our aspirations for the organization. Shortly afterward, Pilar approached me with a suggestion that changed the trajectory of my career—she encouraged me to consider fundraising as a profession.

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Many of us aspire to be dynamic change agents in our work (and lives). But the percentage of leaders and organizations who rate well in strategy and execution of strategy is incredibly low. In this engaging, fun, and thought-provoking session, you will explore successful pathways to transformational change.

Participants will learn about:

• The tangible importance and implications of a strategic approach
• The characteristics of a strategic person/organization
• Obstacles that hinder strategic work
• A digestible process for achieving successful strategic change
• The role of fundraisers in organizational strategy
• A roadmap for fostering strategic change in work (and life)

Participants will leave with:

1. An improved assessment of themselves and their organizations with
2. regards to strengths/opportunities for becoming more strategic
3. A pathway to begin and support your journey as a game-changing leader

About our Presenter: 

Monica Grant, CFRE, is an organizational and fundraising consultant. She is the former Chief Resource Development Officer for the Channel Islands YMCA and served as the CEO of the San Luis Obispo County YMCA for 9 years. Monica has thirty years of experience as a nonprofit and development professional, including YMCAs in California and Hawaii, UC Santa Cruz, The Nature Conservancy, United Way, and Sierra Club. She has an MS in Organizational Leadership, a Certificate in Organizational Development Consulting, and a Certificate in DEI. Monica serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global Board of Directors and is Past President and a founding board member of the AFP SLO County Chapter. She presents at AFP ICON and national YMCA conferences. She lives in Arroyo Grande with her wife, Colleen Murphy and son, Angelo.

Event Details

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Noon-2 p.m.

People Helping People

545 N. Alisal Rd., Solvang, CA 93463

$25 - AFP Members

$35 - Non-Members

Lunch Included.

Join us prior to the event for a volunteer opportunity.

Volunteer Opportunity with Food Distribution in Solvang 

Mission Santa Ines - parking lot, along the religious education classrooms

1760 Mission Drive

Solvang, CA 93463

Full participation in How to be a Gamechanging Badass is applicable for 1.25 point in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

Keynote: Meeting the Moment: A Call to Action for Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector

Speaker: Efrain Escobedo, President & CEO, Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM)

With decades of cross-sector leadership in philanthropy, government, and nonprofits, Efrain Escobedo brings a bold vision for building community power and civic engagement. He’ll share practical insights on human-centered strategies, nonprofit advocacy, and partnership-building to help organizations drive real, systemic change.

Efrain will share his insights and then end with a Q&A session with Tisha Hyter, Director of Nonprofit Strategy for PNC Institutional Asset Management.

Takeaways: Discover how your organization can better advocate, engage stakeholders, and position itself as a leader in times of uncertainty.

Agenda

10:00 a.m. - Registration, Networking & Headshots

10:30 a.m. - Keynote Presentation

11:45 a.m. - Lunch, Networking & Headshots

1:00 p.m. - Concurrent Breakout Sessions

A. Panel Discussion: Beyond the Gala – Building Sustainable Community Support in a Shifting Policy Environment 

B. Understanding Local Giving Trends: Equity and Opportunity

C. Advocate Like a Leader: Coaching for Nonprofit Professionals Navigating Change.

2:20 p.m. - Concurrent Breakout Sessions

A. The Art of the Major Gift Ask

B. Corporate & Banking Partnerships That Go Beyond Sponsorship

C. The Future of Planned Giving

3:30 p.m. - Conclusion

Event Venue Location

Santa Barbara City College

721 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Early Bird Rates

AFP Members $50

Non-Members $75

Organizational Discounts: Send three or more individuals from the same organization and pay $50 per attendee. Email admin@afpsbv.org to take advantage of this deal!

Save the Date!

November 4, 2025

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Oxnard Levity Live

591 Collection Blvd, Oxnard, CA 93036

On National Philanthropy Day (NPD), we celebrate the extraordinary individuals and organizations who are changing the world with a giving heart. This year, AFP Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter will recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy – and those people active in the philanthropic community – have made to enrich and benefit our communities this November in Ventura County.

Your voice is essential in telling our community's story and we invite you to nominate those exemplary leaders of our philanthropic community so they can be recognized at this year’s event. Read more

Interview with Elena Nicklasson – AFP/ICON – May 2025

What inspired you to apply for the Chamberlain Scholarship, and how did it feel to be selected as this year’s recipient from the Santa Barbara/Ventura Chapter?

Fundraising is new to me. I was highly encouraged at my office to apply for the Chamberlain Scholarship, and I felt very fortunate and grateful for this tremendous opportunity to advance my new career.

What were some of the most impactful sessions, themes, or conversations you experienced at AFP ICON, and how do you see them shaping your work in fundraising?

The AFP/ICON Conference 2025 offered an incredible number of resources, learning opportunities and peer-to-peer advice. I made efforts to attend as many sessions as possible, as well as to purposefully network with many great people in the fundraising community. There were several key points that impacted me about my own role at the Ventura Botanical Gardens. The session about Donor Development and “The 12-week Fast Track Plan for the Full Year” was very important since it provides a simple system to stay on track with the development plan. I also attended a couple of sessions regarding donor retention and the importance of creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as written documents outlining the specific steps required to consistently complete a task in every stage of the fundraising cycle.

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Community Sponsor

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

Founded in 1960, AFP International (formerly the National Society of Fund Raising Executives) advances philanthropy through over 24,000 members in 243 chapters around the world. AFP International is committed to promoting philanthropy and supporting the practice of ethical and effective fundraising. AFP offers many opportunities both at the local chapter and international association levels. Join your local AFP Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter today for professional development, networking, and employment opportunities.

Association of Fundraising Professionals

P.O. Box 1564, Santa Barbara, CA 93102-1564

(714) 771-3685

admin@afpsbv.org

www.afpsbv.org

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