Dear colleagues and friends,

As we step into October—a month that always seems to accelerate our calendars—I want to extend a warm welcome on behalf of the AFP Santa Barbara–Ventura Board. Our sector is shouldering real complexity right now: shifting donor behavior, tighter budgets, evolving compliance, and the daily work of stewarding trust in an uncertain world. And yet, this community keeps showing up—with rigor, ethics, and heart. Thank you.

Two quick spotlights:

Join us for National Philanthropy Day (NPD) — Tuesday, November 4, 5:00–7:00 PM at Levity Live, Oxnard. NPD is our annual moment to recognize the donors, volunteers, and nonprofit professionals who make generosity visible. Bring your team, invite your board, and celebrate the wins that keep our missions moving.

October is AFP Ethics Awareness Month. Ethical practice is our competitive advantage. If you haven’t already, register for our joint ethics program online on October 31—great content for your staff and your board.

I also hope your year-end appeals are well underway—audience segmentation fine-tuned, case for support tightened, cultivation touchpoints mapped, and stewardship plans set for January retention. As you sprint to December 31, please also take care of yourselves and your teams. Sustainable fundraising is a marathon of relationships, not a single campaign.

A few reminders about your chapter resources:

Leadership & Professional Development: From CFRE-eligible programs (check out our October 24 workshop) to practical workshops, our calendar is built to strengthen your pipeline, governance partnerships, and donor retention strategies. Share these with colleagues and board members—professional development has a ripple effect across the whole organization.

Membership Support & Scholarships: If membership dues are a challenge—you’re not alone. Everyone’s budgets are tight. Please reach out. We have scholarship options and we’re happy to talk with you and your leadership about how investing in your team’s growth pays dividends in revenue, retention, and resilience.

Peer Community: Whether you’re new to the profession or a seasoned leader, this chapter is a safe place to problem-solve, benchmark, and recharge. Come to a program. Bring a colleague. Make a connection that makes your work easier tomorrow.

Finally, to our volunteers, committee members, and board—thank you for your time, talent, and steady leadership. As we like to say, many hands make the work light. Your service makes our chapter a catalyst for ethical, effective fundraising across Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

I look forward to seeing you at NPD and at our October programs. If I can help—whether it’s membership, scholarships, or introducing you to a peer—just hit reply.

With appreciation and resolve,

Elena I. Nicklasson

President, AFP Santa Barbara–Ventura Chapter

The Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential is a voluntary credential recognized worldwide, that signifies a confident, ethical fundraising professional.

It is how today’s fundraiser shows accountability, service, and commitment to making a difference for good. It is vital to a fundraiser’s professional growth and that it sets the standard for ethical practice in the sector. Becoming a CFRE can open career doors and possibilities. Be in demand and get recognized as a fundraising leader working to the highest standards.

Fees: AFP Members - $25 / Non-Members - $35

Location: Lompoc Valley Medical Center, 1515 E Ocean Ave., Lompoc CA 93426

Parking on-site will be available. Guests will just check in at the “Welcome Desk” and they will be directed to the room.

Lunch Included

Approved for 1.5 CEs from CFRE International

October is AFP Ethics Awareness Month!

Join us October 31 for a joint chapter ethics webinar with the Inland Empire Chapter, featuring Janice Gow Pettey, Ed.D, author and Chair Emeritus of AFP's International Ethics Committee.

Fees: $15 Members / $25 Non-Members

Join us as a Chapter Sponsor and enjoy high visibility all year long to hundreds of non-profit leaders and fundraising professionals across both Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.



• AFP-SBV hosts more than a dozen professional development and networking events throughout the year. Your sponsorship would also include a valuable presence at the AFP Symposium on Fundraising and the widely-publicized National Philanthropy Day Celebration.
• Chapter Sponsors at every level will be prominently listed on the Chapter website and in the AFP-SBV bi-monthly e-Newsletter.
• We will always feature you leading up to events and thank you from the podium.

For a listing of all current AFP Global Webinars visit https://afpglobal.org/events

Presenting Sponsors

Partner Sponsors

Community Sponsor

Friend Sponsor

In-Kind 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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