AFP Colorado Chapter

🌟 Unlock Your Fundraising Potential! 🌟
The AFP Colorado Chapter is excited to offer scholarship opportunities for fundraising professionals who are ready to grow their skills, expand their network, and make an even greater impact in our nonprofit community.

Whether you're just starting your fundraising career or looking to take the next step, this scholarship is an investment in you—and in the future of philanthropy across Colorado.

📅 Applications are due August 13!

Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Learn more about the scholarship and apply today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6K3JswkfwwUG3OrjZ0MTTEC20qrAd0W8hn23gf-xbA9Hz2A/viewform

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with colleagues, friends, and nonprofit professionals who may be interested.

Sharpen your skills and deepen your insights in intimate dialogue with seasoned practitioners in the Session II Workshop Block at the 2026 Rocky Mountain Philanthropy Institute, Creating Community with Courage and Collective Action, Friday September 18 at UCAR, Boulder.

Session II Workshop Block participants will build effective and authentic communications strategies through the use of story seasons, dive into DAFs, or explore what is needed to foster philanthropy that is inclusive and accountable.
One session will be "DAFs – What Fundraisers Need to Know About Them and Their Donors" with Sarah James.

Sarah James joined the Philanthropic Services team at Rose Community Foundation in 2024. She brings more than a decade of experience in fundraising, having worked with a diverse range of organizations across the arts, social services, and education sectors. Throughout her career, Sarah has built meaningful relationships with donors and helped align their philanthropic goals with the
evolving needs of their communities. As Director of Donor Funds and Gift Planning, Sarah leads the donor-advised fund team, partnering with individuals and families to guide values-driven philanthropic strategies

Andrea comes to The Denver Foundation with a breadth of nonprofit knowledge, having worked at several higher education institutions and community organizations. In her Director of Philanthropic Growth role, she uses that knowledge to work with individuals, businesses, and families to reach their philanthropic goals.

Catherine manages the Community Champions giving program and supports individuals in establishing and customizing their giving plans. A Texas native, Catherine has enjoyed learning about Northern Colorado, meeting community-minded people, and helping them make meaningful impact through the work of the Community Foundation.

We hope to see you there!

👉https://bit.ly/RMPI26

RMPI Bonus Workshop: Thursday, September 17

In addition to the RMPI conference offerings on September 18, we are hosting a pre-conference bonus session: "Essentials Workshop – Maximize the Power of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)"

DAFs are gaining popularity as a giving strategy in the US, with rapid growth in both users and assets. However, many fundraisers lack clarity on exactly how they work and their benefits. Dr. Sandra Ehrlich, CFRE, and Michael Buckley, CFRE will be the presenters for this workshop.

Attendees are invited to join us for Happy Hour following the workshop. This workshop is a separate registration from RMPI. Please use the link below to register.

Don't miss this valuable session.

Thursday, September 17, 2026
1:00- 5:00 p.m.
Wipfli
3615 Delgany Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80216

Cost:
AFP Members: $60.00
Nonmember: $90.00

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/rbsnu29?mode=preview&source_id=e925ea5e-3e7e-40d0-aab2-7f219308c2f4&source_type=em&c=

Register now.

Junior League of Denver is pleased to announce it will provide volunteers and grant up to $25,000 this fiscal year to area nonprofits who support the League’s Mission to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training, along with the JLD’s current community focus. The League is currently working to disrupt the cycle of systemic poverty for women and families in Denver.

Grants will be awarded in May 2027. In addition to granting funds, the JLD will provide area nonprofits an opportunity to utilize its extensive network of volunteers from Fall 2027 to Spring 2028.

To be eligible for grant funding and volunteer placement, interested nonprofits are strongly encouraged to attend a JLD Community Information Session on Friday, August 21 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at our JLD Headquarters. RSVP to attend here: https://vms.ajli.org/?nd=p_vms_registration_event_detail®istration_id=225528&return_jid=10138036

Questions? Email [email protected].

Sharpen your skills and deepen your insights in intimate dialogue with seasoned practitioners in the Session II Workshop Block at the 2026 Rocky Mountain Philanthropy Institute, Creating Community with Courage and Collective Action, Friday September 18 at UCAR, Boulder.

Session II Workshop Block participants will build effective and authentic communications strategies through the use of story seasons, dive into DAFs, or explore what is needed to foster philanthropy that is inclusive and accountable.

One session will be "Seasons of Story: How Fundraisers Build Real Relationships Through Seasonal Storytelling" with Max Kringen.

Most nonprofits have great stories. They're just telling them at the wrong time. Seasons of Story maps four phases of donor trust to four communication postures: Spring (Introduce), Summer (Educate), Fall (Engage), and Winter (Remind). Storytelling that moves with the natural rhythm of how relationships actually form. One organization used the framework to grow its gala from $150K to $600K. Same donors. Different rhythm. You'll learn which season you're in right now, and leave with a seasonal communication plan you can start using Monday morning.

We hope to see you there!

👉https://bit.ly/RMPI26

The AFP CO Q3 Book Selection is Talk by Alison Wood Brooks.

A groundbreaking book that reveals the hidden architecture of our conversations and how even small improvements can have a profound impact on our relationships in work and life from a celebrated Harvard Business School professor and leading expert on the psychology of conversation.

A select number of copies will be available at Coffee Chat on August 11 or purchased at your favorite bookseller.

Book available here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/708473/talk-by-alison-wood-brooks/

We will be hosting another Brews and Books with the date and location TBA.

🍻 AFP Colorado Members — it’s time to connect!

Join us for our next AFP Colorado Happy Hour on Thursday, August 6, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Edgewater Beer Garden.

Come unwind, meet fellow fundraisers, exchange ideas, and strengthen the connections that make our AFP Colorado community so special. This event is exclusively for AFP Colorado members, so don’t miss the chance to connect with your fundraising peers!

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/fexe4fs

We can't wait to see you there!

Education Session Recap: Global to Local: Legislative Impacts and Insights for Colorado Fundraisers

On June 25, AFP Colorado welcomed AFP Global Lobbyist and President of Uncorked Advocates, Sally Schaeffer, AFP Director of Governance & Volunteer Leadership, Sam Edwards, and University of Colorado's Executive Director of Gift Planning, Jamie Mager, for a rich discussion about the latest policy decisions and discussions influencing our work.

Sally encouraged us to learn more about the Charity Pairty Act, Sam invited us to participate in Chapter Advocacy Week Aug 3-7, and Jamie shared the great news for Colorado charities who are beneficiaries of IRAs through passage of SB 26-118, the Legacy Giving to Charitable Organizations Bill. Thanks to our presenters and all who attended!

Stay tuned for our Q3 Education Session!

July's Coffee Chat brought together a panel of major gift professionals, Blake Nauman (Denver Rescue Mission), Gerry Rasel (Volunteers of America Colorado), and Ashley Guesman (Denver Botanic Gardens), for a candid conversation on building meaningful donor relationships and strengthening major gift strategies. Rather than focusing solely on solicitation, the panel emphasized that successful major gift fundraising begins with listening and a genuine goal for strengthening relationships. Attendees explored the importance of relationship-building meetings, thoughtful follow-up, and understanding each donor's unique motivations, passions, and connection to an organization's mission.

Throughout the discussion, panelists shared practical frameworks and lessons from their own fundraising experiences, including the LIA model (Linkage, Interest, and Ability) for determining donor readiness, the value of relationship-based performance metrics over revenue goals, and the importance of faithful persistence when cultivating donors. The session reinforced a central theme of major gift fundraising: strong relationships, not transactions, are what lead to transformational giving over time.

Join us for our next Coffee Chat on August 11!