Uniting for Social Justice and Deeper Diversity

By Midé Akerewusi

“When I got into fundraising 12 years ago, fundraising seemed to be an exclusive profession reserved for people who were very different from me,” says Midé Akerewusi, head of high-value relationships at Scope, the largest disability charity in the United Kingdom. “I remember the isolation I felt and the need I had to reach out to other black people who, like me, were passionate about making a difference and raising funds for causes they cared about.” In this article read about Akerewusi’s experience with fundraising, diversity and the Black Fundraisers Network he started that now has over 500 members.

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Beware of ‘Off the Rack’ Fundraising

By Kay C. Peck, CFRE

“The first step in effective fundraising in a diverse culture does not involve asking for money,” says Kay Peck, CFRE. “It involves the willingness to walk in uncharted territory and being willing to be the minority in a room full of people different from oneself.” In this article, Peck, a fundraising consultant in Las Vegas, N.M., describes life in her village in New Mexico and its unique philanthropic culture.
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Don’t Miss the 2008 Diversity Workshop!

Back by popular demand! If you attended the 2007 Diversity Workshop at the AFP International Conference on Fundraising in Dallas, you know you are in for a treat again this year.

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Career Track Profile - S. Sanae Tokumura, ACFRE

This issue we hear from a 25-year veteran of the fundraising profession who offers valuable insight into her career success and important words about incorporating diversity into the sector. She talks about how to maintain zeal for this important and ever-changing, ever-challenging field.

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Embracing Change and Individuality:
It Makes Business Sense

By Jessica Ritter

Paul B. Murphy Jr., CEO of Amegy Bank of Texas, was on the road to transforming one location and about $50 million in assets into 80 banking centers with nearly 1,900 employees and more than $10 billion in assets. It was an enormous expansion that has placed Amegy Bank among the best-performing banks in the nation today. But it was a feat that could not have been without gathering a healthy mixture of opinions and seeking ideas from nontraditional places. Read more about the nontraditional path of Amegy Bank in this article.

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Calling All Artists: Lend Your Artistic Talent to Celebrate Diversity

For the tenth year, the AFP Diversity Committee will be sponsoring an art showcase spotlighting youth art, a local artist and the artwork and poetry of AFP members. The exhibit, which is open to all members, expresses the uniqueness, value and diversity of people through art, photos and poetry.

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