The Third Hemispheric Congress on Fundraising–Latin America: A Big Success!

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) hosted more than 400 fundraisers from all over Latin America at the Third Hemispheric Congress on Fundraising–Latin America on May 23–25, 2007, at the Hotel Sheraton Centro Histórico, Mexico City. The event featured some of the brightest minds in Latin American fundraising and philanthropy and offered networking and training to fundraisers from several countries.

“The congress is rapidly becoming one of the most important gatherings of the fundraising profession in the whole world,” said Paulette Maehara, CFRE, CAE, president and CEO of AFP, in her opening comments at the opening plenary session, May 25. “Why? Because the voluntary sector—nongovernmental organizations—have become such important leaders in countries across Latin America.”

Maehara explained that “fundraisers are becoming leaders, not just for our donors and for our organizations, but for all people,” and that it is through organizations in the voluntary sector that people are making their voices heard.

The congress meeting place, the Sheraton Centro Histórico, was host to myriad guests from Costa Rica, Panamá, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador and Peru.

This year AFP awarded scholarships to 56 people, thanks to the support of sponsors and donors.

For Katie Mills, a student at Arizona State University who received a scholarship from the AFP Greater Arizona Chapter to attend the Third Hemispheric Congress on Fundraising–Latin America, the experience was just the boost she needed. “I had hit a wall in fundraising for the nonprofit I work with helping youth and their families in El Salvador,” she wrote. “You might recognize the wall … it can be a towering and looming obstacle preventing us from advancing our mission. Then in Mexico City I found hundreds of individuals working in the same field from nonprofits doing incredible work all across Latin America who inspired me and gave me the tools I would need to climb that wall.”

“The fun part,” said Roselena Sandoval, who works at the Mexico City office of AFP, “was the Caribbean Party, sponsored by the AFP Mexico City Chapter. Participants had a chance to dance to a salsa rhythm and sing along with Celia Cruz. It was a great way to celebrate among friends!”

Congress Chair Carlos Madrid, development director with Patronato Hospital Infantil de Mexico, and Roberto Soto-Acosta, who is with Development Associates in San Juan, Puerto Rico and a member of the AFP International Ethics Committee, invited all the attendees to apply what they learned at the congress to improve and increase the scope of the profession in Latin America.