An Abundance Mindset

AFP Member Spotlight: Jennie Dickerson

We are proud to celebrate Jennie Dickerson, CFRE, our Director of Annual Giving, for being featured in AFP Global’s Member Spotlight!

Jennie brings a spirit of generosity and possibility to everything she does—embodying the belief that philanthropy, at its best, is about inviting people into something bigger than themselves.

Association of Fundraising Professionals (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. The below is excerpted from the afpglobal.org website.

In this Member Spotlight, we interview Jennie Dickerson, director of annual giving at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis in Tennessee. She shares how she discovered fundraising in college, leading to a career dedicated to helping organizations fulfill their missions. She also reflects on the importance of maintaining an abundance mindset, the impact of AFP Global on her professional growth, and the strategies that have led to successful volunteer engagement and a monthly giving program.

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

I discovered a love for fundraising in college. At the time, I worked as seasonal staff for a summer camp on the cusp of launching its first capital campaign, and I remember hearing bits and pieces about the need and the strategies they were using. I wanted to help! Around the same time, a fundraiser from the Ronald McDonald House came to speak to my sorority, and I thought, “That’s a job? I could do that!” From then on, my focus has been helping organizations raise money to better fulfill their missions.

AFP: When and why did you decide to become an AFP member?

I have attended AFP conferences and trainings here and there over the years, but I officially became a member two years ago. I recognized how much those trainings had helped me, and I wanted to be part of the professional development of our industry in my city. I joined the chapter and the board at the same time. Since then, I have spoken to my local chapter three times, been awarded a scholarship to attend AFP LEAD, and have attended virtual Deep Dive trainings.

AFP: Are you doing anything innovative at your organization or was there anything at a past organization that you think other fundraisers could benefit from?

Two things I am most proud of are building a robust volunteer fundraising committee that raised millions of dollars and developing an engaged monthly giving program that increased recurring donors by 10 times. Both these successes have two things in common: regular engagement opportunities and clear expectations of membership.

AFP: What is your favorite word? How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

Abundance. There are enough dollars and generous donors to go around. It’s our job to invite them to the fold. Fundraising can often be a field mired in the feeling of scarcity. I’ve heard fundraisers talk about how other organizations are “stealing” their donors or how we have to “beat someone else to that ask.” I don’t buy into that. I believe that for every organization looking for aligned donors, there are philanthropic people whose desire is to solve the very problem that organization is solving. This mindset has influenced my career by keeping me moving forward, trusting the funds will come.

AFP: What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the $50 million [FOREVER Funds] endowment campaign to support our community grantmaking that I am working on right now. This campaign has been the first time my organization has formally raised money for one of its own initiatives. It has taken a tremendous amount of cultural change, both internally and externally. I’m so proud of our staff, all the committees it has taken to pull this off, and our donors for seeing the vision and believing in it.

AFP: How has being an AFP member and participating in the AFP affinity groups benefited you in your career?

Being a member of AFP has given me a network of people, both locally and globally, to call upon. I have attended affinity groups, created my own cohorts about a topic, engaged in the forums, and attended local and national events. It has given me the confidence to be a thought leader in my organization.

AFP: In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge facing the nonprofit fundraising profession today?

One of the biggest challenges I see is burnout. Last I checked, the average tenure of a development professional in a position is about 18 months. For a field built on strong donor relationships, that’s not enough time to be effective. I think a lack of investment in professional development, unrealistic or unclear expectations, and poor culture of philanthropy are three factors that influence burnout.

AFP: What advice do you have for other fundraising professionals?

My advice to other fundraising professionals is to find a peer network. Have colleagues inside and outside your organization to call on. Be curious and creative about ways to engage donors and volunteers in the work. Find a mentor who can help you manage up or sideways to effect cultural change on your organization. This work is meant to be done together.