Association of Fundraising Professionals
National Organization

For more than 40 years, The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. AFP represents more than 27,000 members in 180 chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs.

AFP believes that to guarantee human freedom and social creativity, people must have the right to freely and voluntarily form organizations to meet perceived needs, advocate causes, and seek funds to support these activities. To guarantee these rights, AFP's purposes are to:

• Foster development and growth of fundraising professionals committed to the preserving and enhancing philanthropy.
• Establish a code of ethics and professional practices.
• Require member adherence to a professional code of ethical standards and practices.
• Provide training opportunities for fundraising professionals.
• Implement programs that ensure cultural and social diversity in our membership and leadership.
• Collect, research, publish, and disseminate historical, managerial, and technical information on philanthropy and philanthropic fundraising.
• Promote public understanding of philanthropy and philanthropic fundraising.
• Conduct activities that maintain and develop legislation favorable to philanthropy.
• Enlist, organize, and support members to achieve our purposes.
• Foster international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and education among fundraising professionals worldwide.
• Use all necessary and proper means to accomplish our purposes.
• Provide a valid and reliable certification program for fundraising professionals.

AFP Collegiate Chapters
Thoroughbred Chapter

The formation of AFP's collegiate chapters is an important way the association is working to foster the next generation of fundraisers. Collegiate chapters will be required annually to assess needs on their campuses and develop projects to address those needs. For these projects, the chapter may collaborate with other professional organizations on campus (e.g. student chapters of the American Marketing Association, Public Relations Society of America, etc.) and with campus fraternities and sororities.

Collegiate chapters must be sponsored by an existing AFP chapter that will work closely with its collegiate partner on a variety of initiatives. AFP is intending that members of the collegiate chapter will get involved with its sponsoring chapter's activities, including National Philanthropy Day®, Youth in Philanthropy and other programs.

In Central Kentucky, AFP has been proud to lead the way by sponsoring the Thoroughbred Chapter, based at the University of Kentucky. Contact Jan Swauger for more information.