Our Mission:

To advance ethical and effective fundraising.

The AFP Southwest Florida Chapter in Sarasota and Manatee Counties was incorporated as the National Society of Fund Raising Executives Southwest Florida Chapter in 1987 under the sponsorship of the AFP Suncoast Chapter in Tampa. The Southwest Florida Chapter was established in response to significant growth both of local, nonprofit organizations and the many, professional fund-raising managers being employed by them. The creation of this AFP chapter signified the maturity of the community’s long standing, vibrant philanthropic life. Chapter organizers included Stuart Beal, Frank Countryman, Charles Estill, and Zoltan Karpathy, and had 27 original members. This chapter covered Bradenton to Naples, until the chapter sponsored the creation of the Everglades chapter in Naples.

During its first ten years, the AFP Southwest Florida chapter held monthly luncheon meetings in the Sarasota University Club. It championed the CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification with area nonprofit CEO’s as the designation for professional fund-raising management. The Chapter’s annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon has become a community tradition and is the Chapter’s most recognized community event.