President's Message

Dear Fellow Fundraisers,

If you would like to volunteer your time helping steer another nonprofit toward donor-centered fundraising or to assist in creating a culture of philanthropy, we can help.  AFP Greater Detroit is partnering with the Detroit Executive Service Corp (DESC) by recruiting senior fundraisers to work with the DESC to provide the fundraising expertise their clients need.

DESC was founded in 1982 as a resource for affordable, effective and comprehensive management assistance consulting service for other nonprofit organizations, K-12 educational school systems and governmental agencies in the southeast Michigan region.  Visit www.esc-detroit.org for more information.

The DESC consultants have learned that their clients are often in need of strategic fundraising expertise and invite our professionals to join their team.  This is a great opportunity for CFRE’s to volunteer and for retired professionals to stay active in the community while sharing their wealth of experience with local nonprofits who struggle with sustainability.

Volunteer executives are contacted when a client’s assessment dictates their specialty.  As with any volunteer position, you may decline if the timing is not appropriate.

DESC provides an orientation (once per quarter) for all their executive volunteers. This includes a description of services provided, client assessment, models and surveys.  Fundraisers who join in this inaugural effort will be asked to development materials to assess fundraising practices.  

Please contact President, Mary Barden at mary.barden@uofdjesuit.org or 313/927-2325 if you are interested.  AFP will acknowledge volunteer fundraisers at our Annual Meeting each December. 

Please feel free to contact me anytime with your questions, suggestions or concerns. 

Regards,

Mary M. Barden, J.D.
President, AFP Greater Detroit Chapter
Mary.barden@uofdjesuit.org