Southwest Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Honored

March 22, 2023 – Sarasota

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southwest Florida Chapter was named a 2023 Ten Star GOLD Chapter. Every year, AFP, the largest association of professional fundraisers in the world, honors chapters for achieving goals that align with key objectives in its long-range strategic plan. Chapters receive the Ten Star GOLD Award for performing specific activities designed to increase professionalism within fundraising and public awareness of the importance of philanthropy. 

In Addition, The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southwest Florida Chapter has been designated as an IDEA Champion. The IDEA Champion Designation recognizes those AFP chapters who have accomplished at least eight of the key objectives outlined in the Promote Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) strategic pathway of the AFP Global Strategic Plan. This designation encourages AFP chapters around the world, to perform specific activities designed to increase IDEA within fundraising and public awareness of the importance of philanthropy in all cultures. 

“We are extremely proud of our 2023 IDEA Champion Designation and Ten Star Gold Award. The IDEA recognition reflects our Chapter’s values and work on inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, enhancing our community’s professional fundraisers’ success and philanthropic impact in our region,” said Lee Ann Rodriguez, Chapter President. “Our IDEA designation is one of the criteria that allowed us to receive the Ten Star Gold Award, which honors our Chapter’s fundraising professionalism and public awareness efforts on the importance of philanthropy,” she added. 

Less than 20 percent of AFP’s 200 professional chapters earn the Ten Star Gold Chapter recognition, making the Southwest Florida Chapter one of the association’s leading chapters around the world. AFP Southwest Florida Chapter will be honored as a Ten Star Gold Chapter at AFP International Conference on Fundraising (ICON). 

For more information on the Ten Star Award process and the IDEA Designation, please visit www.afpglobal.org/tenstar. To learn more about the AFP Southwest Florida Chapter visit https://community.afpnet.org/afpflsouthwestchapter.