AFP, Kansas Heartland Chapter

06/02/2026

⏰ Last chance! National Philanthropy Day nominations close this Friday, June 5!

Do you know an individual, business, foundation, volunteer, fundraising professional, or young person making a difference through philanthropy in your Kansas community?

National Philanthropy Day is one of the most meaningful ways we celebrate the people whose generosity and leadership strengthen the Kansas Heartland.

But they can only be honored if someone nominates them.

Don’t assume someone else will do it. Take a few minutes today to share their story. 🌻

Submit your nomination:
https://www.afpkansasheartland.com/national-philanthropy-day

05/28/2026

⏰ Time is running out to submit your National Philanthropy Day nominations!

Do you know an individual, organization, fundraiser, volunteer, foundation, or young person making a meaningful difference through philanthropy across the Kansas Heartland? Now is the time to help us celebrate them. 🌻

National Philanthropy Day honors the people and partners whose generosity, leadership, and service strengthen our communities every day - but nominations close soon!

📅 The deadline to submit nominations is June 5.

Award categories include:
✨ Outstanding Philanthropist
✨ Outstanding Corporation
✨ Outstanding Fundraising Professional
✨ Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
✨ Outstanding Private Foundation
✨ Outstanding New Professional
✨ Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy

Help us recognize the incredible people moving philanthropy forward across Kansas.

Submit your nomination here:
www.afpkansasheartland.com/national-philanthropy-day

05/19/2026

🌻 What a year for philanthropy across the Kansas Heartland.

Our 2025 AFP Kansas Heartland Impact Report is a celebration of the people, partnerships, learning opportunities, and generosity that continue moving our profession — and our communities — forward.

In 2025, together we:
✨ Hosted 10 educational sessions
✨ Welcomed more than 300 attendees to monthly learning opportunities
✨ Grew to 97 chapter members representing 82 organizations across Kansas
✨ Awarded scholarships to support professional growth and access
✨ Celebrated philanthropy through National Philanthropy Day with 272 attendees and 8 honorees

Most importantly, we continued building capacity and competency for professionals advancing philanthropy across our state.

Thank you to every member, Chapter and event sponsor, speaker, volunteer, and supporter who helped make this year possible. We’re excited for all that’s ahead as we continue strengthening philanthropy together. 💛

https://www.afpkansasheartland.com/_files/ugd/917c2b_1c6f776f6e7046c5a11fad7cdfa70da2.pdf

05/15/2026

📣 Have you registered for our May AFP Kansas Heartland learning session yet?

Join us on Thursday, May 28 for:
From Connection to Commitment: Securing Transformational Gifts

We’re excited to welcome Darin Kater to share practical strategies for identifying, cultivating, and securing major gifts. Drawing from his experience leading high-level fundraising efforts, Darin will explore how to:

✨ Build authentic donor relationships
✨ Align donor passions with organizational priorities
✨ Confidently guide conversations toward transformational giving

Attendees will gain insight into the key elements that inspire significant philanthropic investments and leave with actionable approaches to strengthen their own major gift efforts. 🌻

📅 Thursday, May 28, 2026
🕦 11:30 AM
📍 WSUFAE Conference Center
1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS

🎟️ Register today:
https://www.afpkansasheartland.com/event-details/from-connection-to-commitment-securing-transformational-gifts



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Join us for our May Professional Development Event!

05/07/2026

🎉 Congratulations to AFP Kansas Heartland members and professional fundraisers Trent Jones (First Tee Greater Wichita), Felicia Saunders (Wichita Habitat for Humanity), and Courtney Sendall (WSU Tech Foundation) on being recognized as part of the Wichita Business Journal’s 2026 40 Under 40 class! 🌟

We love seeing professional fundraisers recognized as leaders in our community - because this work truly is leadership work. Fundraisers are relationship builders, strategists, storytellers, advocates, conveners, and changemakers who help fuel the missions that strengthen our region every single day.

This recognition is a powerful reminder that philanthropy doesn’t happen by accident. Behind thriving nonprofits and stronger communities are passionate professionals helping connect generosity to impact.

Congratulations to Trent, Felicia, and Courtney on this well-deserved honor. We are proud to have each of you as part of the AFP Kansas Heartland community and grateful for the leadership you bring to the nonprofit sector across Kansas. 💛🌻

05/01/2026

🌟 Do you know someone making a difference in our community? 🌟

Now is the time to nominate them for National Philanthropy Day Awards!

These awards celebrate the individuals, organizations, and leaders who are shaping generosity across the Kansas Heartland - and we need your help to recognize them. 💛

You can submit nominations in the following categories:
• Outstanding Philanthropist
• Outstanding Corporation
• Outstanding Fundraising Professional
• Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
• Outstanding Private Foundation
• Outstanding New Professional
• Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy

Think about the people and partners who inspire you - and take a few minutes to share their story.

⏰ Nominations are due by June 5th

👉 Submit your nomination here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeH-ZtdpYmF_b_Owjm1xj_SUUQM2tC_Ny2j7nmCZpCgeA1Xlg/viewform

Let’s celebrate the generosity that makes our communities stronger. 🌻

04/27/2026

⏰ The Be the Cause match is on the clock!

As Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) members, this is one of the simplest and most meaningful ways we can invest in our profession - supporting scholarships, leadership development, and diversity initiatives through the AFP Foundation.

Even better, your gift can go further during the matching window:
📅 April 26–28 (during AFP ICON)

A matching sponsor will contribute $10 for every gift of $20 or more - and those matching dollars count toward our Kansas Heartland chapter’s goal of $1,500 contributions this year.

If we reach our goal, a portion of those funds comes right back to AFP Kansas Heartland to support local programming and opportunities for our communities. 🌻

Every gift makes a difference. If AFP has impacted your growth, your network, or your work, this is a great way to give back and pay it forward!

Make your gift here (select Be the Cause Campaign and AFP KS, Kansas Heartland Chapter): https://afpglobal.org/donate

Thank you for being part of this effort! 💛

Your gift to the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy will allow us to develop and implement new programs and enhance existing ones like scholarships, education and research. And don’t forget, BE the CAUSE is a cooperative annual fund that also provides direct benefit to your local community through yo...

04/26/2026

We are so excited for all of our Kansas Heartland Chapter members who are attending this week’s AFP ICON and to hear about all of the things they learn in these sessions and through connecting with other fundraisers!

04/08/2026

📣 Kansas fundraisers - this one’s for you.

If you’re looking to strengthen your fundraising skills, reconnect with the core of your work, and walk away with practical strategies you can use right away, join us on April 30 for a powerful day of learning with AFP Kansas Heartland.

This full-day session, Before All Else: Rediscovering the Essentials of Fundraising with Anna Schlia, is designed for professionals at every level, whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned fundraiser.

You’ll gain:
✔️ Practical tools you can apply immediately
✔️ A renewed focus on relationship-based fundraising
✔️ Time to step back, reflect, and grow
✔️ Connection with peers from across Kansas

📍 Wichita, KS
📅 April 30

Spots are limited, so be sure to reserve yours today:
https://www.afpkansasheartland.com/event-details/before-all-else-rediscovering-the-essentials-of-fundraising-with-anna-schlia

Invest in yourself. Strengthen your impact.

Join us for our April Professional Development Workshop!

04/02/2026

🤡 It’s April Fools’ Day…but this is no joke: we love our chapter sponsors! 💛

Their support helps make professional development, connection, and growth possible for fundraisers across the Kansas Heartland. From learning opportunities to community-building, they play a huge role in strengthening our chapter and our sector.

Today (and every day), we’re grateful for partners who believe in this work and invest in the people behind it. 🌻

Thank you to:
Kinetic
WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement
Wichita Foundation
Junior League of Wichita