July 26, 2010

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AFP's Paulette Maehara To Retire

Paulette Maehara, president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) since 1998, will retire in March 2011, The Non Profit Times has learned. It was not immediately known if she would be on the job through AFP’s annual conference, slated for next March 20-23 in Chicago.

According to a memo obtained by The NonProfit Times, an announcement is planned for next week. There is no word on a successor, although sources have said that a search committee and executive recruitment firm are both in the process of being developed. A call to an AFP spokesperson was not immediately returned.

Evolutions during her tenure include: a name change from the National Society of Fundraising Executives (NSFRE) to AFP in 2000, as well as a move to new offices in Arlington, Va., in 2007; a 10,000 increase in membership to more than 30,000 along with 50 new chapters; changes in the organization’s governance structure and establishing a more robust international presence.

It has been a challenging few years in the Arlington, Va.-based association. AFP’s conferences have been down significantly in attendance and the organization did go through layoffs to close a budget gap, as did many organizations in a recessionary economy.

Prior to joining AFP, Maehara was chief executive officer of the Epilepsy Foundation. She has also held executive positions with Project HOPE in Millwood, Va., the American Red Cross (both at its National Headquarters and at the National Capital Chapter), the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation (Hawaii Chapter) and the University of Hawaii Foundation.

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Many of us might not know where we’re going until we get there, but that lack of direction generally won’t cut it in the nonprofit world. In fact, it is an almost sure route to disaster.

Having an idea of what’s ahead can be extremely helpful, and that includes knowing where the roadblocks, potholes and dangerous turns lie. In his book "The Zen of Fundraising" Ken Burnett says there are several troubling trends and omens in the sector. They are:

• Donors nowadays are much more discerning and more savvy.

• Traditional fundraising methods continue to be less and less viable.

• Worried donors increasingly hang on to their cash.

• We face a possible decline in bequest income and in major gifts as well.

• Resistance to fundraising direct marketing is increasing.

• The hippie generation will turn out to be lousy donors.

• We are putting off more donors than we inspire.

• Too many fundraisers are chasing too few donors.

• Public alarm at the cost of fundraising is evident.

• Donors resent the big business appearance of many nonprofits.

• New legislation is being passed to protect donors and control fundraisers.

• Finding new donors is becoming unacceptably expensive.

• Soon it will be a simple matter for donors to cut fundraisers out of their lives completely.

• Short-term gain equals long-term suicide.