Ask Allison
The Ask Allison Podcast with Allison McElroy brings nonprofit pros together for real talk, big laughs, and aha moments! Through honest conversations, shared stories, and fresh takes on trends and best practices, Allison keeps it fun, encouraging, and full of heart.
Allison McElroy is a bubbly encourager, nonprofit strategist, and proud Arkansan who loves helping people reach big goals. Founder of The McElroy Group, she mixes heart, humor, and hard-won experience to lift others up. Fundraiser, singer, speaker, cheerleader—when in doubt, just Ask Allison!
Ask Allison
Ep. 6 - Legacy Gifts: Impact That Lasts with Amy McGovern
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
A lot of people think fundraising is just asking for money. That idea is not only wrong, it can quietly wreck your donor relationships. I’m joined by Amy McGovern, Director of Development for the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and President of AFP Northwest Arkansas, for a real-world conversation about what actually moves giving: listening, trust, and inviting people into something they already care about.
Amy shares her unexpected career path into development, then breaks down how the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas works, from managing charitable funds and endowments to supporting communities through a robust nonprofit grants program. We talk funding priorities, why “Methodist” in the name doesn’t automatically mean “not for you,” and how sponsorships and grants can help nonprofits tackling issues like poverty and food insecurity. If you’ve wondered where to look for nonprofit funding in Arkansas, this will point you in a practical direction.
We also get honest about what nonprofits can do better, especially around impact reporting and donor stewardship. Stats matter, but stories stick. You’ll hear why handwritten thanks, clear outcomes, and a real human face can outperform the prettiest annual report. Then we zoom out to professional growth through the Association of Fundraising Professionals, including ethics, mentorship, scholarships, and the community that keeps fundraisers from feeling like they’re doing this work alone.
If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a nonprofit friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one fundraising “rule” you’re ready to unlearn?
Welcome And Longtime Connection
SPEAKER_03Welcome back to the Ask Allison podcast. I'm Allison McElroy, a certified fundraising executive located in Northwest Arkansas. I love helping people reach big goals with my version of strong encouragement. I mix my heart, my humor, and my experience to lift you up. I am so glad you are listening again today because you could listen to literally anything, but you have chosen to be here to listen to me and my guests today. And I am thrilled to be here today because uh today's guests, we go way back. I think I say that every episode, but I really mean it this time. Way back. Really mean it. Yes. So I am introducing my friend Amy McGovern, and she's gonna tell us more about her in a little bit, but I'm gonna go ahead and tell you how we know each other way back when, kitties. Back in the day, uh, when I got my first job at Open Avenues here in Rogers, it was then called Adult Development Center. So some of you from before the times will remember Adult Development Center. Um we were located on Dixieland Road, and I had just moved here. The year was 1995. Did we have to say that part? Yeah. Um, I had moved here in in late 94 and got my job at Adult Development Center in '95. And one of the most precious people in the world to me, uh, my coworker, Lorraine Miller, worked there. And we got to work together for many years before she ended up going to work at Arkansas Rehab. But she had a daughter, a lovely daughter named Amy. And so I have known Amy since that far back. And I don't even know how old you were at that time, but she was just a babe.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I was a it just occurred to me though that you've known me with all three of my last names.
Finding Joy In Spring Weather
SPEAKER_03Yes. I have. So not many people can say that. So Amy Rose, which I always add of Texas on there because of that. Yeah. Did you know? Amy Rose, and then Amy Anderson, and now Amy McGovern. So we've covered that. So you might know one of those Amy's. Same person. Same person. Same personality. It's not split personality, it's a proper. Okay. So we're gonna start off. I'm gonna ask you what's something that is just m making you joyful now or bringing you joy right now. The weather. Yeah. Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01It's a beautiful day. Yeah. And I get to wear spring clothes, and it just is the sun and the light breeze and the pollen. Oh, wait, maybe not that part.
SPEAKER_03No, our cars are dusted in yellow or that mustard color, whatever it is.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. But no, the weather to today especially is bringing me all sorts of joy. Okay. So good. Good.
Amy’s Career Path Into Development
SPEAKER_03It's bringing me joy too. And I feel um good when I walk out, but the the thing in Arkansas is you never know what it's gonna bring and how many seasons you get in one day. But I'm glad to know that because today is actually one of those warm days. We're in the 80s today here in in Rogers, Arkansas. Um, okay, so I'm gonna just start with why don't you tell us a little bit about you? And uh one thing I want you to touch on is did you start in fundraising? Which is a question that we all like to ask and then laugh about. Because most of us don't start in fundraising, do we?
SPEAKER_01Well, I actually, and I don't know if you ever knew this about me, my very first development type role, I was a student worker in the development office at Hendrix College. So I got a little taste of development work back in the, you know, mid-90s, and uh lots of um, you know, licking of envelopes and stamps and return manual and yeah, all the stuffing and licking. Yes, all the things. And so that was really my first taste, no pun intended, of um, you know, fundraising. So it actually did start in fundraising. But then uh once I graduated from from Hendricks, I actually started working in their office of admission, eventually became their director of admission, uh, got married somewhere in there, and uh moved to San Antonio, worked for a private preparatory school doing admission. So my conversations with families went from what kind of AP scores do your does your son have to is your son potty trained? So, you know, it's just kind of a little shift there. Um and then my uh husband at the time joined the Foreign Service. And so life literally went um across the world. We live in lived in four different countries over the span of 10 years. Um I was fortunate enough to um work at all the embassies where we lived. And so um I got some amaz had some amazing experiences, uh, none of which were in fundraising, but some amazing uh that I wouldn't wouldn't trade the world for, and then uh moved back to Northwest Arkansas once um we divorced and um started working at another school because I thought I wanted to kind of get back into that world working for a school and and uh didn't get my ideal job. I just um got an admin assistant type position, but I thought I'll get my foot in the door and see what happens. And sure enough, um their advancement team expanded, and so they knew my background with admissions and that gave me a little more um taste of development work and fundraising and and uh you know hosting a big, big fundraising gala and and all of that. And then um while I wasn't looking for my current position, I was happy where I was, but um a former uh boss of mine actually reached out to me and said that there was going to be this opportunity in northwest Arkansas, and she immediately thought of me because of being from Northwest Arkansas, being a lifelong Methodist, and uh, and that's with the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. So I've been with them about five years and uh and I know not crazy. It's crazy. It is crazy.
What The Methodist Foundation Is
SPEAKER_03So so no, I did not originally start in um development work or fundraising, but um But that is I mean, you did get your toe in it, and you probably were oblivious thinking this could be where I end up someday. You were just doing what you needed to do at the moment. For sure. Yeah. Um when you said the 90s, I immediately thought of that trend that's going on right now. You know, mom, what were you like in the 90s? Oh, right, right, right. Like, I'd give up forever to touch you. I mean, I've heard the goo-goo dolls more in the last two weeks than in the last, you know, 15 years. But um anyway, uh tell us a little bit about the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas because when you first got the job, of course, that's when you told me. Right. But I want people to understand uh what they do for Arkansas, for Methodists, and for beyond Methodists.
Grants Priorities And Who Qualifies
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well, the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas, where we are a nonprofit. We were established and chartered back in 1963 in Little Rock and have been in Little Rock ever since. And then, as we already kind of talked about, about five years ago or six years ago, the board decided to um open an office in Northwest Arkansas. And so I have been that person for the last five years and and have loved it. But um, they really wanted to have a bigger presence here in in the area, and and the mission of the foundation is to um establish and manage charitable funds to strengthen and expand Methodist ministries across the state. So that's our mission. So everything that we do, and that's our goal. Um and but it really has evolved over the last 60 plus years. And yes, we work with Methodist churches and we have endowments that we will um that we will work with and and grow so they can use the funds that they're um investing and the returns off of those funds to do whatever mission work. And that's doing congregations, the different congregations. Yes. So we have exactly and so we have churches that are already our clients, and so you know, part of my main goal opening this office was of course to establish those relationships and um and to continue those relationships. But also so many churches have heard of the foundation, but they don't really know what we do. And so to just kind of visit those those churches and let them know, because a lot of churches may have a CD here or there that's not really getting them any, you know, it's safe, but it's not making any money for them and just realizing, um, making them realize, you know, what opportunities there are for that. We also offer a number of um programs that benefit congregations or even, you know, within the community, even with nonprofits, we had like a grant writing uh program that we did. We had um we're gonna have a lawyers conference, which we've had in Little Rock for a number of years, but we're doing our first Northwest Arkansas one um coming up in just a couple of weeks in April. So looking forward to that. So um we offer a lot of different um programs and and um learning opportunities for professional development for pastors or laity or like I said, with nonprofits. And most recently, um because everything is is going very well with the foundation, we are able to have a very a thriving grants program. So we are able to last year we gave over$2.1 million in grants. That's just grants alone. And that's not just for Methodist churches or institutions. Um we This is why I want y'all to listen right here. This is the part. We um, you know, our grant committee has funding priorities, and we know that churches do a lot and they do a lot of good work, but there's only so much they can do. Right. And so we there's so many great nonprofits around the state, but particularly in northwest Arkansas, that their mission and what they do aligns with one of our funding priorities. And so that was uh one of my big um objectives too, whenever I first uh got this position was to figure out which nonprofits in the area we we could partner with, that we would, you know, would make great partnerships.
SPEAKER_03So um it's like an outreach for the Methodist Church because the Methodist Foundation has these funds. Um, and so why not use them to continue outreach in organizations that align with foundation's principles.
SPEAKER_01And I tell nonprofits, and because we have Methodists in our name, and of course, you would assume that you have to be Methodists and you don't. I mean, obviously we do work with Methodist organizations and churches, but um for nonprofits, they're, you know, you don't even have to be religiously affiliated. If your mission aligns with one of our funding priorities, which, you know, if you look at our website, we have five or six funding priorities, and they're the big ones, you know, poverty and and food insecurities and um diversity, you know. So there's just so many out there that um and so many organizations that we really are able to partner with.
SPEAKER_03What is that website? Just tell them real quick while we're on it so that they can look. I'm sure they've already stopped listening and they're gonna go, I'm sure. Yeah, I have no doubt.
SPEAKER_01Because they're gonna want to know do I fit in the priorities? Yeah. So what is the website? So it's MethodistFoundation of Arkansas.org. Okay. So good.
SPEAKER_03But that that was a big eye opener for me. And that was when I started thinking of so many organizations in this area do align with those priorities. Yep. And I think um there was one. Did y'all end up getting to help with that backpack thing that Samaritan has at Arvest Ballpark? I always felt like that was a good one. And there there's just so many others that are you've aligned with since you in the last five years. Yes.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and it's been great. It really, you know, Allison really was one of my, you were one of my first contacts whenever I got back into this world just to kind of see what I needed to do. And and um then, yeah, there's a number of organizations that you put me in touch with. But yeah, Samaritan uh community center, we do the back, we are a sponsor for the backpacks for kids. We've we've given them grants actually. They've for their uh snack packs program, they've been awarded some some grant funding as well. So, and that's the other thing, too, that I tell organizations is you know, we have our grant program, but we also in addition, um, you know, have these sponsorship opportunities. So so many nonprofits have to have some sort of event or gala or golf tournament or backpacks or whatever that um have sponsorship opportunities. And and I always encourage them to send those to me as well because we kind of have a different, different stash of money for that. And and you know, that's another way that we can support and partner with partner with more organizations.
SPEAKER_03And and it the as don't assume, just even if you don't fit, go ahead and or if you think you don't fit, go ahead and turn it into Amy, and then she will she can talk it through or say, wait, you know, this program doesn't work, but did I see that you mentioned you've got this program over here? Because it really might line up. Let's talk about that. Right. So I encourage you to take a look and submit just yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01To get to know I will say um with our nonprofit grant program, that's kind of evolved just because we've gotten more and more interest, which is what we wanted, you know, to reach more organizations. But because of that, we now have two deadlines during the year for the nonprofits. For Methodist, it's um organizations, it's it's a different process. But for nonprofits that don't have a Methodist affiliation, um, we have two deadlines for for grant applications. And the next one's coming up at the end of May. So May 30th, 31st. Right. They have 31 days in May. Yeah, I think so. Yeah, count counter and knuckles. Count and knuckles, whatever the last day in May. 31st. It's the 31st. And then November is the next one, November 30th, I know for sure. So so those are the two deadlines for nonprofit grants. But I am happy to visit with you. We would love to do a site visit um too, to to see what you got going on and see different ways that we might be able to work with you.
SPEAKER_03So, as development, you know, director of development here in Northwest Arkansas, you're partnering, you're you're trying to meet more nonprofits that align with your um initiatives and pillars that you support, but also you're trying to reach out to the Methodist congregations in the area to show them how if we all put our funds together, they can get a bigger bang for their buck and help their um congregation members, also their congregation, like their churches fund. So it's kind of like a community foundation for Methodist churches. Yes.
SPEAKER_01And I always tell when you say big bang, get your biggest bang for your buck, I always use that when I'm talking to churches because the fees that, you know, anybody that's gonna do investments, you're gonna be charged a fee. And our fees are very competitive, but what we do with our fees is what is a little unique. The fees are not going to pay my bonus, because I don't get a bonus. It's not paying stockholders. Um, you know, the fees do, you know, pay, you know, all of our administrative costs, but anything above and beyond that is reinvested. And so the funds that are made off of those investments go into the grant program.
SPEAKER_03So it really is you really are helping outside of so you you sign it up, sign up for one reason, which might be a congregation. You know, your heart says, I want to set something up because I'm a Methodist and this is my life. But the uh extra bonus is that it also helps other great.
SPEAKER_01I mean, it could come back to come back to you in the form of a grant or you know, a scholarship to go to some sort of training. So So even Amy needs connections, y'all. Just like the eighth of us.
SPEAKER_03Exactly right. Yeah. And so what do you love most about it? I mean, to me, like you said, when she thought of your name, and then when you told me this is what I'm gonna be doing, I just thought, well, this couldn't be more perfect. Yeah, a perfect match for Amy and the Methodist Foundation. But what's your favorite thing?
SPEAKER_01Like, what do you love most about your job? Oh, there's so many things. I I I love I'm in office of one right now. So I get to dabble in all the things. So I get to not only go visit the churches, but I plan all the events and and you know, do all the logistics for that, which I really enjoy. I get to do our planning a legacy present presentation, which is our, you know, estate planning, legacy giving type program. Um and the grants, you know, I get to work with the the nonprofits and figure out, you know, who might be a good so I really get to, I feel like I have the the best job of all foundation because I get to do all of that and um and great, I have great support in Little Rock. So when you know the numbers get really big and that's not my forte, you know, we're yeah.
SPEAKER_03Why is that the directors of development? I mean, I'm speaking for myself, you're you know, we are all about raising it and the cheer and the joy, but when it comes to actual numbers, I really need some help with great and that's why we have you know CFOs.
SPEAKER_01So that's right. But I would also say, too, that it's like all of my worlds from all of my past has come together. It's like full circle with this position. So, yes, from Northwest Arkansas. So I have been in, I've reconnected with so many people from growing up, or my dad, you know, is was an attorney. So I've met so many people that know dad or mom who's worked in the nonprofit world. So it's just been fun to make those connections. And then of course, with my Methodist roots and and you know, being so involved as a youth and even as an adult, as a counselor, you know, people that I went to church camp with are now pastors. And so, you know, I get to work with them. Yes, because we have a mutual friend from our pastor.
SPEAKER_03That's right. That's right. And Jay Clark, who met me. Um, I think we met our senior years of high school. He was at Walnut Ridge and I was at Valley View. Um, we might have met right before that, but we did meet that year because we both got some award from the DAR something in that area. Um, and then almost the first week of college at Arkansas State, we met. And if I could have a another brother, I think he might be it. Agreed. He is just as he's crazier than me. Yeah. But we are pretty crazy. And then you put us together, it's just trouble. No, but it's good trouble. Good trouble. Anyway, so love you, Jay Clark.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Um, your two favorite A's. That's right. Yeah. Um but even so I was gonna mention too, as far as kind of all my worlds colliding. Even when I was recruiting for Hendricks, there was somebody, he was actually a recruiter for A State, and he's now a pastor at one of the local Methodist churches. And I saw him and I was like, what? I mean, just yeah. My old Girl Scout camp director. I've reconnected with her because she does nonprofit work. I mean, she's crazy down. But it is crazy. But I love it. I love it. It's been so much fun.
SPEAKER_03Um, I I will go back way back. Um, she also has kind of a razorback history as well. Tell them about your special little bug that you drove in high school and the horn and all the things.
SPEAKER_01So, you know, I was about to turn 16 and my parents were trying to figure out what kind of car I was gonna get. And um, we had a 1974 Volkswagen bug. And um, I used to hate this car because dad it had razorbacks all over it, like razorback decals running all over it. The horn played the fight song. Dad would drop me off at Leverett Elementary, play that fight song. Everybody would stop playing four square, jump rope, whatever they were doing, turn around, laugh, whatever. So I hated that car. And then I was about to turn 16 and we're trying to, you know, figure that out. And dad's like, well, we could, you know, get the razor bug. His name was Rufus the Razorbug, so we can get the razor bug, you know, going again. He had been kind of sidelined for a while, but so we got him repainted, dad re-hogged him. Um, and then let me tell you, loved that car because I went to Fable High School, which is, you know, I'd have to drive through the U of A campus to get to school every morning. These college kids college guys would like wave and honk and hey, play the fight song for you.
Fundraising Beyond Asking For Money
SPEAKER_03I you were it with the other words and letters in front of it. You were you were what people so if you didn't know Amy, but you remember the razor bug, now you know that's right. It was Amy and her dad's great. Rufus. Rufus the the razor bug. Yeah. And I mean, I just remember those stories from back then too. So we had to bring that in as well. Yeah. Um, well, now let's shift and talk about like our jobs. Okay. You know, we're also kind of a therapy podcast. I don't know if you figured out that, but we try to be there for our people. And and we can I can go from cheery to Disposition to passionate and oh my I'm so frustrated. Yeah. So one of the first things I've got on this segment is what is something people often misunderstand about fundraising?
SPEAKER_01I think, you know, when I was thinking about this, I feel like people just think fundraising is all about asking for money, period. Right. And that's all we do is ask for money. And it's really not. It's about building those relationships and really putting and inviting people into something that's meaningful and something that they're passionate about. And, you know, and as I was thinking about the whole, you know, my career path, even though it wasn't all in fundraising, every single position I held was about relationship building and listening and helping people find what they're passionate about. I mean, every single thing every single job I've had. And so, um, and that really is what fundraising is about. It's, you know, listening. Yes, you're gonna do some talking, but you want to listen to what the donor is passionate about, what they really want from a nonprofit and you know, what they really want to support. Um, you know, really connecting values to the impact of what that nonprofit does. And then just really helping that donor feel part of the mission. Right. Um, and not necessarily pressure to fund it, but just to be passionate and be a cheerleader, be a supporter because it's important. Yes, of course, money is very important, but also is getting the word out about an organization and all the good that they're doing.
SPEAKER_03So I think that that's probably the biggest because it rarely ever starts with the money. It usually starts with the passion or the connection or the relationship, the knowledge, you know, just sharing the issue with someone and saying we're trying to figure this out, and they join in and want to help figure it out too. And then they realize, oh, well, I could I can be a part of this too. So it rarely ever starts with the money. Right. And it most board members, I I've tried to explain to them over and over that a lot of times it's, you know, we're saying we want your contacts or connect us, help connect the dots or whatever. It really is literally about sharing the message of what we're doing. Right. And just making sure people know that you're passionate about something. And the money stuff tends to come later anyway. But just like you were talking about all the ways everything overlapped in your career, the relationships you started as a, you know, young person, and then now as you're a grown-up adulting, the relationship is the the common denominator on almost everything. And that is exactly you're exactly right. That's more what fundraising is, and people in our role is just trying to connect the dots to find out who's passionate about what and um what lights somebody up that they want to be a part of. And the most the best thing is once you figure out, you know, if you're an organization that is feeding the hungry and you have been trying and trying and trying to put that um square peg in a round hole with someone who loves uh dolphins and wants to save all the dolphins. Yes, once you figure out that that's not gonna work. Yeah, it's not gonna work, and the only thing you have to say to that person is, oh my goodness, that is a wonderful cause. And then you bless and release them into the wild to to go save the dolphins. But before they go, you say, Hey, is there anyone you know in your circle that is passionate about food insecurity? Because if so, would you be willing to bring them for a tour? Yeah. And that leads to more relationships. So it's really, really, you're absolutely right.
SPEAKER_01And I could talk about it all the live long day. And I think too that, and especially in our nonprofit part of the world, and I know we're going to talk about A and P in a little bit, but you know, we we know so many of the nonprofits in the area. And so you, your nonprofit may not be saving those dolphins, but you probably know somebody that is involved in that and to to make that connection, you know, to kind of guide them to help find their passion and and make those connections as well as asking them, hey, do you know somebody that might be good passionate about?
SPEAKER_03And you're right. Well, we'll we will talk about it more in just a little bit about that the connection to each other in this area helps us in so on so many different levels as well. Um what's one thing you wish nonprofits did better?
SPEAKER_01I think really being consistent and showing their impact in a clear human way. Yes, statistics are great. Um, and people want to hear those numbers, but by telling a story and putting a name to that story is gonna make so much more of a bigger impact. Yeah. And, you know, don't assume that your donors know the impact. Right.
SPEAKER_03I mean, because I think when we're in the trenches and we are doing the work, we do tend to assume that they get exactly what we're doing or how you know that this the services we're providing, you know, we just assume they understand the all the levels and layers. But you know, until you hear somebody from single parent scholarship, you know, talk about the how those changed their life. How it changed their life, but then they had two kids and it changed their life, and now their lives are on a different trajectory, all because their mom or dad got a scholarship. Right. And I and so many times that's from a story or a testimonial. Yeah. And I think you're right. I think we get caught up in thinking it's got to be this beautiful graphic with a pie chart and some percentages and statistics.
SPEAKER_01But well, and I think, you know, it is important. I and I actually just today I got a thank you note um from Saving Grace. That's another organization that you introduced me to, um, a nonprofit in the area. But, you know, we've been a sponsor at their Butterflies and Blooms the last five years. And not only have I, I mean, the the event itself is amazing, but everything that they do has a human touch to it and has a has an example and and puts a face to the impact that our sponsorship has made. And so, you know, I immediately got a phone call from a board member, but then I've also gotten a couple of written thank you notes. And today's thank you note has a picture of one of their residents, and right next to her picture it says she got her driver's license, a new car, and is furthering her education. I mean, how great is that? I mean, that is what the Methodist Foundation sponsorship is going towards. Like this, this they they they call all of their ladies Grace. So that's they're saving Grace, but all of their ladies are referred to as Grace. So, um, and it says, you know, please join us in praying for Grace during this season of her journey. And and, you know, to be shown an actual living, breathing example of you know what the impact that you know our table sponsorship, you know, has made.
SPEAKER_03She just opened that and it had a picture of Grace. Sorry, taped taped in there and then the sweet note, but then also they've handwritten that she these are the things that have happened just since the luncheon, which is just a couple of weeks ago. Yeah, excuse me. But yeah, they do a great job with how they thank people, and you're right about the human. It's it's all handwritten. And it doesn't look like everybody got the same note.
SPEAKER_01No, I don't think so at all. And and you know, it's just important that, you know, to understand that people really connect to that and that, you know, because of you this happened. You know, because um, you know, this specific person is getting her furthering her education because of what you have donated. And whether that is monetary, whether that's volunteering, you know, there's so many different ways to give to an organization too, but but to to, you know, I think for nonprofits to really keep at the forefront of their mind to make those connections and to really um make it more human because that's what we're gonna react to, pull on those heart strings, sure. Right.
Advice For New Fundraisers
SPEAKER_03And and the the statistics and numbers are wonderful too. And it's gonna be the CFO financial people that are gonna want to see it that way. But most of us want to just say, you know, were we able to send those kids to bed without being hungry? Great. Tell me that story. I want to hear all about that. Yep. So that's a that's great. Okay, now we've got people deciding to work for nonprofits as development director fundraisers all every day. So, what would your advice be to someone who's new to fundraising or new in our field?
SPEAKER_01Well, the same advice. Run for us, run. I'm just getting that's not what she was gonna say. No, it was not. That was because we love it. That's great. Yeah. No, but you know, when I first got into this, I met with you initially and I met with Missy Kinkade, also big in the nonprofit world. And and um both of you gave me the same advice, which was join AFP. And um, and I'd never heard of it because I'd never really been in this world before, um, at least this in depth. So, you know, I looked into it and I talked to um my boss in in Little Rock and explained, and and AFP is, you know, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and and especially at the Methodist Foundation, we fundraise, but we don't fundraise. Like we make our money by investing. So I, you know, we don't have to have a lot of the same fundraising goals and things that that not you know nonprofits typically do. So whenever I brought this up, like, why do you need uh why do you need to be a part of this? And um and Lynn, who's uh the vice president of development in Little Rock, we started about the same time and and she joined the Arkansas chapter, and then I joined the Northwest Arkansas chapter. And um, we both have gotten so much out of it. And I think for me personally, it's been the networking um just because I wanted to meet these nonprofits and figure out what nonprofits are um in Northwest Arkansas. I'm from here, but I hadn't lived here in a number of years, and and you know, some have remained the same, so you know, and there's new ones. So really, you know, making those connections and getting the word out about who we are and how we can, you know, hopefully partner and help. So yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um and the beauty of that too was you were also learning, you know, maybe not the fundraising 101 stuff, but the relationship, the stewardship, all the things you need to connect with um the churches and the nonprofits. Sure. And um, and then there's the whole knowledge about planned giving. And I mean, we have tracks that fit right all different things. So there I know there has been some good that you've learned, and there's been some things you've brought to the table for the rest of us to learn too. So that that's a good that is uh I would say that too. I have been I when I first got my job, the the man that was mentoring the board that was about to hire me, you know, he said it's the wave of the future. Cause at that time oh, I can't even believe all this time. It didn't seem like yesterday. But at that time, universities and hospitals were the only ones that had development teams or development people. Yeah. Um and so for a small human services organization like ADC, who had no budget, and the reason they were trying to figure out what to do is because they were so uh reliant on federal and state funding for people with disabilities that they were they were literally trying to figure out what are we gonna do? Because tomorrow this funding could could be gone, which happens all the time in that field. Um, and he he was saying y'all need to bite the bullet and hire a person. And pretty soon most organizations will have development people. And of course, sure enough, they were all just looking like, what? And we can't we can't afford to pay attention right now. And you're telling us we're gonna hire somebody and where's that money gonna come from? Right. I mean, it was a whole thing. Yeah. And sure enough, you know, I got I got started. I I've said this before, I sat by the phone the first, you know, four to six months waiting for board meeting to see if they decided to go ahead and keep me or cut me. It was awful, but most of the board felt like if we cut her now, we'll just be that further behind. We need to just press on and keep going. Cause it literally takes, if you're starting from scratch and you're listening right now and you've started an organization or you're just now starting your fundraising program, it takes three to five years just to build those relationships and break even like your goal is break even. Yeah. And to make a profit, give yourself three to five years. That and that's exactly what he told him. And I think our third year was when we finally inched over into the past break-even, you know? And it it was hard. It there's nothing easy about it, but he said that, and then he said, AFP, she needs to be in rotary and AFP. And so back then it wasn't even called AFP. That's how old I am. It was back then it was called NSF3. You just joined when you were like five. Yeah, yeah. And uh, so they've rebranded, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals is the perfect name for it now. But it is what taught me, it was before we had a chapter here in Northwest Arkansas, and that I that was all I had was to go, you know, we internet had just started. And so, you know, to get to get the stuff in the mail mostly at that point, sure, and and read or go to classes or whatever, it it was really what taught me what I was doing, and that it was a real profession. Because I think a lot of people at that time was still thinking baking, bake sales and car washes. Yeah, you know, you just go out and yes, you just you raise a little bit of money and again when asking for money. Yeah. When you went to my first conference and saw all the professionals and thought, this is a real profession that I didn't even know was out there. Right. And here I am in it. Yeah. Yeah.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01Well, and I think too, for new professionals in this field, you know, joining the local AFP chapter, it it does give you that community as well. That you're not, especially, I mean, I'm an office of one. I mean, you know, and so, and and same, same for me as far as, you know, it took me a few years to start bringing in new accounts, but that's because I started those relationships three years ago or five years ago, and now those accounts are coming in. And yeah, um, it does take time, but it's it's so nice to have the AFP family to that you can reach out to that, you know, and and ask questions, or they have your same, you know, they know what you're going through. So just just that connection.
How Fundraising Has Changed Recently
SPEAKER_03So I I've got when we get to their down there is the question I almost answered right now. Well, I'll talk about it down there. But how would you say fundraising has changed over the the last few years?
SPEAKER_01Do you think it's changed at all for well I I do. I think it's changed um quite a bit, especially from when I was a student worker at Hendricks and um, you know, where it ri really was more campaign focused and more direct mail focused and you know, those stamps that that we licked. Um and really organization centered as opposed to our, you know, more of it used to be, you know, here's what we need, not making that connection of, you know, these are the people that, you know, here are the stories that the people that you're impacting, but rather, you know, here's here's what ADC needs, you know, um and then somewhat, you know, also just kind of a one-way communication with those direct mail pieces. Every once in a while a phonethon, or you know, you can pick up the phone and and now, you know, technology is just out of I mean, it's crazy because it is, you know, everyone has a cell phone, so you can pretty much get in touch with them whenever, of course, in texting, you know, so many people appreciate getting um contacted by text, of course, social media. I mean, all of these are ways that organizations can further their story and their mission and just get the word out about, you know, who they are and and you know, who and the community that they're serving. So, um, you know, it really is going from, you know, transactional to the more relationships that we've that we've talked about and and really building on those relationships, um, and then the more human storytelling as opposed to, you know, an institutional voice of, you know, here's what we need. And um and also just moving from the feeling of obligation to invitation. So not making someone feel like you have to donate, you know, you need you have, you know, this is your alma mater, you have to donate because that's what you do. But really inviting them into your organization and, you know, inviting them for a tour, inviting them to, you know, meet with some of the people that are really impacted, going to backpacks for kids and handing out those backpacks and really inviting donors to be a part of that. And that's what's going to that's you know, they'll figure out that that's you know what they're passionate about and what they'll want to get to.
SPEAKER_03One thing I thought of that that's a little bit different. It's still, you know, y'all y'all heard me do my speech about events uh right and left and upside down and sideways and all the things. Um, but I did hear from one organization that said that they know, you know, events are the the return on investment is not as strong in the relationship building and going to coffee with someone. But they figured out that the people tend to want an event with them more at ease. And so they have started having smaller, more intimate, purposeful events that aren't the red carpet with, you know, the wine and the cheese and the perfect chicken dinner with the thing, with the million-dollar video and all that, that they're they're doing some smaller events just to get the FaceTime with the donors for the relationship building because it's really hard to say, like, you know, want to meet for coffee, because then everybody's like, What are they wanting to talk to me about? Sure. Yeah. It takes the awkwardness out of them. So they started doing some smaller, purposeful, yeah, you know, low-key, not large expense just to get the just to get to see their people. Yeah. And that's something that's a little different from back in the day when you could just say, you know, not everything can be solved by an event. Just go to coffee with somebody and you can think about how much more you can raise with a conversation. And that's still true. Right. But um, they were seeing that trend. So that's a trend that I've noticed. And um, one of my organizations I work with has started having some smaller classes, and we've had two now, and like 20 something people have come. Yeah. And guess what? I'm getting to visit with people that I haven't seen in forever because they needed what we were offering in this class. So anyway, that's just one thing that I've noticed has changed and may shift a little bit, but I still don't say go out and throw a gala or a golf tournament just because yeah, you you don't need to to do the big ones. These are like small with a cookie and a punt.
SPEAKER_01Well, and somebody has to have a tablecloth or that that's so true. And and as you were saying that, it reminded me of of an organization that we've been a part of um through sponsorships of their big event, but then they do have they've invited smaller groups to um it's Magdalene Serenity House in Fayetteville. And so they, you know, have a house to tour and they, you know, they have residents there. And and you know, they invited a smaller group just to learn, you know, hear from their board and their development and and to do a tour and you know, and and the the ladies who live in these houses are, you know, living their lives. So they're coming in and out, you know, they'll stop and say hey and and introduce themselves and and um and that it is a smaller group and and it is impactful.
SPEAKER_03And that's the relationship building because then they're seeing it firsthand, hearing a story, but then also being able to picture oh, this is what the organization looks like and how it runs and Yeah. That's that's very bad.
SPEAKER_01And and they were, you know, they invited um at least the people in my little tour group. I mean, there were people that have been partners with them, but they had some um judges that have worked with some of the ladies and um, you know, just people that have had um a reason for that organization have been involved and and so so it was good. And then there were people that have heard about them but have never really known.
SPEAKER_03And that kind of reminds me of this this method that uh there was a a wonderful, crazy good consultant leader in back in the old days of AFP, named Terry Axelrod. And I I don't think that that you can still Google and get the method that she came up with. Um it was called the Benavon method. Okay. And you can still Google it and get the basics of it, but basically it was bring people for tours, and then that's where I got that blessing release after the tour and this, you know, you keep everybody on so that no one stays longer than a certain amount of time, and you cover all the bases and you make the connection, and then you say, Is this what you're passionate about? And if they say yes, then you say, How do you want to plug in? How I'm gonna, you know, and if they said no, I really love dolphins, right? Then they would say, That's you, you is there are there four other people you would bring for a tour that would be passionate about this and you just keep doing these tours on a regular basis. Anyway, look it up. It was a great, yeah, it it's a great way to get things started, but that made me think of that. And it because that small group there at Magdalene's Serenity House, that's a great way to continue to keep people coming in the door to see what they're doing.
A Legacy Gift That Keeps Giving
SPEAKER_01And they're expanding. You know, they they bought that other property there, so now they have a graduation house basically that that the ladies who graduated out of their program have an another step before they're like it's it's I love it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so um so do you have a meaningful or memorable success story since you're you know, since you've been at the Methodist Foundation or any of any time in your career?
SPEAKER_01You know, your best ones. A meaningful one is is pretty recent and and still pretty um I don't want to say painful, but you know, it it it um meaningful. But there is one of the again, when I first heard this job, my boss was like, okay, you need to meet with this man who lives in Ozark. Lifelong Methodist. Yay, Ozark. That's where my husband's from. Lifelong Methodist was mayor of Ozark three different terms. His name is Vernon McDaniel. Oh, and he wrote for the local paper, he worked at the little museum, he was a teacher. He taught at uh College of the Ozarks, and anyway, but single, never married, never had kids, and um, and but he had opened a number of accounts because we do like charitable gift annuities and donor advice funds and things like that for individuals. I didn't mention that earlier, but um, and so he had a number of annuities with us and he was like, you just need to go meet him. And so I, you know, went to pick him up. He was in his 90s, he's in his 90s, and um he lived in this duplex. Like by looking at him and how he lives, you would not have any idea that he was so charitable. No clip, no clip. And we immediately formed a very sweet relationship. And you know, every quarter or so I'd go and meet and meet up, and we'd always go to the same Italian restaurant, he'd always get spaghetti and meatballs. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03That was you right there in Ozark.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I know right. And he loved the rolls, and we always made sure we got an extra, you know, helping right before we got our to-go boxes. Uh huh.
SPEAKER_02I mean, look at it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So anyway, and he he was so proud of Ozark. And, you know, one time he just showed me around. We took the whole afternoon. Well, I went to church with him, and then he just showed me around all the the highlights of Ozark, which if you haven't spent much time, it's got some beautiful highlights. It does. Anyway, yeah. You're listening. Yes. Jerry and Charlotte. Yeah. So anyway, um, but every year he would have um a disbursement, you know, from one of his accounts, and and he always sent it to us and said, you know, from an IRA. Then he would send it to us and say, you know, y'all do with it whatever you feel is best. I trust you. And so, you know, Methodist Family Health might get it that year. We put it towards our hope scholarship one year, which helps low-income students go to college. Um, Ozark Mission Project. So just, you know, different things that he was passionate about that he supported, but he he knew that we knew where it would be most beneficial. Right. Well, Vernon did pass away at the end of uh 25, and um one of his annuities, the payout went to Ozark United Methodist Church, you know, where he had gone since his whole life. Yeah. And he had a number, again, a number of annuities, but um, they received a a a pretty nice gift from him. And I just yesterday got a phone call from the pastor there, and she was like, you know, we really want to set up an endowment in Vernon's honor at the foundation. And, you know, really, you know, he meant so much to this community, so much to this church, and we know that he loved the foundation so much that, you know, we this is what we want to do. And so I'm gonna, you know, head to Ozark and um, you know, visit with them about, you know, the different options of what they can do. But you know, that was just yesterday.
SPEAKER_03And, you know, Vernon really was a very special man and and um yeah, so he again he just loved Ozark and And so he gave and he gave and he gave and he was in service and he gave and he gave, and now he's gonna keep giving, yeah, keep giving, and they are gonna join him in that by doing this. Yeah. Yeah, that's a good I did get a little teary there just for a second. But and now I can't wait to talk to my in-laws about do y'all know Vernon? And just they will.
SPEAKER_01They will, they will he walked everywhere. I mean, he at the age of 90, whatever, he was playing tennis. Oh, he could run circles around me. This thing was amazing. Yeah, yeah.
Why Relationships Outlive Any Campaign
Leading AFP Northwest Arkansas
SPEAKER_03Well, I love that story. Love it. And it can happen to you, I promise, out there listening. It can happen to you. These are the the kind of stories we had um a lady, so so the the man that was mentoring the board in ADC, you know, he said she needs to get in rotary, she needs to get an AFP. She also needs to be a part of the chamber of commerce, and she needs to get on every committee in that chamber. So I did. I did everything he said. One of them was back then the chamber had the blue coat committee. And that was kind of like Fayette probably has the purple coat. Anyway, we'd show up at the ribbon cuttings or at the business after hours and we would greet in our blue coats or our blue outfits. And there was this wonderful lady uh named Martha Rose, and she was Lutheran. Sorry, Methodist Foundation. She's Lutheran, but she and I, she was a character, just a character. And the more you talked to her, the more you realize you didn't want to cross Martha, and she was a character. Yeah. Um and you know, she mentioned one time wanting to know more about ADC. I took her for a tour, told her all about it. And then years went by. I had less time to be a blue coat and did other committees. And then when I started having kids, I wasn't able to go to as many things at all. And years went by. We saw each other a couple of times. It was so good to see you. And you all hug, hug, you know, and uh she hadn't been feeling well and had some health issues. And then a couple of years after that, she passed away. Well, next thing we know, we got a call from the Lutherans to tell us that she had left ADC as one of her organizations. And so her name is in the new building here in Open Avenue. Uh, it was enough that we it was able to name something in the new building. And that's one of my stories that I tell people the relationships are the key. And um And you just never know. You never know. And it can be at the chamber, it can be at Rotary, it can be at AFP, it can be at your church, it can be wherever you are building relationships. It all leads to someone who's passionate about something in their heart, or they are so passionate about you that they want to be a part of whatever you're passionate about. So um, so we didn't say earlier when we talked about AFP that Amy, she went on the fast track, she got in AFP, and then now five years later, she's the president of our local chapter. They saw sucker written on my head. I was, you know, I had been uh part of AFP since 1942 or back in the day. And so I had done this, I had been on the board in the early days, uh done several offices, then was president, then uh took a a little back seat for a while while my kids were little, and then got back into it as communications and did some more offices and did my board stint. So I was stepping away from the board for another little break. And next thing I know, here she is president. So what's that been like serving as the AFP uh Northwest Arkansas president? Because it's not an easy task.
SPEAKER_01It's it's not, but you know, the way that the structure is, it's it really is a three-year commitment to where you're president-elect, then you're president, then you're past president. And so, and I and it's great because obviously as president-elect, you're working hand in hand with the current president and really, you know, so that was helpful. Yeah. And and I hope I'm doing the same to my president elect. We'll see. Um so it's it's been good, it's been exciting, and and we have a good board. And um, you know, with AFP, and and I don't think we've mentioned this, but so our AFP chapter is turning 25 this year. And so Allison was one of the key people to get our chapter a chapter, because it was just the one chapter, right? And Little Rock and Little Rock.
SPEAKER_03And I don't know what year they started, but we all knew in those early years, probably around 1997-98, there was there was a lady named Janet Cater, and she was trying so hard to get it started, but organizations around here couldn't figure out how or they were gonna pay for those dues and all that. And but she never gave up. We we organized it and called ourselves something else without a you know, dues and stuff. We just met and but she kept on and kept on. And finally, it was uh Cindy Webb and a few others that said, you know, we we need to either, you know what, or get off the pot. Right. We need to get this going. Like we need to. And I'm so glad y'all did. And so she, you know, she led Cindy Webb led us led us through the um the process of coming together. Yeah, I was one of the first board members. And because I had been trying so I had been in AFP so much long before, right? It was like I knew we needed it, and I knew that our chapter would be a strong chapter in you know, the international realm of AUP because I knew we're go getters and we weren't gonna settle for anything than the pop stars and the all that.
SPEAKER_01So you're welcome. Yeah, thank you for that. Thank you. So really we're easy because you've done everything for me. My forefathers and mothers.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes, has helped me help my road.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Um, but we are, you know, we're 182 members now.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_01Isn't that great? Oh, that is awesome. Yeah. And we are we just got notification that we're five star gold again, which there's different um criteria you have to make to to get these various accreditations or not accreditations, but uh designations. Designations, yeah. And five star gold is the tippity top, and we just um found out that we we are are one of the few that have gotten that. But and that's something that we have gotten in, I mean, so many years.
SPEAKER_03But I met I meet chat would meet chapters and still do, you know, from other parts, and that's not their big they don't they don't push all that. Yeah, but I'm so glad we do. Oh, yeah. My passion was always be the cause, and that helped us get one of those stars. So I was always pushing, pushing, pushing, and I explained my testimonial every time, and I'll explain it again today. It's important for fundraisers because of the relationships, but I I remember colleagues deciding whether or not they were going to come to the educational program that day based on what the topic was. And in my mind, I had joined, I had my organization had invested that money, and so I was going no matter if it was about something I already knew about or something I didn't even know what they were talking about. Right. I knew I needed to go because one of the biggest opportunities would happen at who you get to sit by. And so we'd be sitting there and I'd think, I don't even know if I even need this lesson today. But I might get seated next to somebody from the University of Arkansas, like Clay Edwards or Sandy Edwards or Mark Power or Missy Kincaid. Yeah. And next thing I know, I barely say, well, yeah, I was wondering, like, you know, do you think it would be possible if our small organization and I would come home with a whole blueprint of, well, here's how you could do it. You know, even though we have a marketing department and we have a plan giving department and we have all these departments, but you're a one-man show, you got this is how you can do it. And I would think, so the the topic was fantastic, and I might have learned a little bit, but I got to sit beside Missy Kincaid or Clay Edwards or Sandy Edwards or Mark Power and get a whole, you know, Joe Ucolano was another one. Go home with the whole thing of, you know, Joe's big thing, he was in planned giving at the university. So he would say, Well, just go, is this what you could do at open avenues and have your own little plane giving, you know, no budget. Yeah. Thanks, Joe. Thanks, Joe. So it's it that that is the importance. And I don't know if you have a particular story of why it's important for fundraisers to be a part of it.
SPEAKER_01Well, I think, I mean, I already talked about the networking part and and just kind of having that family of people who know what you're going through. It is a therapy. It is a type of therapy. Yeah. But we do try to have sessions. Um, so we have every other month we have a two-hour session or two sessions, depending on what we do, but programming that really um focus on real life issues that we're dealing with. You know, we just had a a session on um advocacy and the importance of that, especially in today's, you know, what's what's okay, what's not okay, lobbying, the government, how important it is. Yeah. Um, for all nonprofits. And so, you know, we we really do try to, you know, have sessions that are going to be worthwhile to anybody that's in the nonprofit world. And so, but I think, you know, that and really our our yes, there's a membership fee for global, which is kind of the big overarching organization, but then each chapter has their own chapter dues. And our chapter dues are still minimal compared to many other chapters, and we and we're we're adamant about that to keeping it, keeping it low so we can um offer that. And we do have um scholarships, you know. We have a number of scholarships for for those organizations or individuals that may not be able to um to pay for the membership fee.
Ethics And A Noncompetitive Sector
SPEAKER_03You know, we don't want if it's an individual membership fee, it's quite a it's a chunk of change. Um and then there's small organization, large organization. Most people fit in the small organization category uh or individual before they do large. But um the scholarships, I mean, I there's a favorite scholarship I know of for membership uh called the Allison McElroy Scholarship. So, but you apply and um it's not a hard application process. My goodness, we're fundraisers. We know that it doesn't need to be that hard. So you just fill out the form and uh sometimes your organization gets picked and you get your membership. Um the other thing I wanted to bring up, it might be on your list too, is the code of ethics. I think the thing that I'm most passionate about about AFP is being on the same page in fundraising and doing ethical fundraising. I think a lot of times people aren't being unethical because they mean to. There are bad people out there that are unethical. But a lot of times organizations that do something or take a wrong turn, it's because they don't know that that's not quite fundraising or um appropriate for fundraising. And so the code of ethics, signing that, I feel like when I'm working with an organization, I feel much better if I know they're a part of AFP because they've signed the AFP code of ethics. That's just my two cents, and I've preached that a lot. Because there's a lot of things that seem like a great idea, and then you find out later you're not really supposed to do that. Right. That's not right. Right. Yeah. So that's that's another reason.
SPEAKER_01Well, and I think too that helps with the um the collegial part of our organization too. I mean, we're all in Northwest Arkansas. We all, you know, probably ask some of the same donors, but you know, but but because we're AFP members and do abide by that code of ethics, it's not necessarily a competitive feeling among the various earlier when I said when we get down there, that was what I was gonna say, you would think that all the organizations here are out to cutthroat.
SPEAKER_03You know, well, we are gonna do this and we're gonna do that. And most of us all link arms and realize that we can share donors. Sure. And that some donors don't fit us, but we know who to call because they are gonna be passionate about that. And that is one of my favorite things is hooking the people up that with the organization that's perfect for them. And AFP is more like that. It's more like a group of people, we're all in this together, and let's figure out how to make it work.
Mentorship Fellowship And Scholarships
SPEAKER_01We all want to make our communities a better place. Period. You mentioned the scholarship program. They also have a fellowship, the collective. Yeah, yeah, the collective um impact collective. Collective impact initiative, that's what it is. Fellowship impact initiative. So we have had a mentor program. In fact, I'm sitting next to my mentor. Yeah. Um so um as a newbie, it was, and that was one thing that I put on here, you know, that's so important, or one of the big things that I've gotten out of AFP is is doing the mentorship my first year in fundraising. Um, because it paired me up with someone who's been in it, been in it, a seasoned veteran. Um well seasoned. I didn't I mean she yes, okay. Moving on, moving on. Spicy, spicy and well-seasoned mentor. Uh-huh. But um, it's crazy how we got paired together. But anyway, but we have we have taken that mentor program, which was a great program, and have made it into a fellowship now. And so same sort of thing where you apply as a new person, you have to have five years or under of uh development or fundraising experience. And uh you're you're paired with, you know, someone that has more than five years and you meet with them regularly, and it's all, you know, for the mentor, um, it's all, you know, volunteer time. This is just something you're passionate about. And so, you know, you're as signing up as a mentor, you are agreeing to meet with um your fellow, however, so often, and it really is just to help them um understand or address, you know, issues, or you know, I my mentee, she, you know, went through a job change since she's been on uh as a you know, and kind of working through that. And so, um, but it's for a year. A lot of this is also now paired with the scholarships that we have. So these new professionals to our um to AFP are getting the opportunity um to go to the national conferences or to, you know, be a member.
SPEAKER_03And so I benefited from those in the early years. Before we had a chapter, I got a Chamberlain scholarship, I think, from another chapter that didn't have anybody that could go or something. I don't know how I did it. And then when we started our chapter, I got it. And even though I had already gone, there was no one else that could go. So they awarded me another Chamberlain scholarship to go a little bit later. And it was very helpful because as you know, it's hard to travel and pay for the conference fee and the hotel and the whole thing.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And because we're a a five star gold, we get additional um scholarships, you know, for our members too, which is another benefit for re reaching that designation. So but yeah, the collective impact is is um it's our mentor program um that's just kind of involved in into um a fellowship. So and and you know, and ideally we're wanting these to be our next leaders of AFP and our of our chapter. Right. So, you know, we're we were part of the they have to come to ed sessions. They have to come to, you know, um have these meetings with their mentor, but then also um help at National Philanthropy Day and so they can see that.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, let's touch on that too.
National Philanthropy Day Nominations
SPEAKER_01So that next week. We will um so they can see what that's about. And and so it really is making sure that they're engaged and really encouraging them to take that next step to be on a committee to help at National Philanthropy Day or you know, and then eventually hopefully the board. And right. So but yeah, National Philanthropy Day. Um that's a deadline, like the the nominations deadline. Is that coming up pretty soon? Actually, we're just opening nominations April 1st. Okay. And I'm not fooling. Okay. April first. No, yeah. No joke. No joke. They're open. It goes until I should know this. Um mid-June, I think, is when when nominations but this is our annual event where we recognize all the amazing um people in philanthropy in our area. We have various awards um for youth and philanthropy. We have a volunteer um award, uh organization, uh um there's youth in philanthropy.
SPEAKER_03There's like a legacy gift. Sometimes every once in a while, the judges will have a judges special award because they think it's somebody that really needs to that has had an impact on our sector.
SPEAKER_01Fundraising executive. Yes, outstanding fundraising executives. Well, there's about 10 or 11 categories that we have. Um we don't always get nominations for every category, but we encourage not pro, and you have to be a member of AFP to make a nonprofit, make a nonprofit, make a nomination to National Philanthropy for one of these awards. So um, you know, we're starting to get those uh starting next month, but we have a panel of judges, anonymous judges that will come and and review these awards and select the recipients every year. And we have a big, big party in uh in November last year. It was the 40th anniversary of National Philanthropy Day. So 40 years is Ruby. So we had a big Ruby celebration and and um really celebrated 40 years, and that's when Reagan had made National Philanthropy Day. Um so he was the president that made it an official h holiday or dental recognition. Yeah, exactly. So um, and you know, and what I found out is you know, as I've gone to these various conferences, that not every chapter does anything for this, they don't recognize all the philanthropy going on in their communities. And and I get that Northwest Arkansas is really special. I mean, when it comes to that. And that's what I I but it just amazes me.
SPEAKER_03And I think that once when we go to the national conferences and we start figuring out that our chapter, you know, is a bunch of rock stars, then it you come back and you're just like, well, we can't ever let this down because we're being noticed on an international level, little northwest Arkansas because we're working so hard. Um I've I was at the first National Philanthropy Day luncheon that we threw together.
SPEAKER_01That was not 40 years ago because the stories we could tell. No, not 40 years ago. But we are this year. Um, I mentioned earlier that this is our 25th year of our chapter, so we are recognizing that and celebrating that uh 25 years of silver. So we're having a silver jubilee and and we're doing a lot of fun birthday type things this year to celebrate our chapter. So um anyway, it's uh there's more information about that on uh on the AFP Northwest Arkansas website, and and that's where you can find the nomination forms and and nominate. Yeah, and I remember the date is a little different because of Veterans Day.
SPEAKER_03It's gonna be November 4th, November this year. November 4th. So it's early, it's about a week early this year. So get that on your calendar. Those of you that are listening, November 4th is our big National Philanthropy Day luncheon.
SPEAKER_01And it's on a Wednesday, it's at the Fayetteville Public Library. It's a luncheon, so 11 to 1 is the is the time. So it's always a big event and um such just a feel-good event.
How To Join And Upcoming Social
SPEAKER_03And people leave and you just you're just so grateful for all the philanthropy that happens here in Northwest Arkansas. And there's always, I think that's the other thing that's so great. There is always someone to recognize here. Always always. There's we're never gonna run out people to recognize. Um so I I think the first thing I or the thing I want to say about AFP, probably the last thing we'll say about AFP is um we just want you to be a part of it. If you're in a nonprofit organization or have a nonprofit organization, please, please, please uh take the time to come visit uh an educational session and fill out a scholarship form and join.
SPEAKER_01Well, in uh in our ed sessions, you don't have to be a member to come. No. Now there's a there's a you just pay the session fee, which is$40 this year. Um but I also wanted to mention that we are having a um a social. Uh-huh. It's kind of a membership social. Um, and it's also gonna be our graduation for our first year of the collective. So we're kind of combining it. And so we're hoping that people that are interested in in joining will come and they can visit with some of the the fellows to see how that program has benefited them and how AFP has benefited them. But that is gonna be May 21st at Rendezvous Junction Brewing Company. Oh, that's a great question too. I should have I didn't write down the time, but um, again, that'll be on our website. But so for any of you, the board will be there, so it gives you an opportunity to to meet with some of the board um and ask any questions.
Ask Allison Story Time And Headlock
SPEAKER_03Like a happy hour time exactly towards the end of the day. Okay, May 21st. Get that on your calendars and come celebrate with us the the graduates, and then just it's good for us to mingle. We haven't we all haven't mingled in a while. That's true. Um it's hard when the we get there for the sessions. We're all visiting, visity, visity. And then the and then we have to say, okay, guys, we got to start the show now. Please be quiet. Ugh Okay. Um, this podcast is called Ask Allison. You know, the Ask Allison podcast. So I tell my guests, uh, I like to end the episode where they get to ask me any question, can be related to what we talked about, or it can be totally wild card. I'm not prepared is the the key. So what would you like to ask me today? What is your burning question? I got two. Okay. Okay, that's fine.
SPEAKER_01And neither of which are related. Okay. Oh, I love it. I love it. So we have mentioned Open Avenues, formerly known as Adult Development Center, and that's where our history began. So that's a an organization that's near and dear to my heart, my mom's heart. And um, and I volunteered there a number of times. Remember the year I came back from Mexico and was you're here, yeah. Volunteered for you for a little bit. But anyway, I have so many fond memories, most of which are pretty hysterical. Uh-huh. Is there a is there a memory that tossed into your mind that you can share? Oh my goodness.
SPEAKER_03Um, there are so many. I know. So I will I will say one of the very first, my very first week of work, and I wasn't around a lot of people with different abilities before. And so it was all new to me. And then you knew our old building, you know, I knew the minute I took my tour with Brenda that they needed a new building because sure it was just, you know, it'd just been patched together. We called them natural water features where the when it rained, it leaked. We called those natural water features. But my very first week, um, they made they took an office and like slid off a fourth of it, which was the size of a closet, and that became my office. And I was right across from the classroom. And the classroom is where the true adult development happened. Right. Um, the you know, the six or seven people in that class were more severely uh challenged or or had had different abilities where they could not work in the work center with the rest of the people. Anyway, the dearest guy in that class named Anthony got on the loose and came down the hall. And Brenda, thank goodness, just happened to be walking by, but I stood up to kind of say hi to him because you know I was just 100% going in her ready to be the favorite, you know. So I'm like, hello. And he immediately puts me in a headlock. Like, so I am literally down, you know, my my neck is at his hip and he's squeezing my neck, and I'm like, she no one said anything about this. Like, this was not part of the job description. And so he's and he's just grinning, and I'm saying, Okay, well, here comes Brenda, and she panics because I think she's thinking, Oh my goodness, she's gonna believe it. Yeah the first day she's in a headlock. So she tries to assist. And what happens, which none none of us can believe, because she was so comfortable and familiar with all the clients. Sure, they adored Brenda Real. Yeah. Anyway, he immediately gets her in a headlock on his other hip. So there we both are looking at each other, look like down low, and I'm looking at her like, does this happen every day? And she's thinking, you know, she's looking at me like, I'm so sorry. Normally, this doesn't happen to me. And so we're going to put, I think, you know, then Elizabeth and Lorraine and Paula come around. And anyway, she before they get there, she says, Okay, he loves the Beatles. Do you know a Beatles song? So I immediately said, We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine. And she joins in and we sing yellow submarine, and he finally lets us go, let's both go.
SPEAKER_02But good question. I think I'm gonna have to end it on that one. You can't talk that. That was amazing. I mean, so many great stories.
Final Thanks And Where To Learn More
SPEAKER_03Literally the first week I would have seen it. So funny. Because I and I did not, but there are so many more. Yeah. So many more. And and it is I I it's a fond memory, but also it it just floors me at how many we've lost, you know. Um then it because it does not seem like that much time has passed. Yeah, but I just figured out, and I meant to say this earlier, um, I'm celebrating 10 years at the McLaroy group. Oh my gosh. March. Yeah, this March. You know, March is almost over because this comes out April 7th or the 7th of April. Yeah, April 7th. Um, and so I've already been gone for over 10 years. 10 years. Wow. And then I was there almost 21 years. So the time has just become this, yeah. It's just crazy. It is crazy. But yeah, um, Anthony's not with us anymore. But man, he got me that day. And then when my rescuer, the person that was supposed to save me, came in, she he got her too. And all that saved us was yellow submarine. I love it. So if you ever get in a pickle, just now I know burst into sing yellow submarine that it helps you. Well, thank you for sharing. You're one. So there's no question two now. No, that totally wiped it out. Yeah. No, I I I I can't you can't talk that. That's amazing. Okay. Well, and you know, you can always ask me a question because I'll be your um partner and for life, mentor for life. It's a matter of fact that the AFP conference, we're gonna be there together, that's coming up um in April at the end of April. It's gonna be in San Diego this year. And so um, you know, please keep your phones on in case we need to text you if we get into any trouble in San Diego. Amy and I will be there. Lorraine will be be listening for you, Amy. Sorry. Um well, um, like I said, this episode comes out April 7th. Um, thank everybody for listening. Amy, thank you. Oh, my pleasure. This has been fun. Such a good conversation. And y'all go to the website, Arkansas Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, of Methodists of Arkansas Foundation. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01Couldn't have said it any better. What is the official website, not my version? The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas.org.org.
SPEAKER_03And Amy McGovern. And probably her email is somewhere right on there where you can find her if you want to apply for a grant. Well, um, I just want to say thank you for being here. Thanks for listening. Join us next month. And just a reminder I'm here if you need me. All you have to do is ask Allison.