Association of Fundraising Professionals

What Association of Fundraising Professionals does

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), founded in 1962 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, is a nonprofit professional membership association serving individual fundraising professionals, nonprofit organizations, and corporate partners across the global fundraising sector. AFP operates through a network of 226 chapters spanning six regions (U.S., Canada, Mexico/South America/Caribbean, Africa/Middle East, Asia/Oceania), supported by regional offices in Toronto and Mexico City and a workforce of 101–250 employees. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of professional development products including the AFP ICON conference (3,000+ attendees annually, 100+ education sessions), AFP LEAD leadership conference, deep-dive workshops, e-courses, webinars, and micro-learning content, alongside credentials such as ACFRE (administered by AFP) and CFRE (administered by CFRE International with a 20% AFP member discount). Its technology stack centers on a Blue Sky/Path LMS, AFP Connect community forum, AFP Career Center job board, and the AFP360° career support tool delivered in partnership with Korn Ferry, augmented by the Nova AI chatbot (built on Zigment) for member queries.

AFP's revenue model is diversified across six primary streams: membership dues (individual and organizational, annual subscription), conference and event revenue (ICON, LEAD, and chapter events), professional development programs (webinars, courses, certifications), career center job posting fees, corporate partnerships and sponsorships (multi-tiered: Strategic, Development, Visionary, Industry, Media), and foundation donations through the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy (U.S., Canada, and Mexico). The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by local chapters that serve as acquisition and retention touchpoints, complemented by digital channels including AFP Daily/Weekly newsletters, podcasts, and social media. Strategic corporate partnerships span 20+ vendors including Blackbaud (Flagship, presenting sponsor of ICON 2026), Salesforce, Microsoft Elevate, Amazon Business, and others, providing both sponsorship revenue and member-facing value. The organization also operates the Fundraising Effectiveness Project in partnership with GivingTuesday, aggregating giving data from 25,000+ nonprofits and 125+ million donation transactions for sector benchmarking.

Name

Association of Fundraising Professionals

Legal name

Association of Fundraising Professionals

Website

https://afpglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Association of Fundraising Professionals is a nonprofit membership association founded in 1962 that serves fundraising professionals worldwide through 226 chapters, offering credentials (ACFRE, CFRE), conferences (ICON, LEAD), professional development programs, and research via the Fundraising Effectiveness Project.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Fundraising professional development
• Nonprofit membership programs
• Fundraising certification credentials
• Nonprofit conferences and events

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AFP generates revenue primarily through membership dues from individual fundraising professionals and organizational/business memberships. Members receive benefits including discounted conference rates, professional development credits, access to exclusive content, and career resources.
2. Conference and Event Revenue: Revenue from AFP ICON (annual flagship conference), AFP LEAD (leadership conference), and various chapter events. Includes registration fees, sponsorship revenue, and exhibit fees from corporate partners.
3. Professional Development Programs: Revenue from educational programs including Deep Dives, webinars, e-courses, and certification programs (ACFRE, CFRE support). Non-members pay higher rates for webinars and courses.
4. Career Center Job Board: Job posting fees from employers recruiting fundraising professionals through the AFP Career Center platform.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Revenue from strategic partnerships across multiple tiers (Strategic Partners, Development Partners, Visionary Partners, Industry Supporters, Media Partners). Corporate partners pay for brand visibility, exhibitor access, and relationship building with AFP members.
6. Foundation Donations and Campaigns: The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy conducts annual campaigns including the BE the CAUSE campaign, scholarship campaigns, and planned giving programs to fund foundation initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Association of Fundraising Professionals is a membership-based professional association that provides fundraising professionals and nonprofit organizations with professional development, credentials, conferences, networking, ethics standards, and research. Core offerings include AFP ICON (annual conference, 3,000+ attendees), AFP LEAD (annual leadership conference), the ACFRE and CFRE professional credentials, AFP Deep Dives, Core Training Programs, webinars, e-courses, the AFP360° career tool, the AFP Career Center job board, the Fundraising Effectiveness Project research initiative, and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy.

Product overview

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is a membership-based organization that operates a comprehensive portfolio of professional development programs, credentials, conferences, and research initiatives for the fundraising profession. The core offerings include AFP ICON (the world's largest fundraising conference with 3,000+ attendees), AFP LEAD (annual leadership conference), and professional development programs including AFP Deep Dives, Core Training Programs (Fundamentals of Fundraising, Donor Retention Course, Faculty Training Academy), E-Courses, and Webinars. AFP supports two professional credentials: ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive - managed by AFP) and CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive - administered by CFRE International with 20% member discount). Additional offerings include the Fundraising Effectiveness Project research initiative, IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) programs with scholarships, AFP360° career support tool, AFP Career Center job board, and National Philanthropy Day recognition program. The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy supports scholarships, research, and leadership development across US, Canada, and Mexico foundations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive): Advanced professional credential recognizing individuals with demonstrated ethical standards, commitment to lifelong learning, and highest standards in fundraising professionalism and leadership
• AFP ICON
• AFP LEAD
• AFP Foundation for Philanthropy
• Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP)
• National Philanthropy Day (NPD)

Products and services

• AFP ICON The world's No. 1 fundraising conference, attracting more than 3,000 fundraising professionals annually with more than 100 education sessions, networking opportunities, and keynote speakers.
• AFP LEAD AFP's annual leadership conference designed to enhance leadership skills and organizational impact with a nonprofit/fundraising focus, featuring 3 days of content, 9 blocks of breakout sessions, 2 keynote addresses, and networking opportunities.
• ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive) AFP's most prestigious credential recognizing individuals who have demonstrated the highest ethical standards, commitment to life-long learning, and advanced-level mastery of fundraising leadership, management, ethics, and professional standards.
• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) Professional credential administered by CFRE International demonstrating professional achievement and mastery of core knowledge and skills required of fundraising professionals with at least three years of experience. AFP members receive 20% discount on certification and recertification fees.
• AFP Deep Dives Intensive virtual workshops facilitated by experts that drill down into key aspects of fundraising, management or leadership topics including capital campaigns, gifts in wills, major gifts, and staffing.
• AFP Core Training Programs Includes AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course (comprehensive overview of fundraising principles), AFP Donor Retention Course (developing donor retention plans based on research), and AFP Faculty Training Academy.
• AFP Webinars & Recordings Webinar series bringing fundraising experts and thought leaders to desktop or mobile devices. Includes curated premium webinars, sponsored webinars from industry partners, and member-exclusive webinars.
• AFP E-Courses Self-paced online learning including AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising e-course and over 100 e-courses in partnership with MindEdge covering nonprofit management, leadership, finance, and HR topics starting at $79.
• AFP Donor-Advised Fund Essentials A 9-module curriculum providing streamlined introduction and deep examination of donor-advised funds (DAFs), covering fundamentals, tracking, donor relationship management, best practices, solicitation strategies, and fundraiser's evolving role.
• AFP360° Online career builder and management tool provided free to AFP members through partnership with Korn Ferry. Includes digital resume analysis, traits assessment, career insights, and 80 minutes of AI coaching for meeting and interview preparation.
• Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) Collaborative project of AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and GivingTuesday that delivers trusted data insights to help fundraisers improve outcomes. Provides tools for tracking and evaluating annual growth in giving with over 25,000 nonprofit organizations participating.
• AFP Membership Member-based organization membership offering professional education, networking, research, and advocacy for ethical fundraising. Includes $100 professional development credit, member-only webinars, and exclusive content.
• AFP Career Center Job board and career support platform for fundraising professionals to find jobs and for organizations to post positions.
• AFP Foundation for Philanthropy (US) Champions philanthropy and volunteerism by developing nonprofit sector's current and future leaders, welcoming diverse new voices, and upholding highest standards of ethics. Funds leadership programs, scholarships, and research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2200+ scholarships awarded since 2000 through Chamberlain Scholarship Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• BlackbaudflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackbaud is a Strategic Partner and presenting sponsor of AFP ICON 2026 in San Diego. The company showcased AI-powered fundraising solutions including the Development Agent. Through partnership with Blackbaud, AFP offers the Emerging Leader Mentor Program and Diversity Scholarship. Blackbaud's connected ecosystem helps nonprofits streamline fundraising operations.
• BloomerangcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBloomerang is a Strategic Partner of AFP, appearing in the partner section with dedicated logo placement. Also a data partner for the Fundraising Effectiveness Project.
• DonorPerfectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDonorPerfect is a Strategic Partner of AFP. Also a data partner for the Fundraising Effectiveness Project.
• RaiselycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRaisely is a Strategic Partner of AFP.
• GivezeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGivezey is designated as AFP's Impact Partner.
• BetterworldsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBetterworld is a Development Partner of AFP. Also a data partner for the Fundraising Effectiveness Project.
• BonterrasupportingTechnology or IntegrationBonterra is a Development Partner of AFP. Also a data partner for the Fundraising Effectiveness Project.
• CharityEnginesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCharityEngine is a Development Partner of AFP.
• EvertruesupportingTechnology or IntegrationEvertrue is a Development Partner of AFP.
• GoFundMesupportingTechnology or IntegrationGoFundMe PRO is a Development Partner of AFP. Also a data partner for the Fundraising Effectiveness Project.
• KindsightsupportingTechnology or IntegrationKindsight is a Development Partner of AFP.
• Microsoft ElevatesupportingTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Elevate is a Development Partner of AFP, part of Microsoft's nonprofit initiative.
• MomentivesupportingTechnology or IntegrationMomentive is a Development Partner of AFP.
• Amazon BusinesssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Business is a Visionary Partner of AFP.
• CrescendosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCrescendo (CrescendoInteractive.com) is a Visionary Partner of AFP, specializing in gift planning software.
• datarosupportingGTM or Marketing Partnerdataro is a Visionary Partner of AFP, offering AI-powered fundraising analytics.
• Delve DeepersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDelve Deeper is a Visionary Partner of AFP.
• FeathrsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFeathr is a Visionary Partner of AFP, offering digital marketing solutions for nonprofits.
• FundraiseUpsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraiseUp is a Visionary Partner of AFP. Also a data partner for the Fundraising Effectiveness Project.
• Fundraising AcademysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraising Academy is a Visionary Partner of AFP.
• GolfstatussupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGolfstatus is a Visionary Partner of AFP.
• SalesforcesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSalesforce is a Visionary Partner of AFP, offering CRM solutions for nonprofits.
• Virtuous SoftwaresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVirtuous Software is a Visionary Partner of AFP, offering responsive fundraising platforms.
• GivingTuesdaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGivingTuesday is a co-producing partner of the Quarterly Fundraising Report with AFP and the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. The partnership provides additional data resources and broadens audience reach.
• CFRE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFP is a Participating Organization for the CFRE credential. AFP members receive 20% discount on CFRE initial certification and recertification fees. All AFP professional development qualifies for CFRE continuing education credit.
• FEP Data Partners (BetterUnite, Bloomerang, Bonterra, DonorBox, DonorDock, donorperfect, FundraiseUp, Givebutter, GiveSmart, GoFundMe PRO, NeonOne)supportingTechnology or IntegrationData partners include BetterUnite, Bloomerang, Bonterra, DonorBox, DonorDock, donorperfect, FundraiseUp, Givebutter, GiveSmart, GoFundMe PRO, and NeonOne. These donor software firms participate in the Fundraising Effectiveness Project to track fundraising effectiveness across 25,000+ nonprofits.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): CASE is the global membership association serving advancement professionals in education (fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, communications). It is directly comparable to AFP because both serve fundraising professionals through credentials, conferences, and chapter networks — though CASE is vertical-focused on education institutions while AFP is horizontal across all nonprofit fundraising.
• Chartered Institute of Fundraising (UK): The UK's national membership body for fundraising professionals, offering its own certified fundraising credentials, training, and an annual conference. Directly comparable as the international counterpart to AFP with a parallel credentialing, advocacy, and chapter/community model — and a potential partner or competitor for any AFP push into Europe.
• National Council of Nonprofits: A network of state and regional nonprofit associations serving as a unified voice for the nonprofit sector. Comparable to AFP because it provides advocacy, training, and member services to the same underlying nonprofit-employer base, though it focuses on nonprofit operations broadly rather than fundraising specifically.
• Independent Sector: A national membership organization of nonprofits, foundations, and corporations advocating for the charitable sector. Comparable to AFP as a sector umbrella offering research, policy advocacy, and member convening — though Independent Sector addresses the entire charitable ecosystem rather than fundraising professionals specifically.
• Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP): The membership association for healthcare fundraising professionals, offering the AHP Certified Fund Raising Executive credential and annual international conference. Directly comparable to AFP as a vertical-specific counterpart serving fundraising professionals with credentials, education, and a major annual conference.
• BoardSource: A national nonprofit focused on nonprofit governance and board leadership, offering training, publications, and credentialing for board members and executives. Comparable to AFP as a peer professional association serving the nonprofit sector with credentials, education, and advocacy.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center + GuideStar): Candid operates the most comprehensive philanthropic data platform in the US, including 990 data, grants databases, and research tools. Comparable to AFP because both serve as sector intelligence providers — Candid through data on foundations and grants, and AFP through FEP's donor-giving data — and they compete for influence over the nonprofit research market.
• National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP): CGP is a membership organization for gift planning professionals, offering the Chartered Gift Planner credential and an annual national conference. Comparable to AFP as a professional association for a fundraising sub-specialty (planned giving), competing for overlapping member mindshare and conference attendance.

Emerging players

• GivingTuesday: GivingTuesday is a movement and data initiative that co-produces the Quarterly Fundraising Report with AFP FEP and shares FEP's data partners. It is a partial peer — overlapping on the fundraising-data and sector-advocacy dimensions — but operates more as a movement-builder than a professional association, making it more collaborator than competitor.
• Philanthropy Roundtable: An association of philanthropic donors and foundations focused on education and policy advocacy for the giving community. Comparable to AFP on the advocacy and member-convening dimensions, but serves donors and foundations rather than individual fundraising professionals — a partial peer in the broader philanthropy ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afpihq
• YouTubevimeo.com/afpihq
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFPFAN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afpglobal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Fundraising Professionals