Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago Chapter

Name

Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago Chapter

Legal name

Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago Chapter

Website

https://afpchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

• Nonprofit fundraising education
• Professional development
• Fundraising certification
• Peer networking
• Philanthropy association

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization generates revenue through AFP Global membership fees collected from individual fundraisers and nonprofit professionals in the Chicago area who join AFP Chicago.
2. Workshop and Education Fees: Revenue from registration fees for workshops such as Fundamentals of Fundraising courses ($420-$530), Sustainable Fundraising ($40-$60), and other educational programming.
3. Networking Event Fees: Revenue from member engagement events such as Happy Hour Networking ($10 per attendee) and other social/networking gatherings.
4. Sponsorships and Donations: Revenue from corporate sponsors supporting events and programs, as well as chapter champion donations and Be the Cause campaign contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFP Chicago is a regional chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals that delivers professional development, education, and networking services to fundraisers and nonprofit professionals in the Chicago metropolitan area. Its core offerings include the Fundamentals of Fundraising course (16-hour intensive, CFRE-approved), ongoing workshops, peer mentoring, affinity groups, networking events, and a job board. The organization sustains a 50+ year legacy of supporting ethical fundraising practice and IDEA-driven community building.

Product overview

AFP Chicago offers a portfolio of professional development and community-building services for fundraisers. The core educational offerings include the Fundamentals of Fundraising (a 16-hour intensive certification course), virtual workshops, and the Chicago Fellows Program. Professional development is further supported through peer mentoring and IDEA committee programming. Community engagement occurs through affinity groups, Third Thursday networking events, and the annual meeting. The chapter also operates Job Source as a career service and administers philanthropy awards for sector recognition. The organization's educational programs are approved for CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) continuing education credits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fundamentals of Fundraising A comprehensive 16-hour intensive course providing new and developing fundraisers with foundational knowledge across seven modules including overview of fundraising, integrated fundraising, marketing, donor relationships, gift solicitation, volunteer management, and accountability. Approved for 16 CFRE continuing education points.
• Workshops and Virtual Workshops Topic-specific educational workshops offered in-person and virtually, covering emerging trends in fundraising (e.g., Agile Fundraising, Sustainable Fundraising, Fundraising with AI). Programs offer CFRE credit hours for professional certification and are open to members and non-members at tiered pricing.
• Chicago Fellows Program A structured professional development program designed to advance careers in fundraising through mentorship and peer learning for emerging and mid-career fundraising professionals.
• Peer Mentoring Program A 12-month mentorship program connecting less-experienced development professionals with seasoned fundraisers for mutual professional growth and structured partnerships.
• Affinity Groups Specialized community groups including WFARE (White Fundraisers Advocating for Racial Equity), African American Affinity Group, and Latinx Happy Hour, providing targeted networking and professional development for specific communities within the fundraising profession.
• Networking Events Recurring networking events including Third Thursday Networking and Happy Hour Networking mixers (e.g., $10 per attendee with first drink included), providing casual professional networking opportunities for members and their guests.
• Job Source An online job board service enabling members and employers to search and post fundraising professional opportunities in the Chicago area.
• Philanthropy Awards An annual awards program recognizing outstanding achievement and contributions in philanthropy within the Chicago nonprofit sector.
• Annual Meeting Annual chapter meeting bringing together fundraising professionals for networking, learning, and recognition of sector achievements.
• IDEA Committee Programs Programs run by the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access committee dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable fundraising community through educational opportunities and networking events.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AspirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAspire serves as a venue sponsor and program partner for AFP Chicago educational events, including hosting the AFP Fundamentals #2 Hillside course at their facility at 1815 S. Wolf Rd, Hillside, IL 60162. Aspire staff also serve as instructors for fundraising modules.
• National Louis UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Louis University serves as a venue partner for workshops including Sustainable Fundraising. Staff member Fernanda Valentino serves as Co-Chair of the Continuous Learning Council and module instructor for the Fundamentals course.
• Latino Policy ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatino Policy Forum serves as venue partner for AFP Fundamentals #1 Chicago course and provides instructors (Carlos A. Trejo, CFRE for Module II).
• DonorPerfectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDonorPerfect serves as workshop sponsor for multiple AFP Chicago educational programs including Agile Fundraising and Sustainable Fundraising workshops, providing financial support and expert speakers.
• Block Club ChicagominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBlock Club Chicago partners with AFP Chicago for networking events such as Happy Hour Networking, providing cross-community engagement opportunities.
• Grant Park Music FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant Park Music Festival hosts WFARE in-person social gathering and reception, providing venue and cultural programming for member engagement.
• Quarles & Brady LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQuarles & Brady LLP serves as venue for the Fundraising with AI: Applications, Strengths, Challenges, Bias, and Ethics workshop.
• Women in Development ProfessionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Partner designation, supporting AFP Chicago's professional development mission.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• BoardSource: BoardSource is a nonprofit membership organization offering training, resources, and events focused on nonprofit governance and leadership. Comparable to AFP Chicago as a nonprofit-sector membership association delivering education and convening for nonprofit leaders.
• Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP): AHP is a membership association for healthcare fundraisers with education, networking, and certification. Comparable in operating model to AFP Chicago but vertically focused on healthcare philanthropy rather than serving all nonprofit sectors.
• NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Network): NTEN is a membership organization serving nonprofit technology and digital fundraising practitioners with conferences, courses, and a community. Comparable as a professional association running educational programming and networking for a defined nonprofit sub-segment.

Direct peers

• AFP Greater Washington DC Chapter: Another large AFP regional chapter with a comparable mix of professional development workshops, networking, and IDEA programming for fundraisers in the DC metro. Operates the same chapter model under the AFP Global umbrella.
• AFP Greater Los Angeles Chapter: Regional AFP chapter serving Los Angeles-area fundraisers. Comparable in mission, programming (workshops, networking, peer mentoring), and member segments to AFP Chicago, operating in a different metro.
• AFP New York Chapter: A regional AFP chapter serving New York-area fundraisers. Direct peer: same brand, governance, CFRE-aligned programming, membership dues, workshops, networking events, and affinity groups, but in a different metro.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of nonprofit advocacy and support organizations. Comparable as a nonprofit membership/convening body serving the nonprofit sector with programming and member engagement, though focused more on advocacy than professional development.
• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): CASE is a global nonprofit association serving advancement professionals in education, with conferences, training, and credentials. Comparable as a peer professional association delivering education, networking, and certification for fundraising/advancement professionals.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global): AFP Global is the parent association of AFP Chicago and the national/international umbrella for fundraising professionals. It is directly comparable because it operates the same professional-association model (membership dues, certification, chapters, educational programming) at a broader scale.

Regional players

• Women in Development New York: Regional peer professional network for women fundraisers in New York. Comparable to AFP Chicago's affinity/community programming (e.g., Latinx Happy Hour, WFARE) in mission and operating model but focused on a different demographic and geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AFPChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afpchicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/afpchicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Chicago Chapter