Association of Fundraising Professionals

What Association of Fundraising Professionals does

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Ottawa Chapter is a non-profit professional membership association serving fundraising and development professionals across Canada's National Capital Region. Founded in 1996 as a regional chapter of AFP Global, the chapter represents 200+ members working in charities, nonprofits, healthcare institutions, educational foundations, and other mission-driven organizations. Its core mandate is professional development, networking, credentialing support, and advocacy for the fundraising discipline at the local level.

The chapter operates a portfolio of programs structured around the career lifecycle of fundraising professionals: the Future Leaders Mentorship Program (a first-of-its-kind initiative among Canadian AFP chapters, supported by RBC Foundation), a CFRE Study Group reporting a 100% certification exam pass rate, the Chamberlain Scholarship Program (now extending to international conference attendance), the Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund, and a Lending Library of fundraising resources. Flagship events include Fundraising Day, an annual one-day conference, and the long-running Annual Philanthropy Awards (now in its 32nd year) under the 2026 theme "Shaped Together – Built by Many." A Chapter Job Center provides recruitment infrastructure for the regional nonprofit labor market.

The chapter's business model is a non-profit membership association model. Revenue is generated through individual membership dues, paid registration for Fundraising Day and other events, tiered corporate sponsorships of the awards and conference (including Opening/Closing Plenary, Networking Break, and Health & Wellness Partner tiers), paid job postings on the Chapter Job Center, and philanthropic donations (including directed funds such as the Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund and the Chamberlain Scholarship). Distribution is primarily through the chapter's website, direct member communications, and in-person events in Ottawa. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations are supported by standard association management and event tooling.

Name

Association of Fundraising Professionals

Legal name

Association of Fundraising Professionals

Website

https://afpottawa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Ottawa Chapter is a non-profit professional membership association serving fundraising professionals across Canada's National Capital Region through mentorship, certification support, scholarships, conferences, and the annual Philanthropy Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (81392), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Professional fundraising association
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Fundraising education training
• Philanthropy awards program
• Fundraising career development

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AFP Ottawa generates revenue through annual membership fees, providing members access to networking events, professional development, mentorship programs, job center access, and member discounts on programs and events.
2. Job Posting Fees: Job postings are offered to employers seeking fundraising professionals. Members pay $250 + HST while non-members pay $350 + HST, with posts remaining live for 30 days or until deadline.
3. Event Registration: Fundraising Day conference and other professional development events generate revenue through ticket sales. Protégés receive complimentary registration as part of the Future Leaders program while mentors receive 50% off.
4. Donations to Scholarship Funds: The Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund accepts donations to support annual fellowships providing bursaries of up to $1,500, one-year AFP membership, and complimentary event registrations to eligible Executive Directors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AFP Ottawa Chapter is a professional membership association for fundraising professionals in the Ottawa region. It sells annual membership that includes networking events, professional development workshops, webinars, mentorship programs, CFRE/ACFRE certification support, member discounts, and advocacy representation. It also operates paid signature programs including the annual Fundraising Day conference, the Philanthropy Awards gala, the Chapter Job Center for employers, the Future Leaders Mentorship Program, the Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Fellowship, and the Chamberlain Scholarship.

Product overview

AFP Ottawa is a chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals providing a membership-based professional ecosystem for charitable fundraisers in the Ottawa region. The organization offers a single unified membership product supplemented by professional development programs including the Future Leaders Mentorship Program (in partnership with RBC), CFRE and ACFRE certification preparation, the Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Fellowship, and the Chamberlain Scholarship. Additional services include a Lending Library, the annual Fundraising Day Conference (providing CE points for CFRE accreditation), the Philanthropy Awards program, and a Chapter Job Center. The organization connects over 200 members through networking events, educational sessions, and advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund: Annual fellowship program providing bursaries and scholarships for new Executive Directors from underrepresented groups in Ottawa and small NGOs/charities, named after Barbara McInnes (1943-2021).
• Future Leaders Mentorship Program
• Philanthropy Awards (The Phils)
• Fundraising Day
• CFRE Study Group

Products and services

• AFP Ottawa Membership Annual membership program providing fundraising professionals in Ottawa access to networking events, professional development workshops, webinars, membership directory and knowledge portal, member discounts on conferences and educational programs, mentorship opportunities, CFRE/ACFRE certification support, and advocacy representation.
• Fundraising Day Conference Annual flagship professional development conference for fundraising professionals in Ottawa, featuring sessions for fundraisers at all levels, including senior leaders, mentors, mentees, and topics on AI, technology, cybersecurity, health, and wellness. Sessions count 4.25 CE points toward CFRE accreditation.
• AFP Ottawa Philanthropy Awards (The Phils) Annual awards ceremony celebrating individuals, organizations, and professionals in philanthropy with community awards and professional awards categories, held each November in Ottawa. The 32nd Annual event is scheduled for November 26, 2026 at the Horticulture Building.
• Future Leaders Mentorship Program Mentorship program in partnership with RBC Foundation that pairs young people aged 19-35 with experienced fundraising professionals, providing complimentary Fundraising Day registration, professional development events access, networking opportunities, and a $100 credit toward one-year AFP Ottawa membership.
• CFRE Study Group and Certification Program Study group program preparing fundraising professionals for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential examination, boasting a 100% exam success rate, with information sessions and structured preparation.
• ACFRE Advanced Certification Program Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive certification program requiring successful completion of written application, written examination, portfolio review, and oral peer review for senior fundraising professionals.
• Chapter Job Center Job posting platform connecting employers with fundraising professionals, offering member and non-member pricing for postings shared on website, e-newsletter, and social media within two business days.
• Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund Annual fellowship program providing bursaries up to $1,500, one-year AFP membership, and complimentary Fundraising Day and professional development event registration for Executive Directors from underrepresented groups in Ottawa and small NGOs/charities.
• Chamberlain Scholarship Program Scholarship covering AFP International Conference on Fundraising registration plus an additional $1,500 from AFP Ottawa Chapter, awarded to fundraising professionals who have never attended an AFP International Conference.
• Lending Library A library of fundraising books available to AFP Ottawa members to borrow, sourced from books purchased to honor speakers at professional development events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% CFRE exam success rate for study group participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RBC FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRBC Foundation is the strategic partner for AFP Ottawa's Future Leaders Mentorship Program, supporting young people aged 19-35 in the national capital region who are paired with experienced fundraising professionals for networking, skills development, and professional growth around Fundraising Day.
• KCI PhilanthropycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKCI Philanthropy serves as the longtime Presenting Sponsor of AFP Ottawa Fundraising Day, the flagship annual conference for the chapter.
• CanadaHelpsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDuke Chang, President and CEO of CanadaHelps, participated as a thought leader panelist at Fundraising Day 2026 closing plenary on The Future of Philanthropy in Canada, discussing how innovation and AI will transform the sector.
• Charity Village LTDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMary Barroll, President & General Counsel of CharityVillage (Canada's largest online job board and career resource for nonprofits), participated as a thought leader panelist at Fundraising Day 2026.
• Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerJason Shim, Chief Digital Officer of CCNDR, participated as a thought leader panelist at Fundraising Day 2026 on how technology and AI can help nonprofits advance their missions.
• Foundation WCPDcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation WCPD is the presenting sponsor for the annual AFP Ottawa Philanthropy Awards (The Phils), one of the premier events in the nation's capital celebrating philanthropic contributions.
• Blakely FundraisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYear-round Personal Development Series sponsor providing support for educational sessions that add value to members' ongoing careers in fundraising.
• Third Wave PhilanthropyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Access Partner for Fundraising Day 2026.
• University of OttawaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClosing Plenary Sponsor for Fundraising Day 2026.
• OTUS (Nonprofit CFO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpening Plenary Sponsor for Fundraising Day 2026.
• BNP InspireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetworking Break Sponsor for Fundraising Day 2026.
• Ottawa Business JournalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Sponsor for Fundraising Day 2026.
• Rogers Communications Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Sponsor for Fundraising Day 2026.
• DonorPerfectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSoftware sponsor featured on AFP Ottawa website banner ads, providing fundraising software solutions for nonprofits.
• AFP Foundation for Philanthropy–CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFP Foundation for Philanthropy–Canada is the philanthropic arm of AFP that raises funds for its National Scholarship Program, the Fellowship in Inclusion and Philanthropy Program, research, ethics education, and leadership development. The Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund is stewarded by this foundation.
• McGill BuckleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing & Branding Sponsor for Fundraising Day 2026.
• BMR GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrack Sponsor for Fundraising Day 2026.
• ArborvidaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth & Wellness Partner for Fundraising Day 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Imagine Canada: A national Canadian nonprofit-sector umbrella organization that, like AFP Ottawa, serves Canadian charities and nonprofits through advocacy, standards, and sector resources, with a national rather than regional scope.
• National Council of Nonprofits: A US network of nonprofit organizations providing advocacy, training, and resources — comparable to AFP Ottawa's advocacy and member-services mission but at a national US scale.
• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): A global nonprofit association serving educational advancement professionals (including fundraisers) through membership, conferences, and credentials — comparable to AFP Ottawa's mission but focused on the education sector.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global): AFP Global is the parent professional association of which AFP Ottawa is a chapter. It provides the same membership, certification (CFRE/ACFRE), and conference programming at an international scale, directly comparable as the umbrella organization.

Emerging players

• CanadaHelps: A Canadian charitable giving platform that participated as a thought-leader panelist at AFP Ottawa Fundraising Day 2026. Operates in the adjacent online-giving infrastructure space relevant to AFP Ottawa's membership.
• Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR): A sector-focused nonprofit organization that partnered with AFP Ottawa on Fundraising Day 2026, addressing nonprofit digital and technology adoption — overlapping with AFP Ottawa's professional development remit.

Direct peers

• AFP Foundation for Philanthropy — Canada: The philanthropic arm of AFP in Canada and a core partner of AFP Ottawa, stewarding the Barbara McInnes Executive Mentoring Project Fund and other scholarship programs — directly comparable in mission and programming.
• Association of Professional Fundraisers (UK): The UK professional membership body for fundraisers, providing certification, training, and advocacy — a direct international peer to AFP Ottawa operating in a different geographic market.
• AFP Toronto Chapter: A fellow Canadian AFP chapter offering the same membership, professional development, and event programming model to Toronto-area fundraisers — the most direct comparable peer to AFP Ottawa at a larger metropolitan scale.
• Charity Village: Canada's largest online job board and career resource for the nonprofit sector, directly comparable to AFP Ottawa's Chapter Job Center and a frequent AFP Ottawa event partner. Operates a parallel fundraising-employment marketplace.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/afpottawa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1uvMcn4aV34LEc0E7CylMw/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFPOttawa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afpottawa
• Instagraminstagram.com/afpottawa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Fundraising Professionals