04/29/2026
What a week!
Highs and lows and everything in between.
One week ago I had a major high (public announcement coming soon).
I then left on Saturday for San Diego realizing it was probably going to be the last time I saw my cat Freddie (left us on Sunday night).
All the while I was surrounded by an amazing community of nonprofit fundraisers at .
I am sometimes asked why I'm always out at an AFP event and the answer is quite simply - it's about the community. A community I love, support, and believe in to make our societies a little bit better, safer, healthier, equitable, etc.
A big thank you to my member chapters in promoting community: Association of Fundraising Professionals - Greater Philadelphia Chapter (AFP-GPC) and Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP-DC) Washington, DC Metro Area Chapter and their leadership - Sarah Miller, Kristen (Kris) Kuhns, Tommy Amal, MS, CFRE, Elizabeth Marafino Fiola, MA, MS, CFRE, Elizabeth Hefner, CFRE.
Honored to be at the launch party of Generosity Roundtable with Tim Sarrantonio, CNP and Julia Campbell. As well as be part of discussions with Michelle Boggs, MBA, CFRE, Marco Corona and others on how to further actionable insights from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) to advance our community.
There's too many people I saw and met with to name them all here, but thank you to them all.
I want to lastly thank Julie Naranjo Upham, CFRE for helping me take a mini "strategic break" since I almost never take any real time off. So a half day of beach time, a nice dinner with fellow esteemed fundraisers, and a little "me time" before heading back to East Coast is a perfect way to end this roller coaster seven days.
Thanks to everyone who was part of my week this week - either directly or indirectly. You are why I do what I do.
(and no, I am not in any of these pictures. I am terrible at selfies so I will let others post pictures with me in it).
- Jesse Park