Scholarships

2026-2027 Scholarship Opportunities

AFP of Southern Arizona accepts scholarship applications year-round. The number of scholarships available varies throughout the year; efforts will be made to accommodate all who are in need.

2027 AFP Statewide Conference Scholarship – This scholarship will cover the conference fees for both days. Applications are due by March 31, 2027. (Criteria to apply to be announced).
Regular Member Scholarships – Full membership in the Association (AFP Global and the Southern Arizona Chapter) will be provided to individuals (a) who, among other responsibilities, hold some degree of accountability for income-generation within the fundraising process; (b) who must hold some degree of responsibility directly for fundraising; (c) who are compensated for their services; and (d) who subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights.
Young Professional Memberships – Open to persons who hold some degree of responsibility directly for fundraising, work within the U.S. and Canada and are compensated for their services, and are 30 years old or younger, must subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights and be employed, or have been employed by an organization that provides benefits to society.
CFRE Scholarship – Reimburses an AFP Southern Arizona Chapter member for the cost of taking the CFRE exam after the credential is successfully achieved. Applicant must be a member of the AFP Southern Arizona chapter to apply. Apply for the CFRE scholarship prior to taking the exam. Once you have successfully passed the CFRE exam, submit a copy of the letter from CFRE International verifying successful achievement of the CFRE credential and a copy of the test exam receipt (showing transaction amount) for reimbursement.

Chamberlain Scholarship (only 1 available)
– Covers the recipient’s conference registration to AFP ICON, the annual fundraising conference hosted by AFP. The scholarship is available to AFP Southern Arizona Chapter members who have never attended AFP ICON. Recipients must dedicate 50% or more of their work time to fundraising. Open for 2027! Apply by January 22, 2027. Chapter selects Chamberlain Scholar based on the following criteria:

• Candidate is employed as a fundraising professional or, if the candidate is an executive director, a substantial amount of time must be devoted to fundraising.

• Candidate has never attended an AFP or NSFRE International Conference on Fundraising as a registered participant (unless as a member of the Conference Host Committee) and is enthusiastic to attend the full conference as scheduled.

• Candidate must agree to complete an online evaluation form about their experience at AFP ICON.

• Only one individual from any local organization or institution may be selected.

• Candidates must be willing to share their AFP ICON experience with their chapter after the conference has concluded. This can be accomplished through a report to chapter leadership, a contribution to the chapter newsletter, or an alternate contribution identified by chapter leadership.

Read Rowan’s experience report about ICON…

Receiving a scholarship from the AFP Southern Arizona Chapter, or from the AFP Foundation requires some commitments from the awardees and their agency. Commitments include the following:

1. Notification of change of job or position to the AFP President

2. Active within the Development profession at the time of scholarship period

3. Permission from your agency director to apply for a scholarship

4. A financial commitment for the remaining conference fees and expenses (such as air and ground travel, meals, room and conference fee balance)

5. A commitment to participate and attend all of the conference sessions

6. As a new scholarship recipient, we are requiring you get involved with one of our local chapter committees. Learn more about committees: https://afpsoaz.org/about/committees/

Your application will be reviewed by our Board and you will be notified if you have received a scholarship

If you have any questions, please contact us at admin@afpsoaz.org

Apply for AFP Scholarship

“Thirteen years ago my AFP experience was launched when I received the Chamberlain Scholarship, an award from both our Southern Arizona Chapter and matched by AFP International, that provided me the funds needed to attend the AFP International Conference in New Orleans. Although I was already working as Development Director for the Women’s Foundation for Southern Arizona, the conference opened my eyes to the larger career of philanthropy and fundraising. From there I went on to serve as the Executive Director of the Birth and Women’s Health Center, and eventually to start my own business as a consultant. I’ve since served as chair of AFP Membership, Professional Development, National Philanthropy Day, the Statewide Conference, and now as President of the Chapter. Every bit of good luck and good friendship I’ve had in this profession has been due to AFP and my AFP colleagues, and it all started with a scholarship.”

Laura Alexander, MA, CFRE

Alexander Carrillo Consulting, 2014 AFP Southern Arizona Chapter President

“I was thrilled to receive a scholarship for a yearlong membership with Southern Arizona AFP. Being new to the fundraising profession and being very unsure of myself and capabilities, I was hesitant to ask my past employer to pay for the membership, not knowing how this career path would go for me. I am especially thankful that I was awarded the scholarship because my new employer Make Way for Books is very supportive of me being active with AFP. They are a very small non-profit so the fee would have been burdensome. I have been met with a very welcoming and supportive environment within AFP. Ellen Bussing, Deb Dale, Angie Smith, and Jessica Galow have all been very kind to me, made me feel welcome, helped guide me in some difficult decisions, and shown me new ways to look at our work. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be involved and look forward to helping and mentoring others as I grow in this field.”

Ally Baehr

COO, Make Way for Books

“Receiving a scholarship to take the CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) Exam years ago when I was the Chief Development Officer at the Primavera Foundation was a definite boost to my career. Holding this credential lets other nonprofit professionals know I take the commitment to this profession seriously.

I am so grateful to those who made that possible years ago, and I continue to
pay it forward through my ongoing financial and volunteering contributions to AFP.”

Receiving a scholarship from the AFP Southern Arizona Chapter, or from the AFP Foundation requires some commitments from the awardees and their agency. Commitments include the following:

AFP Scholarship Application

AFP Scholarships Available

Laura Alexander, MA, CFRE

Alexander Carrillo Consulting, 2014 AFP Southern Arizona Chapter President

Ally Baehr

COO, Make Way for Books

Deb Dale, CFRE

Principal Deb Dale & Associates Consulting

(480) 990-1887

info@afpsoaz.org

P.O. Box 41176, Tucson, Arizona 85717

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