In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, AFP President and CEO Art Taylor reflects on leading the organization through a period of uncertainty and change in the nonprofit sector. He shares insights on strengthening donor relationships, building resilience amid funding challenges, and using technology responsibly to advance missions. Art also offers practical advice for emerging leaders preparing to navigate 2026 with confidence and purpose.

Guest:

H. Art Taylor is president and chief executive officer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), representing individuals and organizations that raise more than $100 billion in charitable contributions every year around the world for countless causes.

Prior to accepting the president & CEO role for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Mr. Taylor served for 23 years as president and chief executive officer of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. In this role, he oversaw all aspects of the organization’s work, including setting standards for soliciting organizations, evaluating charities in relation to these standards, and publishing the Wise Giving Guide. He also supported local Better Business Bureau charity review programs, promoted charity accountability, provided resources on informed giving to various donors and government entities, hosted a weekly podcast, fostered collaboration among charitable organizations, developed giving tools, and assisted charities in improving operations, governance, and leadership.

Before joining the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Mr. Taylor headed the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. (OICA) from 1990 to 1999.

He currently serves on the boards of Franklin & Marshall College, Convergence Policy, American Non-Profits, National Assembly Business Services, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Elevate 215, Certified Fund Raising Executives, Creating Healthier Communities, Mobile Giving Foundation, and Institute For the Future.

He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and received an honorary Dr. of Laws from his alma mater in 2002. He earned a JD from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1989.

Hosts:

Emily Leitzinger, CFRE, CNP, Director of National Leadership Giving, Cure SMA: Emily Leitzinger is a fundraising executive with over 15 years of experience driving organizational growth and sustainability through innovative fundraising strategies and donor engagement. She currently serves as the Director of National Leadership Giving at Cure SMA and is particularly proud of launching the first-ever Legacy Society for the organization. Emily is dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion in philanthropy, as noted in her Master's capstone. In this project, she examines the effects of donor influence on nonprofit operations and proposes frameworks for more balanced and ethical donor engagement. A chartering member and past president of the Mid-City, New Orleans Rotary Club, Emily is affectionately known as the Deputy Governor of "Yes" and is set to become the District Governor of District 6840. In addition to her professional achievements, she enjoys traveling, long-distance running, and craft beer, and is a huge fan of The Office. She lives in New Orleans with her Elvis-impersonating husband, Mike.

Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier, CFRE, ACNP, GPC, CAP, Founder & CEO, AQP Consulting & Executive Director, ENP: Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier has fourteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has collectively raised approximately $5 million for over 75 organizations. She serves as Executive Director of ENP and runs her own nonprofit consulting firm, AQP Consulting, where she helps grassroots nonprofits with fundraising strategy, strategic planning, board development, and grant writing. Allison is a vocal advocate for gender parity, closing the wage gap, and ending the motherhood penalty. With accolades such as AFP’s Outstanding Young Fundraising Professional, NBJ’s 40 Under 40, NBJ’s Women of Influence, a National Latino Leader, and the Women Who Rock Nashville Social Justice Award, Dr. Quintanilla Plattsmier strives to serve and better her community every day. A dedicated AFP member for the last seven years, Allison currently chairs the Women's Impact Initiative (WII) Mentorship Program and serves on the LEAD Education Advisory Committee. When she is not out serving her community, she is spending time with her three kids, Quintan, Karina, and Kamren.

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, our host Emily Leitzinger takes her turn being a guest, alongside her mentee Ellen Heydon. They discuss their recent participation in the AFP/Alford Group Women’s Impact Initiative (WII) Mentor Program—why they decided to apply, how they overcame imposter syndrome, what they learned from one another through this process, and the impact that mentorship has had on their careers.

Guests:

Ellen Heydon, CFRE is an established development professional driven to support nonprofit organizations in establishing their fundraising programs while also growing the visibility for fundraising professionals. She discovered her passion for developing annual campaigns to meet the needs of the organization while at the same time educating and empowering the board of directors to drive the growth of the organization. While earning her master’s degree, Ellen began her own business to support small nonprofits to develop a strategic plan for successful fundraising growth. Her capstone investigated factors nonprofit leadership should consider when hiring their first development professional. This research furthered her passion for supporting nonprofits that are unable to hire staff into fund development roles. Active in her local community, Ellen is the President-Elect of a Ten Star Gold AFP Chapter - Southern Minnesota and a mentee in the Alford Group Women’s Impact Initiative. She is a member of The Rotary Club of Rochester and a proud mentor of the STRIVE program through the Rochester Public Schools ALC.

Emily Leitzinger, CFRE, CNP, Director of National Leadership Giving, Cure SMA: Emily Leitzinger is a fundraising executive with over 15 years of experience driving organizational growth and sustainability through innovative fundraising strategies and donor engagement. She currently serves as the Director of National Leadership Giving at Cure SMA and is particularly proud of launching the first-ever Legacy Society for the organization. Emily is dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion in philanthropy, as noted in her Master's capstone. In this project, she examines the effects of donor influence on nonprofit operations and proposes frameworks for more balanced and ethical donor engagement. A chartering member and past president of the Mid-City, New Orleans Rotary Club, Emily is affectionately known as the Deputy Governor of "Yes" and is set to become the District Governor of District 6840. In addition to her professional achievements, she enjoys traveling, long-distance running, and craft beer, and is a huge fan of The Office. She lives in New Orleans with her Elvis-impersonating husband, Mike.

Hosts:

Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier, CFRE, ACNP, GPC, CAP, Founder & CEO, AQP Consulting & Executive Director, ENP: Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier has fourteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has collectively raised approximately $5 million for over 75 organizations. She serves as Executive Director of ENP and runs her own nonprofit consulting firm, AQP Consulting, where she helps grassroots nonprofits with fundraising strategy, strategic planning, board development, and grant writing. Allison is a vocal advocate for gender parity, closing the wage gap, and ending the motherhood penalty. With accolades such as AFP’s Outstanding Young Fundraising Professional, NBJ’s 40 Under 40, NBJ’s Women of Influence, a National Latino Leader, and the Women Who Rock Nashville Social Justice Award, Dr. Quintanilla Plattsmier strives to serve and better her community every day. A dedicated AFP member for the last seven years, Allison currently chairs the Women's Impact Initiative (WII) Mentorship Program and serves on the LEAD Education Advisory Committee. When she is not out serving her community, she is spending time with her three kids, Quintan, Karina, and Kamren.

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we talk with Audrey M. Johnson, CFRE, a member of AFP’s Ethics Committee, about what ethical fundraising looks like for emerging leaders. In honor of Ethics Awareness Month — and AFP’s recent updates to the Code of Ethical Standards — we explore common challenges early-career fundraisers face, how to navigate ethical dilemmas with confidence, and the future of ethical fundraising.

Guests:

Audrey M. Johnson, CFRE is a certified fundraising professional with 25 years of experience as an executive leader building teams and generating revenue for local, national, and international organizations. She is currently the Principal Consultant for I.F. Consulting LLC. an independent fundraising consultancy specializing in fundraiser coaching, development strategy, and board and leadership development.

Propelled by a commitment to community service, Audrey has served on boards of directors, government task forces, and advisory groups to give voice on issues she is passionate about to those in positions of power. Audrey is proud to have been recognized as the 2019 volunteer and mentor of the year by Higher Achievement, a DC-Metro afterschool program for middle-school scholars. She was also the 2023 President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals DC-Metro Chapter and now serves as a member of AFP Global’s Ethics Committee.

A transplant from Canada, Audrey holds a double major Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sociology, an MBA specializing in executive management, which included an international business residency at the Grenoble School of Management in France, and she holds a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Hosts:

Emily Leitzinger, CFRE, CNP, Director of National Leadership Giving, Cure SMA: Emily Leitzinger is a fundraising executive with over 15 years of experience driving organizational growth and sustainability through innovative fundraising strategies and donor engagement. She currently serves as the Director of National Leadership Giving at Cure SMA and is particularly proud of launching the first-ever Legacy Society for the organization. Emily is dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion in philanthropy, as noted in her Master's capstone. In this project, she examines the effects of donor influence on nonprofit operations and proposes frameworks for more balanced and ethical donor engagement. A chartering member and past president of the Mid-City, New Orleans Rotary Club, Emily is affectionately known as the Deputy Governor of "Yes" and is set to become the District Governor of District 6840. In addition to her professional achievements, she enjoys traveling, long-distance running, and craft beer, and is a huge fan of The Office. She lives in New Orleans with her Elvis-impersonating husband, Mike.

Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier, CFRE, ACNP, GPC, CAP, Founder & CEO, AQP Consulting & Executive Director, ENP: Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier has fourteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has collectively raised approximately $5 million for over 75 organizations. She serves as Executive Director of ENP and runs her own nonprofit consulting firm, AQP Consulting, where she helps grassroots nonprofits with fundraising strategy, strategic planning, board development, and grant writing. Allison is a vocal advocate for gender parity, closing the wage gap, and ending the motherhood penalty. With accolades such as AFP’s Outstanding Young Fundraising Professional, NBJ’s 40 Under 40, NBJ’s Women of Influence, a National Latino Leader, and the Women Who Rock Nashville Social Justice Award, Dr. Quintanilla Plattsmier strives to serve and better her community every day. A dedicated AFP member for the last seven years, Allison currently chairs the Women's Impact Initiative (WII) Mentorship Program and serves on the LEAD Education Advisory Committee. When she is not out serving her community, she is spending time with her three kids, Quintan, Karina, and Kamren.