In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, guests Chris Evans and Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier share their experiences as working moms and emerging leaders in the fundraising profession. They reflect on their involvement with the AFP Women’s Impact Initiative, discuss how the nonprofit sector can better support parents through flexibility and a people-first approach, and offer practical advice for setting boundaries to achieve better work-life balance.

Guests:

Chris Evans, CFRE, has worked on development teams in Colorado, North Carolina, and Texas specializing in annual planning, database management, and donor relations. Chris believes nonprofits are tasked with making this world a more equitable place and is passionate about helping donors invest in change and impacting their community. As Senior Director of Development at Educational First Steps, Chris shares the value of quality early childhood education and how EFS impacts underinvested communities and their children across North Texas. Chris serves on the board of the AFP Fort Worth Metro Chapter as VP of Professional Development. She was a 2022 Emerging Leader, the 2023 DFW Philanthropy in Action Conference Chair, and currently serves on AFP’s Women’s Impact Initiative Committee. Chris passionately advocates for the rights and equity of women and children. Her inspiration and motivation for everything are her three children, Mia, Charleigh, and Benjamin, and her husband, Adam.

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. Host:

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.

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, Meena Das, founder of NamasteData, joins guest host, Allison Strekal, MBA, CFRE, to explore how emerging fundraisers can use AI tools responsibly and effectively—even in organizations without clear policies. We talk about practical use cases, common mistakes, ethical concerns around donor data, and how AI can both support and challenge equity in fundraising.

Interested in learning more? Join Meena for her upcoming AFP Deep Dive, The AI Advancement Lab, a 4-day virtual series, taking place August 4, 11, 18 & 25.

Guests:

Meena Das (she/her) is the CEO, consultant, and facilitator of two practices - NamasteData and Data Is For Everyone. Namaste Data focuses on advancing data equity for nonprofits and social impact agencies, while Data Is For Everyone provides tools and resources to help people learn how to navigate the world of data. Meena is a specialist in designing and teaching equitable research tools and analyzing engagement. She supports nonprofits in three critical areas: data collection assessments, community surveys, and staff workshops on topics like improving data equity and human-centric algorithms. You can learn more about her work through her two newsletters, ‘Dear Human’ and ‘Data Uncollected’, or directly connect with her on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/meenadas.

Guest Host:

Allison Strekal, MBA, CFRE is a nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience in fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and philanthropic communications. She currently serves as senior director of philanthropy at Mountain Home Montana, where she leads major gift efforts and helps strengthen development systems organization-wide. A passionate advocate for emerging professionals in the sector, Allison serves on the board of AFP Montana and is a graduate of the AFP Leadership Institute. She is committed to building a strong, inclusive future for fundraising through connection, mentorship, and innovation.

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Christopher Beck to explore what it really means to innovate in fundraising today. From making the "secret sauce" in real time to embracing fresh approaches like giving circles, Christopher shares how nonprofits can stay relevant and responsive in a rapidly evolving sector. We dig into the importance of addressing DEI head-on and why transparency with both leadership and donors is key to building trust.

Guests:

Christopher Beck, is the Associate Director of Planned and Individual Giving at the High Museum of Atlanta (HMA).

With over 20 years of experience in fundraising for non-profit organizations like ALSAC/St. Jude and the Boy Scouts of America in Nashville, TN. Christopher excels at connecting people with their passions.

Throughout his career, he has focused on substantial gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations, overseeing non-profit programs in youth services and sports fundraising/marketing. He has also developed expertise in volunteer and board development for non-profits. Additionally, he is experienced in various philanthropy programs and provides training and coaching for junior professionals in fundraising.

In his current role at HMA, Christopher supports the Individual and Planned Giving Team, contributing to education, exhibitions, and collaboration with the curatorial team.

He holds a degree in education from Rust College and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certification from the University of South Florida. Christopher is a CAP Charter Advisor in Philanthropy and participated in the inaugural 2023 AFP Leadership Academy, Cohort One, held in Minnesota. He also possesses an Impact Advising Designation (IPA) from the Daylight Advisor Network, focusing on philanthropic advising.

Outside of work, Christopher enjoys spending time with his wife and son. His interests include reading, visiting aquariums, listening to jazz, walking by the water, and engaging in fitness activities. He believes philanthropy goes beyond financial contributions; it represents a deep commitment to improving humanity, a value guiding his actions in the sector.

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, we asked the attendees at AFP’s annual conference, AFP ICON, to share their experiences navigating fundraising during uncertain times. These fundraisers reflect on the challenges they've faced and how they’ve demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. Tune in to hear stories of perseverance, creative problem-solving, and the strategies that helped them not only survive but thrive through difficult moments, reinforcing that even in times of uncertainty, we can emerge stronger and more impactful.

Guests:

1. Sarah Brown Rankin 2. Daa'Iyah Rahman 3. Amy Parker, CFRE 4. Caitlin Scanlan 5. Ryan Zapolski, CFRE 6. Marcy Heim 7. Catherine Hann, MBA, CFRE 8. Enzo Duit 9. Patricia Okolo 10. Brittany Connor, Ph.D. 11. Matthew David Gellin, CFRE 12. Lane Buttons 13. Mandi Cambre, CFRE 14. Rene Dillard 15. Salvatore Salpietro 16. Tanya Frey, J.D.

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, Keith Greer and Carissa Konesky, two presenters from AFP ICON 2025, offer tips for overcoming imposter syndrome, submitting a proposal that gets selected, and engaging your audience with an interesting session. We discuss how presenting at an AFP event can boost your career and increase the visibility of your organization’s fundraising efforts.

To learn more, check out their session, From Inspiration to Implementation: Turning Conference Insights into Action, at AFP ICON 2025 in Seattle, April 27-29.

Guests:

Keith Greer, CFRE: University of New Mexico Foundation - Director of Development: Keith Greer, CFRE is Director of Development for the UNM School of Architecture + Planning and host of the podcast, Let's Talk Fundraising. With over a decade of fundraising experience, Keith has lead fundraising for Hawai'i Island's largest hospice organization and was the Director of the ASRT Foundation with work reaching around the globe. Keith is an AFP Chamberlain Scholar as well as an ASAE NextGen Award Winner.

Carissa Konesky, CFRE: Simon Fraser University - Advancement Officer, Leadership Giving: Carissa Konesky, CFRE is based in British Columbia, Canada and works as an Advancement Officer for Leadership Giving at Simon Fraser University. Her passion is building relationships with donors and sharing the causes that she cares about. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Nonprofit Management Certificate from SFU, an Associate of Arts Degree from Capilano University, and Associate Certificates in Nonprofit and Fundraising Management from BCIT. She participated in Cohort Four of the AFP Leadership Institute, and has been featured in BC Business magazine as a Top 30 Under 30 and Woman of the Year - Rising Star.

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, we discuss the challenging power dynamics that can exist between donors, and ourselves as fundraisers. How do characteristics such as race, gender, sexuality, or age impact how we are perceived and treated by donors? AFP ICON 2025 speakers Laurel McCombs and Robert Osborne share the strategies they’ve learned over the last four years of presenting on this topic, providing emerging leaders and fundraisers of all career levels with a toolkit for navigating challenging situations and continuing the conversation at their organizations and throughout the sector. To learn more, check out their session, Navigating Power Dynamics in Fundraising, at AFP ICON 2025 in Seattle, April 27-29.

Guests:

Laurel MCombs: Laurel McCombs brings more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector and a passion for the role philanthropy can play in changing the world to her work as a consultant and trainer with The Osborne Group. Laurel is a well-known speaker presenting well-received workshops for national organizations, universities, as well as AFP ICON, CASE-NAIS, Nonprofit Association of Oregon, and AFP Congress. She works closely with clients on a variety of topics, including donor retention, development operations, planning, donor management, board development and more.

Robert Osborne: Robert is Principal of The Osborne Group, with 30 years of nonprofit experience. He speaks regularly nationally and internationally. Robert serves on the boards of the United Hospital Fund and US Squash, both in New York. He also serves on the International Advisory Board of the Czech Fundraising Center in Czech Republic, the International Advisory Board of the Impact Hub Belgrade in Serbia, and the Advisory Board of the Impact Hub Metropolitan in New York. He is a studio partner and co-founder of Studio X Ventures, a venture studio for social impact startups in the Western Balkans.

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 Emerging Leaders Podcast, nonprofit digital consultant, AFP ICON speaker, and author, Julia Campbell, discusses how nonprofits can be effective storytellers in the digital world. She shares the trends she is seeing, such as the success of short form educational video content and the role of AI in content creation, plus how emerging leaders can advocate for digital innovation at their organizations.

Guest:

Julia Campbell: Named as a top thought leader and one to follow by Forbes and LinkedIn for Nonprofits, and one of the 30 Nonprofit IT Influencers to Follow in 2024, Julia Campbell is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to designing social media and storytelling strategies that help nonprofits share their mission across the digital landscape. An international keynote speaker and host of the acclaimed Nonprofit Nation podcast, she’s written two books for nonprofits on social media and storytelling, and her online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking.

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.