Mentor Program – One-to-One Support for Fundraisers

For more than forty years, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate chapter’s (AFP Golden Gate) Mentor Program has offered outstanding one-on-one learning and support for hundreds of nonprofit professionals in the Bay Area. The program promotes intentional career growth grounded in the experience of long-time leaders, and offers a welcoming, inclusive, equitable space for all fundraisers.

Expectations

Mentors and mentees are asked to commit to a twelve-month long mentorship program consisting of:

• An orientation for all mentors and mentees in each cohort at the beginning of each 12-month period
• Assistance in setting tangible outcomes and goals for the 12-month program
• Monthly one-on-one virtual or in-person meetings between each mentor and mentee
• Quarterly virtual meetings for all mentors and mentees to network, share learnings, and gain support from the community of AFP Golden Gate mentors and mentees
• Additional opportunities to meet in-person and network with other fundraising professionals at AFP Golden Gate programs throughout the year

Mentor / Mentee pairs are matched based on each mentee’s goals and mentor’s expertise, ensuring that participants come away with the skills and learning most relevant to their professional goals.

Who is the Mentor Program for?

Mentees represent a wide range of experiences, organization types, and budget sizes. They can be development staff, executive directors, board members, or consultants. Some are new to fundraising. Others are mid-career and changing roles and/or organizations. Others are seasoned fundraisers aiming to grow their skills in a new area. What they share in common is the desire to grow their fundraising skills, receive career guidance and support, and learn from someone with more experience.

Mentors are experienced senior fundraising professionals and nonprofit leaders who volunteer their time to aid in the career development of emerging and next generation leaders, as well as to support more seasoned fundraisers who seek to expand their expertise in the profession. Many mentors have more than 15 years of experience in the sector. What they share is a common interest in giving back to the fundraising community by helping others grow professionally, supporting those new to the field, and building the capacity of the fundraising community in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Top Five Benefits (based on a survey conducted in summer 2025)

For Mentees:

• Developing new fundraising skills
• Having regular opportunities to gain advice/counsel from more experienced colleagues
• Identifying actionable solutions to real work challenges
• Discussing career path and goals with a seasoned fundraising professional
• Enhancing professional competence and confidence

For Mentors

• Being of service to the fundraising profession
• Seeing their mentees grow professionally
• Learning new insights and viewpoints from their mentee
• Gaining new perspectives on their own knowledge
• Networking and building new relationships with other AFP Golden Gate members

“Why have I been an AFP mentor for over 30 years?

Because it makes me feel good to pay it forward. I had mentors early in my career who helped me grow in the profession. I want to do the same for others new to the fundraising profession. I also want to keep growing. The Mentees I have worked with have taught me a lot about generational changes, technology and, by virtue of asking good questions, have helped me better understand our changing world and our role as development professionals.”

– David Madson

“The AFP Mentoring Program has been a transformative experience. I’m grateful to my mentor, Liz, whose guidance and encouragement have helped me advance my fundraising career. Through our work together, Liz has supported me in strategizing major gifts, reimagining aspects of our annual fundraising gala, and clarifying the direction I want to take in fundraising.”

– Mentee, AFP Golden Gate Mentor Program

Timeline and Fees

Our Mentor Program (July 2026 – June 2027 Cohort) will begin in July 2026.

Applications to be a Mentee or a Mentor are open through Sunday, May 31, 2026.

Mentor/Mentee matches will be made in June, with notifications sent shortly after.

The program includes a structured one-year mentorship experience with monthly meetings and ongoing support.

The cost of the program is $80 for AFP Golden Gate members and $200 for non-members. There is no fee for Mentors.

Download the Full Guidelines:

View Mentor Program Guidelines (PDF)

Please review the guidelines before submitting your mentor or mentee application.

More Stories from Our Mentor Program Participants

Want to hear more real experiences from our mentors and mentees? Read additional reflections and stories from participants in our AFP Golden Gate Mentor Program.

Read Mentor & Mentee Stories