Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Amanda Fritz, CFRE, MPNL and Muneeb Syed, CFRE, the first-ever co-chairs of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada. Amanda and Muneeb reflect on stepping into a role with no precedent, from building their own playbook to navigating moments of self-doubt along the way. They share candid lessons on collaboration — knowing when to lead versus step back, communicating through disagreement, and what a true peer partnership can teach that traditional mentorship can't.

Guests:

Muneeb Syed, CFRE: Muneeb has been serving on the board of AFP Foundation for Philanthropy – Canada since 2021 and currently he Co-Chairs the board with Amanda Fritz.

Muneeb has over seventeen years of progressive experience in front-line and leadership positions. After starting his career in fundraising for the international development sector with UNICEF Canada, Muneeb transitioned into advancement for the post-secondary education sector with Toronto Metropolitan University and, his alma mater, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University.

He joined the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies as their Advancement lead in 2022 to provide leadership and advice on adapting advancement best practices for open-enrollment, lifelong learning, and workforce development-related upskilling programs. Under his leadership, the division recently secured their largest gift of $1.88M, which is also the second-largest gift ever received by a Canadian university for an upskilling program. As a part of University of Toronto’s Defy Gravity campaign, Muneeb is currently leading one of the largest fundraising and community engagement efforts for continuing education programs on behalf of his division and the University of Toronto in Canadian history.

Amanda Fritz, CFRE, MPNL: Amanda Fritz is a fundraising matchmaker! Her passion is to connect philanthropically-minded people with the high-impact projects and ideas that will truly make a difference in the world. Amanda was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec and completed degrees in Psychology and Public Relations at McGill University. In 2013 she earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive accreditation (CFRE), becoming one of the youngest CFRE professionals in Quebec. In 2020, Amanda obtained her Masters in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Carleton University. 

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both arts and social justice and organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we explore the latest findings from AFP’s 2026 Compensation and Benefits Study and what they reveal about fundraising salaries and the persistent gender pay gap. The episode offers practical strategies for negotiating your salary, advocating for raises and promotions, and building a career that reflects your true value. Listeners will gain evidence-based insights to approach compensation conversations with confidence and maximize their earning potential.

AFP members can access the full report for free here. Non-members can purchase the report here. 

The Compensation and Benefits Study is supported by the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy. 

Guest:

Colton C. Strawser, Ph.D., CFRE, BCC: Colton is the president of Colton Strawser Consulting, an Arlington, Texas-based firm that empowers organizations to create change by strengthening their data, funding, and leadership capacity. Strawser served as the lead researcher and author of the AFP 2026 Compensation and Benefits Study. 

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both arts and social justice and organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, AFP president & CEO Art Taylor and Outstanding Young Professional awardee Tatumn Zale, CFRE, join our hosts for an honest conversation about artificial intelligence and what it means to lead with intention in an AI-driven world. From how they're each using AI in their daily work to the harder questions about donor trust, agentic AI, and accountability for AI outputs, Art and Tatumn explore where senior and emerging leaders agree, where they diverge, and what it looks like to use AI with both ambition and integrity.

Guest:

Art Taylor: 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.

Tatumn Zale, CFRE is a nonprofit fundraising strategist with a passion for building donor relationships that last. As Assistant Director of Development at AllThrive 365, she leads the organization's fundraising strategy with a focus on corporate, government, foundation, and individual philanthropy. Beyond her day-to-day work, Tatumn serves as a Board Member for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Phoenix Chapter, where she has held roles as National Philanthropy Day Chair, Sponsorships Chair, and currently as the Arizona State Conference Chair. Her contributions to the sector have earned her recognition as the 2026 AFP National Emerging Leader, the 2023 AFP Greater Phoenix Emerging Fundraiser of the Year, and the 2023 YNPN Phoenix LINK Pitch Competition Champion. She holds National Association of Insurance Commissioners licenses in Life, Health, Property & Casualty Insurance. Tatumn co-founded Kindling Impact Consulting out of a belief that small and mid-sized nonprofits deserve access to the same caliber of fundraising and communications expertise as larger organizations , without the price tag to match.

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both arts and social justice and organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, MSW, MPA, CFRE, nonprofit strategist, IDEA consultant, and AFP Global board member, to explore what it really means to lead change from any role. Jonathan shares how emerging leaders can prepare themselves for change, bring others along with them, and stay grounded when progress feels uncertain. In recognition of Pride Month, the conversation also dives into LGBTQ+ philanthropy and leadership, and what the fundraising sector still needs to do to create genuine belonging and inclusion for LGBTQ+ professionals and donors.

Guest:

Jonathan Meagher-Zayas, MSW, MPA, CFRE (he/him/él) is a Nonprofit Educator and Accountability Architect who educates professionals on equitable strategies and systems to make change stick! He is Queer Latinx Millennial nonprofit strategist dedicated to addressing equity issues, building capacity, engaging the community, motivating impact leaders, and getting stuff done. He wears many professional hats, including Nonprofit Capacity Building & Community Engagement Strategist, Adjunct Social Work Professor, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Consultant, Leadership Development Trainer, Award-Winning Fundraiser/Resource Mobilizer, Social Sector Coach, Learning and Social Contexts Doctoral Candidate, and Social Justice Champion. He is the Founder & Chief Strategist of Equity Warrior Strategies, LLC, a consulting company that accomplishes social equity, leadership development, and capacity-building goals through coaching, learning, facilitation, and strategic planning. He intentionally partners with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and LGBTQ+ leaders, nonprofit professionals, and board members all over the country to fuel movements that work towards social justice, equity, and human rights.

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both arts and social justice and organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we asked attendees at AFP ICON to reflect on the unplanned career moments that helped shape who they are today. From lateral moves and sudden role changes to unexpected opportunities and reluctant yeses, fundraisers at all career stages share how uncertainty became a catalyst for growth. These stories highlight the nonlinear nature of fundraising careers and offer reassurance to emerging leaders that progress doesn’t always follow a straight line. 

Guests:

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both social justice and arts organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we explore the transition from top-performing fundraiser to effective manager. Inspired by their upcoming session at AFP ICON, Leveling Up: Navigating the Transition into Management, our guests LaDaniel "Danny" Gatling II and P. Kevin Williamson share strategies for developing leadership skills, understanding different management styles, and soliciting honest feedback. They share actionable tips for stepping confidently into your next leadership role. 

Guest:

LaDaniel "Danny" Gatling II is an innovative and results-driven leader with over 22 years of experience in development and alumni relations. Most recently, he served as the Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. Danny has a proven track record of strategic leadership in fundraising, and has served in roles at Bennett College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Elon University School of Law, and North Carolina A&T State University. Gatling earned a B.S. degree in Architectural Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a M.A. in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University.

P. Kevin Williamson has over 26 years of frontline fundraising experience, leading campaigns from $6M to $181M with the Boy Scouts of America and higher education. A Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, he advises clients and offers strategic counsel with Kinetic Fundraising. He excels in securing major gifts, leading frontline fundraising teams, and fostering cross-campus partnerships. Kevin is skilled in board development and expanding donor diversity across PWIs, HBCUs, and MSIs. A sought-after speaker, he presents at AFP, Academic Impressions, and UNC System events. He holds a BA in English from North Carolina A&T State University.

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both social justice and arts organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, Josie White, CFRE explores how fundraisers can build confidence, clarity, and capacity while juggling a wide array of responsibilities, from events and appeals to grants and major gifts. The conversation shares practical strategies for prioritizing tasks, tracking results, and testing big fundraising ideas on a smaller scale. Emerging leaders will gain tools and frameworks to make strategic decisions, say no with integrity, advocate for growth, and even use AI to lighten the load — all while keeping mission impact at the heart of their work.

Guest:

Josie White, CFRE is the Philanthropy Officer at Shelter the Homeless in Salt Lake City and serves as Advocacy Chair for the AFP Utah Chapter. With a career rooted in small fundraising shops, she brings a nimble, creative approach to donor and volunteer engagement, grant writing, and major gifts. Josie has secured millions from public and private sources and thrives in roles requiring both strategy and hands-on execution. She holds a master’s in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University and regularly speaks on how nonprofits can grow capacity through clarity, compassion, and the confidence to try something new.

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both social justice and arts organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Dwayne Ashley, founder and CEO of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, to explore the intersection of identity, equity, and leadership in our sector. Dwayne shares his path into fundraising, sheds light on the often overlooked history of Black leaders in philanthropy, and offers practical, heartfelt advice for emerging professionals navigating workplace authenticity, funding barriers, and persistent misconceptions about organizations led by people of color. 

Guest:

Dwayne Ashley: With over 35 years in the philanthropic industry, Dwayne Ashley has utilized his knowledge of fundraising and passion for social justice to create opportunities for people of color through his founding of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting (BPC), one of the country’s largest full-service fundraising firms. Throughout his career, Dwyane has sought to align with organizations that share his values regarding the betterment of underserved communities. Through that alignment, he has raised billions to support those communities.

During his early years, the spirit of charity was instilled into Dwayne through witnessing his great-grandmother’s establishment of one of the first schools to educate blacks in Heflin, Louisiana, which has now been memorialized as one of the oldest Black churches in the state. The weaving of his great-grandmother’s legacy into Louisiana’s rich history pushed Dwayne to forge his own path and attend Wiley College and the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels School of Government, where he learned how he, too, could use his knowledge to help the underserved.

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both social justice and arts organizations.

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. 

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, we explore the critical issue of fundraiser burnout. AFP ICON presenter Amanda Sattler breaks down the latest research on the systemic drivers of burnout, the six key mismatch domains, and how emerging leaders can advocate for more sustainable work environments as they grow in their fundraising careers. To learn more about this topic, join Amanda for her session, The Case for Decreasing Fundraiser Burnout: What the Research Reveals, taking place during AFP ICON 2026 in San Diego, CA, April 26-28. 

Guest:

Amanda Sattler, CFRE, is a nonprofit consultant and Doctoral Candidate in Philanthropic Leadership with over 20 years of experience leading high-performing fundraising teams. She lives at the intersection of hands-on fundraising and research-based strategy, helping organizations strike a balance between urgent needs and long-term sustainability. Her doctoral research focuses on why fundraising leaders experience burnout—and how to prevent it. Having navigated both seasons of scarcity and abundance, Amanda brings practical tools, hard-earned lessons, and authentic vulnerability to her work. She is passionate about equipping non-profits to steward both leaders and resources sustainably, so missions don’t just survive, but thrive.

Hosts: 

Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both social justice and arts organizations.

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. 

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.