Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP)

About ADRP

The authoritative organization and advocate for the Donor Relations and Stewardship profession, ADRP promotes the professional status of Donor Relations and Stewardship offices as key components in all fundraising and development efforts through education, professional development, and networking opportunities. [ [http://web.memberclicks.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=47706&orgId=adrp ADRP Web Site] ] .

ADRP has a current membership of nearly 700 Donor Relations and Stewardship professionals representing education, health care, the arts, and other nonprofit organizations. Members represent 45 states with a strong contingent from Canada.

The goals of ADRP are to offer professional development opportunities, to promote the Donor Relations and Stewardship profession and to foster networking.

The Association of Donor Relations Professionals (ADRP) is a nonprofit business league organized under the laws of the State of New Hampshire. Its board of directors follows the organization’s bylaws and is composed of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and 12 directors representing various regions and types of institutions. Board members hold three-year terms of office running January 1 to December 31.

History of ADRP

The founding of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals in 2004 can be traced back to the first New England Stewardship Conference in 1992. A small group of Stewardship professionals recognized the unique aspects of their profession that could and should be shared with peers from other institutions and decided to pool their resources and stage the first conference. The New England Stewardship Conference, organized each year by a volunteer host institution, grew to attract registrants from all over the country and the world. The 2002 New England Stewardship Conference marked the final and most significant turning point in the creation of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals. The conference was organized and held at a non-institutional site for the first time. The lack of sponsorship by any one institution held new legal implications. Recognizing the need for a formal organization and the added benefits it could provide to the profession, the conference co-chairs facilitated the first discussion about a Donor Relations organization that would meet the growing needs of the already strong network and provide additional services that were not centralized at the time.

The co-chairs recruited Stewardship representatives from other institutions to assist in forming an organization. The founders initially considered joining forces with other existing organizations; however, the importance of bringing increased visibility to the Donor Relations profession and the goal of including professionals from all organizations (not just higher education institutions) led the founders to create an entirely new international organization, and the ADRP was born. Since then, the thousands of Donor Relations professionals who followed the first conference organizers have maintained a strong, informal community of practice with peers around the globe.

Benefits of Membership

ADRP connects members to resources and colleagues, to enhance and expand Donor Relations and Stewardship programs, addressing issues pertinent to education, health care, the arts, and many nonprofit organizations worldwide.

ADRP is the authoritative source for the most current information and professional networking with peers. Through ADRP, members learn best practices from experienced Donor Relations and Stewardship professionals and are equipped to position themselves to better advocate for donor-focused fundraising within their organizations.

"ADRP Members:"

• Stay informed and stay in touch with the latest trends and leaders in the profession.

• Position themselves and their organization through involvement with the leading advocate for Donor Relations.

• Access a network of colleagues who provide advice and support, as well as resources that can help refine, redefine, and improve programs and operations.

• Utilize online forums focusing on “hot topics” and common issues, searchable by subject to facilitate communication and resource sharing.

• Receive "The Hub" E-News, a monthly electronic newsletter featuring expert opinions, member spotlights, and articles on issues and trends important to the profession.

• Enjoy discounts on professional development opportunities including regional workshops and international conferences.

• Access Job Board listings of current openings in the field, updated on a regular basis.

ADRP Membership Information

Annual membership is $150/person. To join, visit the [http://web.memberclicks.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=47706&orgId=adrp ADRP Web site] and click on JOIN NOW to access the [https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=adrp&formId=29798 New Member Form] .

ADRP International Conference

Each year, the ADRP hosts an international conference featuring a vast array of programming for Donor Relations and Stewardship professionals from diverse organizational settings and in varying stages of their careers. In 2006, Pre-Conference Institutes were introduced to provide intensive training for newcomers as well as seasoned professionals. Past conference sites include: Syracuse, New York (2004); Birmingham, Alabama (2005); Denver, Colorado (2006); and San Antonio, Texas (2007).

The 2008 International Conference will take place November 11-13, 2008, in St. Louis, Missouri. The ADRP International Conference is an opportunity to learn best practices for Stewardship and Donor Relations, engage in professional development, and identify trends and issues to watch in fundraising. Registration information is available at the [http://www.adrp.net/mc/page.do?sitePageId=72770&orgId=adrp ADRP Web site.]

ADRP Regional Workshops

ADRP sponsors several regional workshops annually. To date, sessions have occurred in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, D.C., and British Columbia.

Regional workshop topics include: effective donor communication, creative stewardship, personalized donor relations, donor engagement, best practices, and strategic planning. More information is available at the [http://www.adrp.net/mc/page.do?sitePageId=50291&orgId=adrp ADRP Web site] .

External Links

[http://web.memberclicks.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=47706&orgId=adrp Association of Donor Relations Professionals]

References