Membership Categories

Professional membership is open to persons who hold some degree of responsibility directly for fundraising, work within the U.S. and Canada and are compensated for their services (Members outside these two countries may join in this category as a volunteer fundraiser); subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards ("Code") and its bylaws; promote the Donor Bill of Rights and, are employed or have been employed by an institution or organization that provides benefits to society.

Associate membership in the Association shall be open to individuals or volunteers (a) who are engaged in fields related to fundraising and fundraising support, or (b) who have mutual interests with fundraising professionals, and (c) who subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights.  Associate members in good standing may vote, serve on chapter or Association committees and task forces and hold Association or chapter office.

Young Professional membership is open to persons who hold some degree of responsibility directly for fundraising, work within the U.S. and Canada and are compensated for their services, and are 30 years old or younger, must subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and its bylaws and promote the Donor Bill of Rights and be employed, or have been employed by an organization that provides benefits to society.

PLEASE NOTE: To qualify as an AFP Collegiate member, the individual must:

• Attend a school that has an AFP collegiate chapter
• Be a full time undergrad or graduate student

Collegiate membership in the Association shall be open to (a) students in a two- or four-year full time degree granting, certificate, or diploma program at an accredited college or university, or (b) individuals who serve as a faculty advisor for a collegiate chapter of AFP.  Collegiate members must subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights.  Membership in this category is limited to those students affiliated with a Collegiate Chapter of AFP.  Collegiate members in good standing may vote, serve on chapter boards, committees and task forces, as well as Association committees and task forces, but may not hold any Association office. 

Retired membership in the Association shall be open to individuals who no longer practice as paid fundraising professionals but who, at the time they seek Retired Member status, have been Professional members of the Association for the immediate past five consecutive years and subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights.  Retired members in good standing may vote, serve on chapter boards, committees and task forces, as well as Association committees and task forces, but may not hold any Association office. 

For this membership type, please contact AFP Membership at afp@afplogbal.org.

Open to nonprofit organizations who can answer yes to all the following criteria:

• Must be a nonprofit organization – individuals, consultants and for-profit entities may apply for a different category
• An operating budget of less than $2,000,000
• A fundraising department with less than two (2) Full time equivalent (FTE) staff
• Individually incorporated or otherwise organized as a separate entity in the laws of the specific country; and
• Not affiliated with a larger institution supporting their operations.

The organization will designate one fundraising professional to receive the benefits offered in this membership category.  The membership may be transferred to another individual if the original member leaves the organization.  Must subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights.  Limit one membership per organization.  Nonprofit Organizational members in good standing may vote, serve on chapter or Association committees and task forces and hold Association or chapter office.

AFP’s Nonprofit Organizational Memberships champion effective and ethical fundraising, promote philanthropy and charitable giving and grow the fundraising profession. A Nonprofit Organizational Membership will provide long-term value to the profession through broader representation in our public policy initiatives. Nonprofit Organizational Membership also brings public recognition of an organization’s commitment to foster ethical standards and professionalism in fundraising.

Shall be open to nonprofit organizations who wish to have multiple members in the association.  The organization will designate a minimum of five (5) to receive Professional member benefits.  The memberships may be transferred to another individual if the original member leaves the organization.  Must subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights.  Nonprofit Organizational members in good standing may vote, serve on chapter or Association committees and task forces and hold Association or chapter office.

Executive Circle: $5,000
Endorser: $1,500

AFP's Code of Ethical Principles and Standards had been amended and expanded to apply to for-profit businesses involved with or supporting Fundraising. The changes, which include the addition of seven new standards and the alteration of one standard, now allows for-profit businesses to join AFP as members and actively promote ethical and effective fundraising.

Business membership in the Association shall be open to for-profit organizations whose work complements the fundraising profession. The Executive Circle Business member shall be entitled to designate two employees to receive full benefits as Associate members of the Association.  Endorser Business Members shall be entitled to designate one employee to receive full benefits as an Associate member of the Association. The designated individuals, as well as the organization which constitutes the Business member, must subscribe to the AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and promote the Donor Bill of Rights.

Business members in good standing may, through their designated employees referenced above, vote, serve on chapter or Association committees and task forces and hold Association or chapter office.