Making the Most of Mentoring (Back by Popular Demand!)
Recorded February 10, 2023
We had a great turnout for last year’s mentoring workshop, so we have refreshed it, and brought it back for an encore performance.
We all know that mentors can be critical to developing a successful fundraising career. Whether you’re new to the profession and seeking mentorship, interested in giving back to your community as a mentor, or currently in a mentor/mentee pairing, you will learn something new.
Watch the recording to learn from “real life” mentor/mentee pairs. You’ll walk away with solid examples of how to start and maintain a successful and fulfilling mentoring experience, whether you’re a mentor or mentee.
Topics will include:
- Starting up a new mentoring relationship
- The four types of mentoring relationships and tips for keeping them strong
- Case studies with actionable take-a-ways, tips, and tools
- How the AFP Advancement Northwest Mentorship Program can help you
Facilitators and panelists include our moderator, Helen Sernett, along with our mentor/mentee panelists, Lana Harvey, Maddy MacKenzie, Melissa Arias, and Saulyman Corr.
Whether you’re new to the profession and seeking mentorship, an aspiring mentor or are currently in a mentor/mentee paring, you will learn something new to boost your career or help an aspiring fundraiser.
Our Panelists
Helen Sernett
Helen Sernett served most recently as the Senior Philanthropy Officer at Landesa, a global organization based in Seattle. She has been a member of AFP since 2001 and has served multiple times as a Board of Directors member of her local chapter.
Throughout her career, Helen has been involved with over $50 million in donations. Working primarily in individual giving, she has a broad range of fundraising experience, from intimate dinners to gala affairs, from anonymous $10 donations to a celebrated $20 million transformational gift, and from memorial commemorations to estate bequests.
Along the way, much of her success has been owed to the generosity of her mentors—formal and inform—and the insights she’s picked up from her mentees along the way.
Lana Harvey
Lana Harvey has worked in the development field at the University of Washington for 15 years, where she also received her BA in English. She was a stewardship and events coordinator at the UW School of Nursing before joining the UW Prospect Development team in 2012 as a prospect research strategist. As a member of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement-Northwest Chapter (Apra-NW), and a presenter at Apra International’s 2022 conference in Atlanta, GA, Lana deeply values her work, profession and team. Lana signed up to be an AFP Mentor in 2021, had her first match in early 2022 and has greatly enjoyed the experience working with her mentee over the last year.
Maddy MacKenzie
Maddy MacKenzie has been the Executive Director at the Skagit Community Foundation since March of 2021, increasing fundraising opportunities and the organization’s annual grantmaking to exceed $1 million each year. She is a 2022 AFP Advancement Northwest Scholarship recipient and prior attendee of AFP Icon, San Antonio (2019). Prior to leading SCF, she worked in healthcare fundraising at Hospice of the Northwest and Island Hospital Foundations. Maddy holds an MBA from Western Governors University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, and volunteers with the Skagit Rotary Club (Youth Chair), Skagit Population Health Trust, Skagit Housing Consortium, as well as the planning committee for Leadership Skagit (EDASC).
Melissa Arias
Melissa Arias joined Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington as President and CEO in September 2018. She has 19 years of experience as a non-profit executive and previously served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement & External Relations at the University of Washington’s Bothell campus; Director of Development for the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN) and spent five years in private legal practice. Melissa is passionate about working on behalf of children and families and has concentrated her work and volunteerism in that space. She has served on numerous other boards and been a member of a variety of professional organizations.
Saulyman Corr
Saulyman Corr, is an informal educator, coach and advisor. He is also a recent graduate from Seattle University’s Nonprofit Leadership Master’s Program and holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Washington in Environmental Studies and Dance. While at Seattle University, he learned about the AFP scholars’ program and was encouraged to apply. Working with Lana the pair discussed many topics around fundraising from grant writing to workplace culture. Lana also helped Saulyman apply for and prepare for his current position as an academic advisor at South Seattle College.