Source: The Santa Barbara Foundation
Caitlin Barringer received the first annual H. Peter Karoff Scholarship sponsored by the Santa Barbara Foundation through the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter in May 2017. The scholarship, named after the late Peter Karoff for his holistic view of fundraising, is designed to encourage the development of rising fundraising professionals and further the foundation’s support of nonprofit excellence.
“Peter Karoff was inspirational to nonprofits because he had unique insight into how to connect donors to their passions, which is a characteristic of a good development person,” said Jan Campbell, Senior Vice President & Chief Philanthropic Officer of the Santa Barbara Foundation. “Encouraging young people to learn best practices in fundraising and development is important because it helps support and sustain the nonprofit sector.”
Any AFP Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties chapter member or non-member with three or less years of professional experience is eligible to apply for the H. Peter Karoff Scholarship. The scholarship underwrites the cost of an AFP membership, four educational luncheons or trainings and a symposium. The recipient of the scholarship is given an AFP mentor and will serve on an AFP committee.
“I am thankful for this opportunity to partner with the AFP Santa Barbara/Ventura Chapter and the Santa Barbara Foundation because I believe in the AFP mission statement to practice ethical and effective fundraising and in its core activities, including education, training, mentoring, research, credentialing and advocacy,” said Barringer, who is in her first year as a professional fundraiser with the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life.
In addition to the scholarship, the Santa Barbara Foundation partners with AFP in other ways as part of its support for nonprofit excellence. This includes collaborating on webinars, providing speakers and sharing resources.
“Our partnership with AFP is part of our nonprofit excellence program and serves to support the nonprofit sector, specifically those organizations that have agency endowment funds with us,” said Lynette Muscio, Director of Development for the Santa Barbara Foundation. “Many nonprofits want to make their fundraising more effective and this scholarship is just one of the many ways that we can encourage leadership development and best practices in fundraising among our nonprofit community.”
About the Santa Barbara Foundation
The Santa Barbara Foundation was established in 1928 to enrich the lives of the people of Santa Barbara County through philanthropy. As the largest community foundation in the county and a major source of funding for local nonprofits, the foundation is committed to building philanthropy, strengthening the nonprofit sector and solving community problems.
About the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Founded in 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 33,000 members in 243 chapters around the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, and education. The association fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. The local Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter is made up of 175 members, and offers monthly local training opportunities and other resources that are available to members and non-members. Visit afpsbv.orgto learn more.