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• Connecting the Dots: Community Focused Philanthropy

  • When
    September 16, 2025
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Brio Italian Grille | International Plaza | 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. Tampa FL 33607
  • Spaces left
    0

  Registration is closed

  

  Brian Butler

  President & CEO, Vistra Communications

  
  

  The Greater Tampa Bay Area is home to more than 14,000 nonprofit organizations. In today’s challenging environment, raising money to support those organizations is not for the faint of heart. Over the past 10 years, fewer people are donating but those who do are giving more. How do you focus on raising funds to support your mission in this environment?

  Brian Butler will challenge you to plan, collaborate, strategize, and develop a community focused approach to your fundraising efforts. He believes that connecting dots helps ensure that the community stays at the center of your fundraising efforts.

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  Tuesday, September 16, 2025
  

  11:30 am Networking

  12:00 pm Program & Lunch Service

  Location:

  
  

  Brio Italian Grille | International Plaza | 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. Tampa FL 33607

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  Program Fee

  AFP Member - $35.00

  Guest - $45.00

  The program will only be offered in-person. Please indicate when registering your meal choice for meal planning purposes.

  AFP Tampa Bay aims to be accessible and inclusive to all of our members and guests. If you require special accommodations, please let us know via email so we can plan to make adjustments to the program

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  Meal Choices: 

  • Mezza Lasagna: Oven-baked pasta layered with authentic Bolognese meat sauce, ricotta & mozzarella
  • Pasta alla Vodka: Ricotta-filled pasta, spicy tomato cream, crispy pancetta
  • Vegetarian Pasta alla Vodka: Ricotta-filled pasta and spicy tomato cream 

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  Approved for 1 hour CFRE

  

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  Speaker Bio:

  Brian Butler is President and CEO of Vistra Communications, a Tampa, FL based communications and consulting agency.

  Founded in 2007, Vistra is a full-service marketing, communications and consulting agency with offices in Tampa and Northern Virginia and provides services to nonprofit, government and commercial clients. Vistra’s portfolio includes higher education, healthcare, transportation, associations and early learning advocacy clients. Vistra supports over twelve federal government agencies and several Fortune 500 clients.

  Brian is a combat decorated, retired career military officer. Prior to founding Vistra, he provided strategic communications counsel to senior leaders at U.S. Central Command and served as a policy director on the Homeland Security Council in the White House. He also served as a Spokesperson for an Army Secretary and on the Communications Team for a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon and worked in the Washington, DC office of FleishmanHillard. Brian is a frequent guest speaker, panel member and moderator on topics including leadership, entrepreneurship, diversity, and service.

  Recognized for his leadership, Brian was named on the inaugural list of Most Admired CEOs by the Tampa Bay Business Journal and has been one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Tampa Bay, Florida 500 Most Influential Business Leaders, Tampa Bay Chamber Outstanding Leader of the Year among other awards. He received the Service to America Award from Freedom Alliance, a national nonprofit focused on supporting injured service members and their families.

  Brian holds master’s degrees from the National War College and Central Michigan University, a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University and certificates from leading universities and programs including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program with Babson College.

  An active and avid community supporter, Brian serves on local and national boards including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Veteran Owned Businesses, Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council, Tampa Bay Partnership and WEDU Public Broadcast Television. Brian is a past Chairman of the Board of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors of Encore Bank, one of the fastest growing banks in the United States. Brian founded the CEOs in Schools initiative with Hillsborough County Public Schools and co-created the Advancing Racial Equity on Nonprofit Boards Fellowship program with the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay. Brian is Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

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  Meeting Guidelines

  AFP Tampa Bay recognizes the importance of personal connection, but your health is our priority. We continue to monitor the community level for our area and follow CDC recommendations.

  We ask that you not attend if:

  • You have recently tested positive for COVID-19. Use the self-evaluation tool HERE to determine when you may return to in-person meetings after testing positive.
  • You have been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
  • You are waiting on COVID-19 test results.
  • You feel you may be becoming sick, running a fever, or experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

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• AFP Tampa Bay Membership Orientation

  • When
    September 25, 2025
  •  
    3:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  

  
  

  New Members, Current Members AND Prospective Members are invited and WELCOME to attend!

  Please join us for a Membership Orientation on September 25, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. to learn more about AFP Tampa Bay and your AFP Membership!  

  
  

   

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• AFP Lead 2025

  • Start
    October 16, 2025
  • End
    October 18, 2025
  • Location
    Hyatt Regency Atlanta | 265 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

  

  AFP LEAD is AFP’s leadership conference designed to enhance your leadership skills and organizational impact, all with a nonprofit/fundraising focus.

  Join AFP in Atlanta, GA this October 16-18 for three days of fundraising-focused leadership training!

  Learn More and Register >>

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• AFP Tampa Bay Membership Orientation

  • When
    October 23, 2025
  •  
    3:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  

  
  

  New Members, Current Members AND Prospective Members are invited and WELCOME to attend!

  Please join us for a Membership Orientation on October 23, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. to learn more about AFP Tampa Bay and your AFP Membership!  

  
  

   

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• 7th Annual Conference - AFP Tampa Bay

  • When
    October 28, 2025
  •  
    11:30 AM

  Register

  
  

  AFP Tampa Bay Conference

  Spark & Strategy:
  Elevating Presence and Powerful Conversations in Fundraising

  Tuesday, October 28, 2025
  Brio Italian Grill

  Conference Schedule:

  11:30 a.m.	Headshots, Networking
  11:45 a.m.	Welcome - Opening Remarks Lunch Service
  Noon	Career Catalyst: How Certification Supercharges Your Fundraising Journey CFRE Panel Discussion Moderator: Mandy Cloninger, CFRE, CFRE Ambassador CEO & Owner, Relentless Partner Consulting Panelists:  Cathy D. Cessna, RHD, MPA, ACFRE Principal at Nonprofit Consulting, Inc. Julia Crawford, CFRE, CFRE Ambassador Senior Manager, Individual Giving Straz Center for the Performing Arts Jessica Fugate, PhD, CFRE, CFRE Ambassador Director of Development Academy at the Lakes Join a powerhouse panel of seasoned fundraisers—with 75+ years of combined experience and CFRE and ACFRE credentials—as they share personal stories, practical insights, and real-world benefits of professional certification. Whether you're just starting out or ready for your next big step, discover how earning your CFRE or ACFRE can unlock new opportunities, elevate your credibility, and accelerate your career growth.
  1:00 p.m.	Break
  1:15 p.m.	Honing your Executive Presence Karen E. Osborne Executive presence is about projecting an image of capability and competence that inspires trust and respect, ultimately contributing to your ability to influence, inspire, and succeed.
  2:45 p.m.	Break
  3:00 p.m.	The Enduring Power of Asking Strategic Questions and Listening to Understand Karen E. Osborne How can the right question unlock a major commitment? This workshop, aimed at CEOs, board members and gift officers, draws on Karen E. Osborne's exceptional expertise in major gifts and donor satisfaction, and explores how well-crafted, strategic questions can deepen donor engagement, uncover motivations, and lead to lasting and generous commitments. Learn how to lead discussions with purpose, strengthen trust, and build relationships that go beyond the gift. A practical, interactive session to refine your approach and elevate every major donor exchange.
  4:30 p.m.	Ethics Happy Hour!

  
  

  Conference Fee: AFP Members $99, Guests $130
  (includes digital headshot, and lunch)
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Speaker Bios
  

  Mandy Cloninger, CFRE

  CFRE Ambassador

  CEO & Owner, Relentless Partner Consulting

  Mandy relentlessly pursues relationships to help nonprofits grow their major and capital gifts. She is a nonprofit leader, charismatic spokesperson, and a results-driven executive. With 20 years of experience raising hundreds of millions of dollars, Mandy has built capacity, scale, and scope in higher education, health care, and community-based nonprofits.

  
  

  
  

  Cathy D. Cessna, RHD, MPA, ACFRE

  Principal at Nonprofit Consulting, Inc.

  Cathy has 35 years of diverse leadership experience spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including advancement, education, television production, and international marketing. She earned her CFRE in 2003 and ACFRE in 2015. Cathy has served on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia and Brandywine Valley Chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and mentors ACFRE candidates.

  
  

  
  

  Julia Crawford, CFRE

  CFRE Ambassador

  Senior Manager, Individual Giving, Straz Center for the Performing Arts

  Julia Crawford is the Senior Manager of Individual Giving at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida. A Tampa native and proud University of South Florida graduate, she oversees the donor relations program and leads cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for the Straz’s leadership annual gifts, managing a portfolio of mid- to high-level donors.

  
  

  
  

  Jessica Fugate, PhD, CFRE

  CFRE Ambassador

  Director of Development, Academy at the Lakes

  Jessica has spent nearly 18 years helping schools and nonprofits strengthen relationships and fundraising programs. Her work spans independent schools, higher education, and social services, where she’s led major campaigns, enhanced outreach and engagement, and built lasting partnerships. She brings a thoughtful, mission-driven approach to every aspect of her work, along with a heart for service and community impact.

  
  

  
  

  Karen E. Osborne

  Senior Strategist of The Osborne Group, Inc.

  Author and Podcast Host

  Karen believes in the power of philanthropy, generosity, and service. She built her career around these passions not only as a major and principal gifts officer, vice president, speaker, teacher, consultant, and coach, but also as a donor, volunteer, and board member.

  For eighteen of Karen’s forty-seven professional years, she held leadership positions–Director of Major Gifts, Director of Development, and VP for College Advancement–at colleges and universities. For the past 29 years, Karen served first as President and now Senior Strategist at The Osborne Group, an international management, consulting, and training firm. For seven years, Karen was an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, teaching in their graduate nonprofit management program.

  Karen enjoys a rich volunteer life. She presented at the IFC in The Netherlands for 11 years. Provides international webinars including recent sessions for AFP Quebec and AFF France. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) awarded her the Crystal Apple for Outstanding Teaching and Public Speaking, and the Ashmore Award for Outstanding Service to the Profession. A founding member, she’s on the faculty of The CASE Academy for emerging leaders. In addition to volunteering for professional organizations, she’s a member of the governing board of Easterseals Florida, volunteers in her community and is an Elder of her church.

  Karen is an award-winning, and Kindle best-selling suspense, historical, and mystery writer of five published novels -- Getting It Right, Tangled Lies, Reckonings, True Grace, Justice for Emerson. Her weekly Vlog, What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing? showcases authors and other creatives.

  www.TheOsborneGroup.com

  Karen@TheOsborneGroup.com

  www.KarenEOsborne.com

  WriterKarenEOsborne@gmail.com

  
  

  

  
  

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• National Philanthropy Day 2025

  • When
    November 13, 2025
  •  
    11:15 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Ruth Eckerd Hall - Margarete Heye Great Room

  Register

  
  

  National Philanthropy Day 2025
  Thursday, November 13th
  11:15 a.m. Registration & Networking
  Noon Lunch & Program

  ******************** 

  CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION

  
  

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  Thank you to our Sponsors!

  PRESENTING SPONSOR:

  
  

  
  

  10 STAR SPONSORS:

  

  ************
  

  

  
  

  AWARD SPONSOR:

  

  Paul Dyer, Partners in Recognition, Inc.

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  Sponsor Levels

  Friends of Philanthropy ~ $5,000.00

  • Name appears in all pre and post event publicity
  • Recognition in program and invitation
  • Full-page, four-color ad in program
  • One table of 10 at the lunch with priority seating
  • Logo listed in program and slide show
  • Logo prominently displayed on signage
  • Publicly acknowledged and thanked at the event
  • Opportunity for company materials/giveaways

  10 Star Partners (7 Available) ~ $2,500.00

  • Name appears in all pre and post event publicity
  • Recognition in program and invitation
  • Half-page, four-color ad in program
  • One table of 10 at the lunch with priority seating
  • Logo listed in program and slide show
  • Logo prominently displayed on signage
  • Publicly acknowledged and thanked at the event

  Distinguished Table Partner with Honoree ~ $1,750.00
  

  • One table of 10 at the lunch with preferred seating
  • Quarter-page, four-color ad in program
  • Logo listed in program and slide show
     

  Table Partner ~ $850.00

  • One table of 10 at the lunch

   

  Individual Ticket ~ $85.00

  • One ticket at the lunch

  
  Add-on Benefit: Shining Light in Philanthropy ~ $175.00

  The Shining Light in Philanthropy is an additional benefit that can be added to any sponsor level (Table Partner and above) to honor an individual or organization that exemplifies generosity through their contributions of time, talent and treasure. This is a wonderful way to recognize those who illuminate the path for others, demonstrating extraordinary leadership and vision in support of your organization's mission. By celebrating their impact, we not only acknowledge their dedication but also inspire others to give back and strengthen the Tampa Bay community. 

  Benefits include: 

  • Personalized gift for one Shining Light in Philanthropy honoree
  • Name and photo of honoree displayed during event slide show
  • Social media recognition on AFP Tampa Bay Chapter social media platforms
  • Quarter-page advertisement in the digital and printed NPD program to recognize the honoree
  • 
    
    

  Program Ad Only ~ $100.00

  Does not include event tickets

  • Full-page, four-color ad in program

  
  

  If you have questions about the event, please email Chandra by clicking HERE

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• December Educational Program & Networking - AFP Tampa Bay

  • When
    December 09, 2025
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Brio Italian Grille | International Plaza | 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. Tampa FL 33607

  Register

  December Educational Program & Networking

  
  

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  Tuesday, December 9, 2025
  

  11:30 am Networking

  12:00 pm Program & Lunch Service

  Location:

  
  

  Brio Italian Grille | International Plaza | 2223 N. Westshore Blvd. Tampa FL 33607

  ********************

  Program Fee

  AFP Member - $35.00

  Members are invited to bring guest who is a potential member for FREE to the June Meeting.
  

  Guest - $45.00

  The program will only be offered in-person. Please indicate when registering your meal choice for meal planning purposes.

  AFP Tampa Bay aims to be accessible and inclusive to all of our members and guests. If you require special accommodations, please let us know via email so we can plan to make adjustments to the program

  ********************

  Meal Choices: 

  • Mezza Chicken Milanese: Romano-crusted chicken, fresh mozzarella, herb pasta, house-made marinara
  • Fettuccine Alfredo: Fresh fettuccine tossed in alfredo sauce (Vegetarian)

  ********************

  THANK YOU to our Luncheon Partner

  
  

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  Approved for 1 hour CFRE

  

  ********************

  Meeting Guidelines

  AFP Tampa Bay recognizes the importance of personal connection, but your health is our priority. We continue to monitor the community level for our area and follow CDC recommendations.

  We ask that you not attend if:

  • You have recently tested positive for COVID-19. Use the self-evaluation tool HERE to determine when you may return to in-person meetings after testing positive.
  • You have been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
  • You are waiting on COVID-19 test results.
  • You feel you may be becoming sick, running a fever, or experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

  Show details
• 2026 Planet Philanthropy

  • Start
    June 15, 2026
  • End
    June 17, 2026
  • Location
    Naples Grande Beach Resort | 475 Seagate Dr Naples, Florida 34103

  

  Florida’s premier fundraising conference—happening June 15–17 in sunny Naples, Florida!

  This must-attend event brings together nonprofit professionals, fundraisers, consultants, board members, and changemakers from across the state for three power-packed days of:

  ✨ Cutting-edge education

  ✨ Motivating keynotes

  ✨ Meaningful networking

  ✨ And fun, fresh ideas, and meaningful connections by the beach!

  Snag VIP Early Access to full conference registration for just $550—includes a ticket to the Planet Philanthropy social event!

  This exclusive early bird deal is only available through August 1, 2025!

  CLICK HERE to Register >>

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