Glenview, Illinois (March 7, 2006) – The American Association of Fundraising Counsel will celebrate its 70th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of its signature publication, Giving USA, with a forum on global philanthropy and a gala dinner in Atlanta at the end of March. The day’s events will be capped off with the announcement of a new name for AAFRC.
The celebration includes a panel discussion on global perspectives in philanthropy named after legendary consultant Maurice Gurin, followed by a gala dinner. Activities begin at 2:30 p.m., Friday, March 31, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
“The day’s activities will showcase what is best about both the AAFRC and Giving USA Foundation™ – our work in the nonprofit and philanthropic communities,” said George C. Ruotolo Jr., CFRE, acting chair of AAFRC. “We are pleased to be able to invite our colleagues in the field to join us for this celebration.”
As to the name change for the venerable institution, Ruotolo said, “the AAFRC name has served us well as an organization for 70 years, but no longer aptly describes the scope of the work our member firms perform. After much deliberation and consideration, we are changing our name to Giving Institute – Leading Consultants to Non-Profits.”
A new name and description were in order “because our member firms work internationally and do so much more for our clients than fund-raising consulting,” he added. “But what is not changing is our dedication to ethics and sound business practices. Our Standards of Practice, well-known in the industry, will continue to serve as a benchmark in the field.”
The philanthropic community is invited to attend the anniversary festivities; the Gurin Forum panel discussion is free and will be held 2:30-4:30 p.m. The Gala is $150 per person and will be held in the same venue beginning with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m.
A non-profit organization of professional fundraising counseling firms that maintain
high ethical standards and adhere to a strict code of fair practices.
The Gurin Forum panel is comprised of these executives from the nonprofit world:
Barron Segar
Director
U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Southeast Regional Chapter
Robin Davis, R.N.,M.N.
Executive Director
Global Health Action
Betty Forbes
Vice President – Marketing/Sponsor Services
Christian Children's Fund
Debra Neuman
Senior Vice President for External Relations
CARE
Pam Wuichet
Senior Partner
Project Resource Group
The panel will be moderated by Jimmie R. Alford, CFRE, founder and chair of The Alford Group. Historical Perspectives on Universal Giving, a presentation by Dr. Patrick Rooney, director of research at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, will precede the panel discussion.
The presentation of the new name and look for the AAFRC will be held after dinner when there will be a champagne toast.
Among the attendees will be the most well-known and respected members of the philanthropic and nonprofit communities. To place a reservation, contact the AAFRC at 847/375-4709.
For more information about the event, contact Sharon Bond at 847/375-4836 or visit the AAFRC Web site at www.aafrc.org.
(Note to editors: Bios and photos of Gurin Forum panelists available on request.)
About the Gurin Forum and Maurice Gurin:
The purpose of The Gurin Forum is twofold: to honor Maurice Gurin, a foremost leader and thinker whose involvement in philanthropy had a profound effect on its evolution, and to focus attention on the significant issues facing the sector today. These periodic forums are designed to stimulate dialogue, debate, research, and education. Funding for the Gurin Forum is made possible through an endowment created primarily through the generosity of Gurin. He was a chair of the American Association of Fundraising Counsel and one of the original incorporators of the American Association of Fundraising Counsel Trust for Philanthropy, now known as Giving USA Foundation™.
Maurice Gilbert Gurin (1911–1990), was almost 50 years old in 1959 when he made the career change from public relations to fundraising. Gurin incorporated new and innovative fundraising methods with more traditional techniques and in only 12 years rose from being a free-lance fundraiser to president of a fundraising firm with offices in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Over the next 30 years, he continued to seek creative new answers to old questions, using imaginative new approaches focused on individual client needs, and crafting the fundraising plan fit the client rather than the other way around.