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The PM Podcast
Winner's Mindset: A Conversation with Amari Duncan, AFP's 2026 Outstanding Young Professional
00:33:54
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- [00:00]
Amari Duncan
Even at my best, I was like the sixth man. And I tell people that a lot of like you can be a part of really excellent teams and organizations and not be the star and learning how to still be really great without being the star.
- [00:16]
Jay Frost
Welcome to the PM Podcast brought to you by Evertru Studios, the show that takes you inside the lives of thought leaders, innovators and change makers in fundraising, philanthropy and civil society. I'm your host, Jay Frost. My guest today is Amari Duncan, Director of Philanthropic Impact at Girls Inc. Of the Greater Capital Region and one of AFP's 2026 outstanding young professionals. Although she entered this fundraising profession only four years ago, Amare has quickly built a record as a strategic, mission centered and community rooted advancement leader. A United Way of the Greater Capital Region. She managed more than 40 corporate partnerships, helped rebuild Emerging Leaders United and mobilized more than 1500 volunteers across nine counties. Since joining Girls Inc. In 2023, she has led non grant fundraising, modernized the advancement program, launched new signature events and helped more than double philanthropic support. She is now helping lead Girls Inc. S first capital campaign in more than 40 years. Amari also serves in a community leadership role with KIPP Capital Region and Albany Academy for Girls where she became the youngest and first black woman to serve as president of the Alumni Council. Recorded live in the exchange at AFP icon 2026, this conversation explores Amari's path from sports to fundraising, the role of mentorship, and how a winner's mindset has set her on a course for success.
- [01:46]
Interviewer
So great to see you. And before we talk, Amari Duncan, I want to congratulate you on your AW this year, but why don't you, for our listeners who don't know what I'm talking about, what is this award and when did you learn about it?
- [01:57]
Amari Duncan
Yes. So I am the 2026 outstanding young professional Awardee with Tatum Zell as well. And it is awarded to two young professionals in fundraising under the age of 31. And it can be given for a reasons, whether it's, you know, you're doing something new, you are sustaining an organization, you're creating change. So yeah, so I am an awardee for that this year.
- [02:22]
Interviewer
How did you learn about the award?
- [02:24]
Amari Duncan
A nice email I love. Wait, let me say the question again. Sorry.
- [02:29]
Interviewer
No, no, no. How did you learn about it? I mean, because sometimes it is just some email, but sometimes we know about a nomination, sometimes it's a surprise.
- [02:37]
Amari Duncan
Yes, so it wasn't a surprise. I did know because my very good friend is the director of marketing at Girls Inc. Where I work. And when I saw it, and I was like, would you nominate me for this? And yeah. And I was like, always when you. Whenever you want an award and you want someone to nominate you, you really do have to go to someone who can really, like, talk about you and. And storytell in a way that is, like, captivating. And our director of marketing, she has a way with words. Shout out Belinda Walshock. So, yeah, she wrote my nomination and was the person to tell me that I won as well, which is really
- [03:10]
Interviewer
cool, I have to say. That's really refreshing because a lot of us, we won't do that. We won't ask for the things that we want and we feel that maybe we've earned. And you've just given this example of how you can do it and feel great about it because you know, you know who you are, you know what you need, and you know what you want. How did you get there?
- [03:32]
Amari Duncan
I would say it's probably definitely because I played sports my entire life, so the idea of, like, wanting something and working for and winning something has really just been engraved in, like, who I am. So I did play college basketball. I've won championships with my college team. I've gone to the NCAA tournament. So I have this very. Yeah, I have this very, like, winners mindset when it comes to, like, who I am, like, to my core. So, yeah, I think it's fun to win, I think, especially if you're working hard at something and you're good at something, you want to be acknowledged for, like, the effort and what you do. So when I see things and awards that, like, I want to put my hat in the ring for, like, I'll do it. Yeah, I'll write my own nomination. And I have done that and won that way as well. No one knows me better than me.
- [04:21]
Interviewer
We should go back to that, too. But before you go too far away from the sports, sports are something sort of like any in a professional career where we're recognized for our work. It doesn't just start yesterday. It starts a long time before. So where did that, let's say, the sports journey start? Basketball is a very specific kind of thing.
- [04:39]
Amari Duncan
Yeah.
- [04:39]
Interviewer
When did that start?
- [04:40]
Amari Duncan
So it actually started in middle school. I am very tall. For the people who cannot see me at home, I'm 5 foot 9 and I also wear heels every day. So I'm just like, a very tall person in general. So in fifth grade, I was the tallest person on my team. And so everyone was like, you know, you should just play Basketball.
- [04:56]
Interviewer
And I was like, so forward or what would.
- [04:58]
Amari Duncan
Yes. So I was a forward. And I just fell in love with it from there. And I'm a type of person where I want to be great at everything I do. You know, that was the era of middle school where, like, if you got a 99 instead of 100, like, you might as well, like, not even have tried.
- [05:13]
Interviewer
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [05:14]
Amari Duncan
So that's very much so. My personal. So I played through high school, and then when I got to college, I realized that 5 foot 9 is not tall. So all these years I was this power forward. I get to college, and I'm like, oh. So every six two is like, sure. I am now, like, in this new space and having to learn a whole new position. And I played for a very, like, great team and a great coach. And what I learned was, even at my best, I was like, the sixth fan. And I tell people that a lot of, like, you can be a part of really excellent teams and organizations and not be the star and learning how to still be really great without being the star. Where I wasn't playing, I was on the bench, but I was the loudest one on there. I had chants when people got off the court. I had water. I knew every play, like, if I was to be put at any point in time, I was ready. And also, like, so that was a really interesting point in my sports career, going from being, like, a very great player to still being a great player, but on a very great team. And when everyone's really great at what they do, how do you kind of pivot and still enjoy what you're doing when you can't be, like, the star of something?
- [06:30]
Interviewer
Well, yeah, as you said, every position. Well, in a way, every position can be a scar at star. Right. You have Pippin and Shaq and maybe not the right time frame, but that's that idea that it's not all about the height or the position. It's about, I guess, what you dedicate yourself to doing in that role. It sounds like that wasn't something you just applied to sports. So let's get into the fundraising journey.
- [06:56]
Amari Duncan
Yeah.
- [06:57]
Interviewer
When did that begin?
- [06:59]
Amari Duncan
Yeah, so I didn't start out in fundraising after college. I have a business degree and I had a minor in sports management.
- [07:07]
Interviewer
Where were you going to school for all?
- [07:08]
Amari Duncan
I went to a small private school in Albany, New York, called Russell Sage College, which will soon be Russell Sage University. I'm wondering if I'm going to get a new diploma.
- [07:17]
Interviewer
You can ask. That person is not afraid to ask. You can tell them right now, if
- [07:20]
Amari Duncan
anyone's listening from Sage, do I get a new diploma? But yeah. So I went to a small private school and I was like, I wanted to be a woman in sports. Like, I loved working in sports. I wanted to be in that area and arena. And I. We had a brand new arena football team come to Albany, New York in 2017. And my friend asked me to go to a game and I was like, I want to go to arena football game. Like, I don't. I don't watch football, especially football inside of an arena or an arena. And I went and I loved it. I mean, the game operations, like, the excitement, the music, the players, the dance team, like, it was everything. I left that game. I walked up to the first person I saw in a team polo and I said, I want to intern here. And I had an interview the next day. I started the next week. And I. And I was the only intern who was hired full time when I graduated in 2018.
- [08:08]
Jay Frost
Wow.
- [08:08]
Amari Duncan
And that was how my journey into working in professional sports.
- [08:11]
Interviewer
Yeah.
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Amari Duncan
And it was tough. I was in the ticket's office. 100 phone calls a day, over and over again. You know, back when they, like, would track how long your calls were and how many you made.
- [08:21]
Interviewer
That's exhausting. But you have to be fearless, too.
- [08:22]
Amari Duncan
Oh, my goodness. It was a type of, like, grit to work from 8 to 5 and have that many phone calls and be told no over and over and over again and be told some other things as well that we will not say yes. And. Yeah. Then one day I walked into the GM and I said, this has been really great. It's been a. You know, I was like, but this is not the type of job that I want to do. I'm not into transactional sales. And I was like, so I have to quit. I was like, I really like what I'm doing. He was like, well, you're not going anywhere. Which is really great to have a boss. And I've had bosses who really believe in me in that way. And I moved to the client services team. So I was working with corporate partnerships, and I was going to the meetings and hearing them pitch, you know, end zone ownership and halftime and all of these different partnerships. And I was writing the contracts and I was fulfilling them. So it was kind of like my first step into, like, really working with corporate partners and understanding the long versus, you know. Hang up call, hang up call. It was very different. And we won front office of the year that year. So I have a Big old championship ring. We won the championship game. So I've had confetti on me and all of the. Just an amazing experience. So I was working in professional sports before I got into fundraising.
- [09:42]
Interviewer
And that's. That's a rush. So how did you decide to make this transition? Yeah, why?
- [09:48]
Amari Duncan
It was decided for me. Covid happened. When Covid happened, I was still working in sports. I had moved over to the Yankees. I was working for their AAA affiliate in Scranton. And one thing I learned that I didn't like baseball. The season is too long. I'm sorry for people listening.
- [10:05]
Interviewer
I hope that nobody's turning off the recording right now. So baseball is not your thing. That's okay. The games are long.
- [10:12]
Amari Duncan
The games are long. The season's long.
- [10:13]
Interviewer
It's an acquired taste.
- [10:14]
Amari Duncan
Yes. Covid happened, and professional sports just ceased, like, overnight.
- [10:19]
Interviewer
Sure. Like everything.
- [10:20]
Amari Duncan
Like everything. So I ended up moving back home to Albany, New York, and I was just kind of in limbo. And then one day I was invited to go to an event with a couple of friends, and we were going to be the influencers. And it was to.
- [10:33]
Interviewer
Were you already doing social? No, no, no.
- [10:36]
Amari Duncan
They were just, like, they wanted more young people there. They wanted people to see the work that they were doing. So. So we were there, we had a table. I was like, okay, you want me to dress up that I love? You want me to eat free food and drink that I love and post on social media of, like, this really cool event and, like, this big convention center? Like, okay, who's United Way?
- [10:56]
Interviewer
You really didn't know anything about it?
- [10:58]
Amari Duncan
Absolutely no idea.
- [10:59]
Interviewer
No contact with. Let me ask that broad. Like, did you have any contact with client philanthropy, fundraising, any of that stuff from the time you were kids? Some people do, yeah.
- [11:07]
Amari Duncan
I mean, I went to, like, organizations. I was. I was a club kid, so I went to the Boys and Girls Club.
- [11:12]
Jay Frost
Sure.
- [11:12]
Amari Duncan
I was a pal kid. So I was a part at least.
- [11:16]
Interviewer
Athletically.
- [11:16]
Amari Duncan
Yes, yes. The police. Athletically. I was always around, but I didn't know what it was. Yeah, it's different when you're a kid. Like, you're like, I'm going to camp. Not realizing that this is a summer camp that somebody, like, worked hard to fundraise for all year.
- [11:27]
Interviewer
Right, right, right.
- [11:28]
Amari Duncan
So I. But I had no idea. I was not connected to my community in that way to know who these players were and who. Who was really pushing change. So I had no idea who United Way was.
- [11:39]
Interviewer
So there you are at United Way, and it's a quick education It's a complicated organization. It's a big history.
- [11:44]
Amari Duncan
Yes.
- [11:45]
Interviewer
So what was your reaction? What did you think?
- [11:46]
Amari Duncan
I thought it was awesome. I mean, you're learning about the work that they're doing, which again is like very broad. It touches a lot of different communities as well. They unveiled the very first philanthropist of the year, which is really exciting to see these four individuals who were doing so much work over Covid and it was just exciting. And I found myself at the charcuterie station. You know, at this point, it's the end of the night, the cheese is warm. I don't do charcuterie at my events to this day. And I'm talking to the president and CEO of the organization. And yeah, the next day I have a meeting and we're talking about what I could bring to the organization. And he at this point had no idea like who and what this would turn into. And yeah. So I joined the United Way team as a donor relations manager and I was there to do events and corporate partnerships.
- [12:38]
Interviewer
I'm just imagining what you and this person you just met must be thinking. That made that person feel so confident that you were the right person. But also maybe more importantly, what made you feel like you wanted to invest
- [12:52]
Amari Duncan
your time and yeah, what I thought was really interesting. Well, the candid thing is I didn't have a job. So sometimes it's like the circumstance. Right, sure. Of like ah, this put in front of me. It sounds great. I'm like, I don't know anything about non profit life, but listen, one thing's for sure and choose for certain, I can make something shake. And I was like having this conversation with the CEO and we're just hitting it off and I think it's really important to have a strong relationship with your direct supervisor. So I liked his energy. I feel like we matched it really well when he was talking about the role and I was like, oh, I
- [13:26]
Interviewer
can do this then. So you went into the role pretty quickly. How did it feel to be in that kind of role? Because you described that first thing in the ticket sales.
- [13:34]
Amari Duncan
Yeah.
- [13:36]
Interviewer
Which is a grind. And it's also very transactional. Like you said, donor relations seems to me from the outside like the opposite in that sense. It's about building the relationship by definition. Is that how it felt and what was it like to be in that role for United Ways?
- [13:49]
Amari Duncan
Yeah, it took me a while, I think, to really understand the relationship part of it. I remember like my first couple of meetings like going through and like not really like owning the meeting, like I remember I went to coffee with a funder from a bank, and it was great. Like, I was able to meet them and learn about, you know, their priorities. But, like, I didn't know how to, like, move forward in, like, the ask and the relationship part of it. So it kind of was just like, okay, well, have a great day. Thanks for your time. Right. Like, not. But also, like, it was. I needed to be thrown into the water in that way, to the deep end, to, like, I'm like a trial by fire kind of person now. I'm like, we have such a great relationship now that we can, like, laugh about that. Of, like, remember the first time where you were like, yeah, we don't, like, fund that. And I was just like, okay, great. Thank you for your time. And now they give substantially to me every year. But it really took a while for me to understand that. And I think I really jumped in, in joining networking groups and being a part of my chamber and business review and just going out and being like, I need to be everywhere. I need everyone to know who I am. And I quickly did become very well known in the capital region.
- [15:04]
Interviewer
So how long with that role? Because now you're Girls Inc.
- [15:09]
Amari Duncan
So I was at United Way for two years. So in 2023, I was approached by the current CEO of Girls Inc. Ashley Fragameni, because Ashley Fragameni is also my college assistant basketball coach.
- [15:23]
Interviewer
Okay.
- [15:24]
Amari Duncan
So when we talk about, like, networking and, like, having strong relationships, like, I really have cultivated that. I mean, Ashley's known me since I was 17 years old and would come to United Way events and, like, always followed my journey and was like a silent. Like, she's not silent. She's not silent at all. A cheerleader for me, and which is really great. So when the job opened at Girls Inc. I wasn't ready to leave United Way. I didn't want to, like, be jumping from job to job. I know it's a kind of a popular thing right now, but, like, I really wanted to be there for at least another year, another two years. But I ended up getting coffee with Ashley and, like, learn the mission of Girls Inc. And the role what she wanted to play put me in was a leadership role. And I think that's important to note. I was in still a manager role at United Way. I wasn't overseeing anybody, and I was. I was learning, which was important. But she came to me and she said, I want you to lead and be the director of development for Girls
- [16:19]
Interviewer
Inc. How'd you respond to that?
- [16:20]
Amari Duncan
And I was like, oh, okay, tell me more. What do you mean by that? Right. And what I really love about like women in leadership as well is like they're very candid of what exactly? And I think that's a lot that's rubbed off on me. What exactly do you need and what are you looking for and can I do that? And we serve a lot of black and brown girls and it's really important to have women in leadership who look like them.
- [16:46]
Interviewer
Can you talk about Girls Inc. Just for a second? Because I think a lot of people understand in a general way, united way, Girls Inc. Maybe is understood as a brand brand, not necessarily work unless they've been close to it. Just like you were describing who they serve. What is Girls Inc. And what is it to you?
- [17:00]
Amari Duncan
Yeah. Awesome. So Girls Inc. Is a national nonprofit, international. We will include our friends in Canada. And we have about 78 affiliates across the US and Canada. And we serve girls in a variety of ways, depending on where you are. But our mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold. And in the Capital region, we, we do that through year round free programming for hundreds of girls through after school programming, through our leadership, through Ignite and Eureka. And the idea is like, how do you create so many experiences and opportunities for girls so that way when they have to make a big decision about post secondary life and whatever that looks like, they've had so much experience and opportunities to learn, ask questions, fail, fail again, succeed and be strong in like, what's next for them. And I just like, was like, this is awesome and I need to be part of it.
- [17:52]
Interviewer
Yeah. Why, why does that excite you? How do you, why does that resonate for you?
- [17:56]
Amari Duncan
Yeah, I mean, I grew up in Albany. I was someone who was a recipient of so many opportunities through organizations, whether that was through free Cramp, through the Boys and Girls Club, my time at Powell, where I was on the, the youth Leadership Council and being able to like make these decisions and run major events, like as a teenager and a child, I really understand what it means to have like the access and the opportunities. I went to a college prep middle school, being able to go there and learning at fifth grade that I'm going to college in 2014, I knew it and I believed it. And so when I went to, you know, I went to Albany Academy for Girls, which is a, an amazing private school in Albany, I was able to have access to people with more everything right at a major school like this. And I know what it's like to have that access and Be able to genuinely believe that I can do whatever I want to, because there's people who've told me that, and there's people who've opened the doors and created opportunities for me to experience it. So that's what Girls, Inc. Is. And I'm like, it's awesome. And I think there should be more opportunities for kids to just experience life before they have to make big decisions for themselves. And companies who want to open the door for kids to see what is it like to do the work in which they're doing. So I've had such an amazing time at Girls, Inc. When I go to meetings, everyone's like, oh, I can feel it come off of me, because I believe. Believe it there. I genuinely believe the mission so deeply that it makes fundraising really fun, really exciting, and why we've been so successful these last couple of years.
- [19:38]
Interviewer
So two years I'm in.
- [19:39]
Amari Duncan
Yes. I'm in year three.
- [19:41]
Interviewer
Year three. Okay.
- [19:42]
Amari Duncan
Yes. I think I'm two and a half years in now. Yes.
- [19:44]
Interviewer
With Girls, Inc. How has this been for you? I mean, it sounds like you went to every one of these decisions. At least you're speaking about it now, as if every one of these decisions that you've described as one with, you know, seizing opportunity. Right. But sometimes being in a role, especially when you know the service that you're providing like Girls, Inc. Does, has also a transformational effect. What kind of change, if any, have you seen both to the community, but also in yourself as a result of doing this work? It's so important.
- [20:15]
Amari Duncan
I think when I think about my time with Girls, Inc. I always say my. My, like, passion and purpose have aligned. I know that I want to be in fundraising. I think it's a question I get asked all the time, like, do you see yourself? Like, I love what I do, but also I was like, oh. I realize coming into this role that, like, I want to work in youth development. I care deeply about education. So being in a space where I get to fundraise for something like that I care about is really important. I think has really shaped what my future looks like. My time at Girls, Inc. Is nowhere near done. But when I think about my future, I can't just work for any organization. And I tell se young fundraisers, like, it's important to be with an organization that you care about. Would you give your dollars to this organization? Would you send your kid to this organization? If the answer is no for either of those, then you're not the right person to be fundraising for them. So I Know that I always have to be aligned in who I am with any organization. And I do think I have to work for an organization that does do programmatic because it's easy to describe and have experiences and be able to tell people or bring them in to see their dollars in action. So I love working for an organization that has such great programs for girls, which is really cool.
- [21:42]
Interviewer
So this is kind of a funny question, but I'm wondering if you can paint a picture of maybe one of those kids because, I mean, just help people to understand why it's so important.
- [21:56]
Amari Duncan
Yeah, yeah. So I will tell a story. And it's so funny. I. Me. And her name is Sharaya. I won't say her last name, but she is in 11th grade. And she is just the type of relentless student that I like, love because she reminds me so much of myself. Like the type of student who wants to be better, like, wants to learn, wants to be great and is not afraid to say that. And also is just like, so kind and charismatic and like all of those other things. But she is also the type to reach out and say, will you do this nomination for me? And I just nominated her for a major award as well. And we've won awards alongside each other with the ywca, her winning the youth award, me winning the Young Professional award. So what I find really special about Sharaya is with our Eureka program, it's a five year career and college readiness program. And it's really one of those things. Things of like, you can be as involved, you have to have a certain amount of credits. Right. But as. As involved as you would like to be, you can go to all of the webinars and all the mixers and all of the. The field trips. And she really takes advantage of all of those. And being able to see her from the first day I met her to going to her second book signing a couple of weekends ago to cheering for her. She's on our National Teen Advocacy Council. She just spoke at our Girls Inc. National luncheon and won a $25,000 scholarship. Yeah, she's truly phenomenal. I think she really embodies what it means to be a Girls Inc. Girl. And there's so many stories. We serve hundreds of girls a year, you know, all the way down from the smallest girl in kindergarten who's learning to, like, share for the first time to our high school girls who are doing some incredible work in winning awards at those levels. There's so many different stories, stories from me having to go to Six Flags. I was A chaperone. There's so many dippin dots stories. Someone lost a cell phone. Someone lost a hat. A book bag was left somewhere. And I love spending time with girls in that way because I'm able to go back to funders and donors and say, like, no, here's my girls in story. And I have my own. Yeah. So it's just been a really fun time. I've changed the way I fundraise stories as well at Girls Inc. It's really cool.
- [24:17]
Interviewer
You know, as you talked about this, a word you haven't used, not that you should use it, but I've heard a lot in the past was about mentoring. What you're describing sounds like a version of that, but it also sounds distinct, different, and pretty powerful. Tell me how you're thinking about these relationships that you've had with the woman who has been kind of in that role of being your cheerleader. Is the word used or the way you're kind of cheering on this person. You never described yourself as her mentor, but you've certainly been there cheering her on. What is the distinction, if any, between the way we used to think about mentoring and the kinds of things that are happening for you so successfully and which you're now doing in turn for others?
- [25:07]
Amari Duncan
Yes, I think the difference is, is a lot of times people think mentorship has to be this, like, prolonged. Like, we are, you're my mentor for this year, and we're seeing each other once a month and we're having these, like, conversations. Whereas I feel like why I say cheerleader is like, it's more so like, I see you, and I might be over here, and I might not be directly having my hand in the day to day of what you're doing, but when you call upon me, like, I'm going to be there. And I do run a mentorship program at my high school, and it's specifically because it is a predominantly white institution. It's for black boys and girls from the city of Albany who win the scholarship or awarded a scholarship to go. And my role is to really help them navigate what it is like to go to. To an extremely affluent and predominantly white school. And that's been a really interesting last three years I've been running that program because I'm really able to have a different relationship with them. That's not a teacher. It's not a parent. We can joke about. You're sweet 16. But also you can come to me when something serious happened at school and know that I'm going to be in that office advocating for. For you.
- [26:42]
Jay Frost
Okay,
- [26:50]
Amari Duncan
Perfect. Have a sip of water.
- [27:01]
Interviewer
It just turned off. Most of what we're going to use is audio anyway, so, in fact, it's continuing to record that. But. But I do want to give him a chance to grab this if he can. And thank you for putting up with our check.
- [27:19]
Amari Duncan
No problem at all. Gives me time to cough and drink water.
- [27:31]
Interviewer
Same problem. It's okay. Okay. Wow. So. Oh, I hope.
- [27:49]
Amari Duncan
Yeah, it's like a good ending, but. Yes. Oh, me. I thought it was good. Yeah. So I'll just end it off by saying.
- [28:03]
Interviewer
Well, I know you were talking about the mentor role you had in that program for all those years and being in that place. And what I was going to ask you to follow up on that is you used another expression, which I love, which is that you know that it's in a role where you can say, I see you or you're seen. That sounds like a connective tissue between a formal mentoring program and the kind of support and cheerleading that you were describing. Is that fair?
- [28:35]
Amari Duncan
No, I think that's really fair because it isn't something like, you know, there's only so many hours in the day and so many days in the year, and you can't be everything to everyone, but you can be someone that they can count on, like, when they need it. And that's something that I always want to. Whether that's like, friends, colleagues, students, like, when you need me, call me. Now, don't call me all the time, but I'll definitely be there. And I think that's also really strengthened relationships I have with students and friends and colleagues of, like, I'm someone who's extremely reliable in that way that I will quite literally always be there, whether it's, you know, for a major event you're speaking at, you're getting an award, you're just existing. So. Yeah.
- [29:23]
Interviewer
Yeah. Totally unrelated question. Before we began recording, you told me you were big into Insta, so you're also a person who is quite ready to talk.
- [29:37]
Amari Duncan
Yes.
- [29:37]
Interviewer
Which is awesome. And thank you for sharing with us. Why is it important to share in the way that you clearly feel so comfortable sharing about your work, about your experience and out there in social media for people who probably don't even know you.
- [29:54]
Amari Duncan
Yeah. Oh, I do love Instagram. If I had to pick an app, I'm going to pick Instagram. I think that especially, like, over the years, too. Like, there's so many people who, again, like, you might not be talking to all the time, but are silently Watching and like, so it's really fun to like run into someone and they're like, oh my God, I saw. Won this AFP award, like, congratulations. Or tell me more about that, like, new Simone's place you're going to. And I'm like, oh, yeah, it's like Chipotle Mediterranean. But yeah, I think that social media has an opportunity to really, like, get a glimpse into the work that we're doing. I love to share whether it's like, events that we're doing or, you know, our girls or, you know, free summer camps coming out, like a lot of people. So a lot of times my personality is intertwined with the work that I do, which I do love. I don't want anyone to ever see me and like, not think Girls Inc. Or not think, oh, she's on the board of kipp, I can ask her something because my student goes there. A lot of my personality is intertwined. So I think that having that access to me and like these little like, glimpses of like, like, let me take you along and like, see the work that we're doing and, you know, even if you're not a donor or you don't have kids or any, like, you still know about like, the work that we're doing. I also love LinkedIn. So follow me on LinkedIn, everyone. I'm Ari Duncan. I do share a lot about the, the work that we do on LinkedIn because I'm really proud of it. To the point of, like, I believe so deeply in the mission of Girls Inc. I can tell anyone about it, any
- [31:30]
Interviewer
kind of words of advice for people who might be also emerging in this field and are wondering, I guess you've answered the question already about whether or not they should be in fundraising because clearly it's a path you've chosen. But what, what are other thoughts as you wander these halls? I think as a first time attendee, thinking about the value of being in this field, but also the camaraderie maybe that you're finding in it.
- [31:54]
Amari Duncan
Yeah, I definitely in the last two years been more involved with my local AFP chapter and it is really refreshing to be around fundraisers. I have a lot of fundraising friends because, as you know, I love to make a good friend and it's nice to be able to have conversations with people who just get it. And I am like, I do not gatekeep. I love, like, if you are looking for someone's contact information, like, how did, what happened when you did this grant application? Like, I share and I always overshare because I think that there's space for everyone to win. Right. And knowledge is power. And when we talk about access and opportunity, I can't be a steward for Girls, Inc. And care deeply about the access opportunity for them, but also not people in my field and my peers in that way too. So yeah, so I love what I do. I love being around other fundraisers because I love to talk. I'll talk about what we're doing, what's not working, who's not giving right now and why. And yes, this has been a really fun opportunity, especially hearing other people's like, best practices. Sharing my own. Yeah, just being like in company with everyone.
- [33:06]
Jay Frost
That's it for this episode of the PM Podcast. You can learn more about Amari Duncan and the work of Girls, Inc. Of the Greater capital region@girlsincapitalregion.org and about afp@afp global.org our thanks to our sponsor, Evertrue, the global leader in donor engagement and fundraising intelligence, helping nonprofits find, engage and inspire their supporters. Our producer is Jack Frost, and our theme music is Moving Out, Moving in by Jay Taylor, courtesy of Epidemic Sound. If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe and check out our sister shows, Front Lines of Social Good and How to Raise, all part of the Philanthropy Mastermind series. Until next time. I'm Jay Frost. Thanks for joining me.