Doing It All: Strategies for Fundraisers in Small Shops

In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The AFP Emerging Leaders Podcast, Josie White, CFRE explores how fundraisers can build confidence, clarity, and capacity while juggling a wide array of responsibilities, from events and appeals to grants and major gifts. The conversation shares practical strategies for prioritizing tasks, tracking results, and testing big fundraising ideas on a smaller scale. Emerging leaders will gain tools and frameworks to make strategic decisions, say no with integrity, advocate for growth, and even use AI to lighten the load — all while keeping mission impact at the heart of their work. To hear more from Josie on this topic, make sure to join her for her session, "But’s It’s JUST Me! Finding Confidence, Clarity, and Capacity in Small Shops" at AFP ICON 2026 in San Diego, April 26-28.  Guest: Josie White, CFRE is the Philanthropy Officer at Shelter the Homeless in Salt Lake City and serves as Advocacy Chair for the AFP Utah Chapter. With a career rooted in small fundraising shops, she brings a nimble, creative approach to donor and volunteer engagement, grant writing, and major gifts. Josie has secured millions from public and private sources and thrives in roles requiring both strategy and hands-on execution. She holds a master’s in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University and regularly speaks on how nonprofits can grow capacity through clarity, compassion, and the confidence to try something new. Hosts:  Jarrod Williams, MBLI, CFRE, is a courageous, strategic, and results-oriented fundraising leader with over a decade of experience driving revenue growth, donor engagement, and organizational visibility. He is committed to building cultures of philanthropy within mission-driven organizations and brings a proven track record across major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, event strategy, and data-informed decision-making within both social justice and arts organizations. He serves as a Client Experience Leader for Veritus Group, where he educates and coaches fundraisers across the country on innovative mid-level and major gift strategies. In this role, he partners with organizations nationwide to strengthen donor pipelines, elevate fundraising performance, and build sustainable revenue models. Jarrod has been recognized for his leadership and influence and remains actively engaged in advancing the fundraising profession. He serves on the AFP Global Emerging Leaders Committee and the AFP LEAD Education Committee, supporting the development of the next generation of fundraising professionals. In 2020, he was named a Top 30 Under 30 Young Professional by 101.1 The Wiz in Cincinnati. He is also a graduate of the Urban Leaders Institute through the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, where he earned the Best-in-Class Award for Best Connector—recognizing his ability to build meaningful relationships and mobilize others around a shared vision. He is a proud Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a graduate of the AFP Global Faculty Training Academy. Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier, CFRE, ACNP, GPC, CAP, Founder & CEO, AQP Consulting & Executive Director, ENP: Dr. Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier has fourteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has collectively raised approximately $5 million for over 75 organizations. She serves as Executive Director of ENP and runs her own nonprofit consulting firm, AQP Consulting, where she helps grassroots nonprofits with fundraising strategy, strategic planning, board development, and grant writing.  Allison is a vocal advocate for gender parity, closing the wage gap, and ending the motherhood penalty. With accolades such as AFP’s Outstanding Young Fundraising Professional, NBJ’s 40 Under 40, NBJ’s Women of Influence, a National Latino Leader, and the Women Who Rock Nashville Social Justice Award, Dr. Quintanilla Plattsmier strives to serve and better her community every day. A dedicated AFP member for the last seven years, Allison currently chairs the Women's Impact Initiative (WII) Mentorship Program and serves on the LEAD Education Advisory Committee. When she is not out serving her community, she is spending time with her three kids, Quintan, Karina, and Kamren.