In this episode of Rising Voices of Fundraising: The Emerging Leaders Podcast, our 2024 Outstanding Young Professional award recipients share the strategies that led to amazing fundraising results, as well as the personal career moves they’ve made that have set them up for success. Their advice serves as a blueprint for emerging leaders unsure of how to take their career to the next level.   Abby and Brian will be honored at AFP ICON 2025 in Seattle, April 27-29.  Guests: Brian Marquez, development officer at the Southern Scholarship Foundation: Starting as a development coordinator at Elder Care Services (ECS) in Tallahassee, Brian introduced initiatives such as a quarterly impact report that highlighted to donors the valuable role their contributions played in creating positive change at the senior service agency. These stewardship-focused efforts resulted in increased donor retention, including inspiring one donor to triple their gift from the previous year. As a queer Latino, Brian’s leadership at ECS extended beyond fundraising. While chair of ECS’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Brian launched an effort to translate materials into Spanish, and secured SAGE certification for ECS, ensuring the organization was a welcoming and affirming space for LGBTQ+ seniors. While the industry as a whole continues to struggle to retain and recruit new donors, Brian is defying trends with a focus on meaningful donor engagement that has contributed to a 5% increase in retention, a 7% increase in first-time donors, and a 17% increase in monthly donors. His use of automated, segmented campaigns celebrating donor milestones and personalized welcome campaigns for new donors reflect Brian’s ability to embrace new technology in fostering relationships. Beyond his professional achievements, Brian has made a profound impact as a volunteer and advocate. As president of the AFP FL, Big Bend Chapter, he has significantly increased attendance and engagement by fostering collaborations with local nonprofit leaders. Additionally, he is deeply committed to advancing LGBTQ+ equality, serving on the board of Equality Florida and contributing to policy initiatives through the City of Tallahassee Mayor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Council. Abby Trahan, MPA, CFRE, development officer II, at the University of Houston: In her first professional role as annual giving coordinator for the Houston Food Bank, Abby grew the monthly giving program by 60%, generating $3 million in dependable annual revenue with a remarkable 96% donor retention rate. Beyond the numbers, she created a culture of gratitude and stewardship through innovations such as a new tool for tracking donor touchpoints and a cross-departmental letter writing day to personally thank donors. In her successive roles as development officer I and II for the University of Houston, Abby has significantly expanded the organization’s capacity to attract and retain major donors, resulting in multiple six-figure gifts, including a $1 million commitment, as well as the University of Houston Law Center’s first endowed professorship during the current dean’s tenure. Her talents extend beyond major gifts, also facilitating a peer-to-peer campaign that raised $113,000—the highest in four years.As an active member of AFP since 2018, Abby has demonstrated her leadership at the chapter level, serving as communications chair for National Philanthropy Day and mentoring emerging professionals through the Greater Houston Chapter’s Collegiate Chapters program. Abby also earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential just three years after joining the profession, showcasing her commitment to her future career in fundraising.Hosts:  Emily Leitzinger, CFRE, CNP, Director of National Leadership Giving, Cure SMA: Emily Leitzinger is a fundraising executive with over 15 years of experience driving organizational growth and sustainability through innovative fundraising strategies and donor engagement.