DRiWaterstone Human Capital Recruits New President and CEO for the Association Of Fundraising Professionals
March 21, 2025 – Arlington, VA-based DRiWaterstone Human Capital has placed H. Art Taylor as its new president and CEO of the Association Of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in Arlington, VA. He succeeds Mike Geiger, who has served as president and CEO for the past seven and a half years. “The AFP global board undertook a comprehensive CEO search to find our next leader,” said Roger Ali, AFP global board chair. “Throughout the process, I was impressed with Art Taylor’s leadership, presence, vision for AFP and ability to listen and respond authentically. He is collaborative and understands the challenges our members are facing in these unusual times. I look forward to working with Art to respond to the needs of our members and better serve the profession. I’d also like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Joyce Mitchell-Antoine, chair of the AFP CEO search committee, and the members of the committee for their expertise and commitment to the process.”
A respected leader in the non-profit sector, Mr. Taylor brings decades of experience in philanthropy, governance, and non-profit accountability. He most recently served for 23 years as president and CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, where he championed charity transparency and ethical fundraising practices, spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives in donor trust and technology, and established himself as a leading voice in non-profit leadership.
Mr. Taylor’s career reflects a deep commitment to strengthening the non-profit sector. Under his leadership at the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, he expanded charity evaluations, introduced the Accredited Charity Seal as a symbol of trustworthiness, and launched innovative tools such as AskGive.org and GiveSafely.io to empower donors and enhance charitable giving. His dedication to fostering collaboration among non-profits has led to the creation of vital resources like the Give.org Donor Trust Report and Advancing Collaboration, shaping best practices in the sector. Mr. Taylor has also shared his expertise as a lecturer at Columbia University and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Beyond his leadership in nonprofit accountability, Mr. Taylor has played a critical role in advancing ethical fundraising practices, donor trust, and non-profit impact. He is the creator and host of The Heart of Giving Podcast, a nationally recognized show that explores the transformative power of generosity and service, featuring conversations with philanthropic leaders, donors, and change-makers. Mr. Taylor also co-authored The Overhead Myth letters, challenging misconceptions about nonprofit efficiency, and collaborated with GuideStar and Independent Sector to create Charting Impact, a framework to help charities communicate their effectiveness. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, he has testified before Congress, contributed to numerous media outlets, and served on boards for organizations such as Franklin & Marshall College, the Salvation Army National Advisory Board, and the Mobile Giving Foundation.
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“I am deeply honored to step into the role of CEO for the Association of Fundraising Professionals,” said Mr. Taylor. “This is a pivotal moment for our profession, as fundraisers continue to be the essential bridge between societal needs and resources. I look forward to bringing my experience and passion for the nonprofit sector to AFP, working alongside our members to advance fundraising excellence and innovation.”
Advancing Philanthropy
The Association Of Fundraising Professionals is a professional association of individuals and organizations that generate philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable institutions. Founded in 1960, AFP advances philanthropy through its 26,000 members in more than 240 chapters throughout the world – connected through offices in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The organization has inspired global change and supported efforts that have generated over $1 trillion. Its individual and organizational members raise over $115 billion annually.
DRiWaterstone Human Capital Recruits CEO for the San Diego Workforce Partnership
DRiWaterstone Human Capital has helped to recruit Rachel Bereza as president and CEO of the San Diego Workforce Partnership. Senior consultant BJ Davis led the assignment. The appointment follows an extensive nationwide search that attracted over 130 candidates. “Rachel’s appointment signals our county-wide commitment to bold, innovative solutions for San Diego’s workforce development industry. We look forward to working with her,” said San Diego County supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe and chair of the San Diego Workforce Consortium Policy board.
Created through a recent merger between DRi and Waterstone Human Capital, DRiWaterstone Human Capital is a culture-centric executive search, leadership advisory, and human capital firm focused on helping mission and purpose-driven organizations across the U.S. build high performance teams and cultures. The firm’s team of talent management professionals has placed over 1,000 exceptional executives since it opened in 2001.
The firm offers executive search services focused on helping clients achieve sustainable organizational and cultural growth by finding leaders who align to the organization’s purpose, and who can help take the organization and its culture to the next level. DRiWaterstone Human Capital also offers a full portfolio of cultural talent management and leadership advisory services (including culture assessment, culture measurement, and culture curation) – to help organizations put culture at the center of strategy and drive success.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
