AFI recognizes that true success is realized when powerful grants systems are used by experienced grant professionals. Unfortunately, not every community has enough trained and experienced professionals to meet the increasing demand. AFI, therefore, is not only committed to developing cutting edge systems, but also to furthering the development of a connected, broader grant community – bringing together the best grant professionals across the country with the organizations that desperately need their expertise.
A first step in building a broader community was to begin to identify and build partnerships with “best of breed” professional and municipal associations that understand the critical relevance of grant funding. AFI immediately recognized the Grant Professionals Association (formerly American Association of Grant Professionals or AAGP) and the Alliance for Innovation (Alliance) as two premiere organizations that could play a pivotal role in the evolution of a national grant community.
The Alliance for Innovation (Alliance) is a network of local government professionals seeking innovation and governmental excellence. Created from a partnership between International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Arizona State University (ASU) School of Public Affairs, and The Innovation Groups (IG), the Alliance is the largest innovation based network serving local governments. The unique partnership was created from a shared mission to transform local government and advance community excellence through the discovery and application of leading ideas and practices. The strengths that ICMA and ASU bring combined with the Alliance’s structure creates a special collaborative forum for learning, measured risk taking, exploration and discovery, and sharing of knowledge and experience.
The Grant Professionals Association (GPA), formerly American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP), a national, nonprofit membership association, builds and supports an international community of grant professionals committed to serving the greater public good by practicing the highest ethical and professional standards. GPA is the premier national professional organization representing the needs and concerns of grant professionals in the education, government, nonprofit or private sectors. Annually the Association sponsors a national conference and publishes the GPA Journal, both offering an exploration of best practices and examination of the evolving state of the profession. The Grant Professional Certification Institute (GPCI), an affiliate organization of GPA, was formed to oversee the development of critical standards within an ethical framework to help define the future of grantsmanship. Since its inception in 1998, GPA has supported over 4,000 members and currently has 39 active local chapters across the country.