Andrew Watt

PAGE 2 GUEST EXPERT:  Andrew Watt, FInstF, is president and chief executive officer of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the professional association of individuals responsible for generating philanthropic support for nonprofit organizations. 

AFP is the largest community of fundraising professionals in the world and has 30,000 members in more than 200 chapters.  In his role, Andrew serves on the board of directors for AFP, the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy-Canada, and also leads the association's professional staff in Arlington, Va.; Toronto, Ontario and Mexico City.

Andrew joined AFP as vice president for international development in 2006 and was promoted to chief programs officer in 2008, where he led the Membership and Professional Advancement Divisions of AFP.  He also served on the AFP Executive Team that was responsible for the day-to-day operational decisions of the association. 

From 1993-2005, Andrew was employed by the Institute of Fundraising in the United Kingdom, a professional membership organization for fundraising professionals. He served in several capacities there, ultimately as deputy chief executive.  In 2006, Andrew was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Fundraising in recognition of his extraordinary service to the profession.

Andrew has been a strong proponent of the value of the nonprofit community and fundraising throughout his career. Viewing nonprofits as a critical interface between the public and government, he has long emphasized the importance of forging strong consensus-based coalitions both within the philanthropic community and between the public and private sectors that demonstrate the value and impact of charities and their work.

Andrew has served as both a volunteer and board member of many nonprofit organizations. He is currently chairman of the American Friends of Winchester College and an adjunct faculty member of St. Mary's University of Minnesota where he teaches on the globalization of philanthropy.

Andrew is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and is married with two children.