WKCTC Confirms Commitment to Ethical Fundraising

Paducah, KY (10/21/2019) — West Kentucky Community and Technical College officials were among more than 35 college leaders and fundraisers from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) to recently join the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and sign the association's Code of Ethics.

In a September 25th ceremony, KCTCS became the first higher education system in the United States to have all of its system leaders and top-line fundraisers abide by AFP's Code of Ethical Standards, the only enforceable code in the fundraising profession. The system president, Dr. Jay Box, WKCTC President Anton Reece along with 15 college presidents and 19 fundraisers, joined AFP in the ceremony that took place just a few days before the launch of Ethics Awareness Month this month.

Ben Mohler, vice president of Institutional Advancement for KCTCS, said the signing was not to introduce new fundraising standards throughout the system, but rather to publicly and formally reflect each college's and KCTCS's organizational and individual commitment to ethics.

"I've heard it said that rituals are an important exercise to affirm organizational culture," Mohler told the group of fundraisers. "Today is such an occasion, to confirm that professional ethics in philanthropy are tightly woven into the fabric of who we are."

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is the 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 31,000 members in more than 240 chapters throughout the world. AFP has inspired global change and supported efforts that have generated over $1 trillion. AFP's individual and organizational members raise over $115 billion annually.

AFP President/CEO Mike Geiger said it was first time that an entire college system had comprehensively addressed the issue of ethics and ethical fundraising by taking on the mantle and standards of the AFP Code of Ethics, the only enforceable ethical code in the entire global fundraising profession. "The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has taken the leadership role not just among community colleges, not just in the state, but in the country-by abiding by the highest ethical standards in the fundraising profession."

KCTCS includes 107,000 students in 16 campuses and over 70 physical locations across the state. The system is the largest provider of postsecondary education in the state, accounting for almost 50 percent of all post-secondary students across Kentucky. With over 20 years of experience, it is Kentucky's primary source forcollege and workforce readiness, transfer education and workforce education.

Paducah resident Lee Emmons said she was delighted to participate personally and also as a part of the larger public commitment made by KCTCS to uphold AFP ethics principles. She has been vice president of institutional advancement and development at WKCTC for two years and has nearly 15 years of experience in various fundraising roles.

"It's an honor to help others realize their philanthropic goals through my work with WKCTC and the Paducah Junior College Foundation, and I take the responsibility that comes with the trust extended by those philanthropists very seriously," she said. "In my opinion, the importance of ethics in fundraising cannot be overstated."

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