Community Foundation VP earns Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® certification

Anne Calder

Anne Calder, vice president of development at the Quad Cities Community Foundation, has been awarded the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of the American College of Financial Services. The CAP® designation provides nonprofit and financial professionals with an in-depth knowledge of strategic philanthropic planning, enhancing their ability to work with donors and lead development efforts at their organizations.

“Achieving the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation was important to me as a professional serving the best interests of donors and our community,” said Calder. “We of course want each and every donor to have the very best guidance and resourcing when making philanthropic decisions—decisions that are often very personal and filled with history, legacy, memories, and hope for the future.”

To earn the designation, Calder completed a three-course curriculum focused on family wealth and philanthropy, charitable giving tax strategies and tools, and gift-planning for nonprofits. Along with a firm grounding in advanced philanthropic vehicles and techniques, the courses cover important interpersonal and relationship-building skills, too. 

According to Calder, both sides of the equation are critical in philanthropic planning. “I always start by asking people about their story and about what they want to change or preserve in the world.”

The material covered in the graduate-level curriculum complements Calder’s expertise in the field. Before joining the Community Foundation in 2017, she spent nearly a decade in development at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, as well as serving various agencies and institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She also serves as president of the Quad City Planned Giving Council.

Calder emphasized that the ultimate beneficiaries of her recent training will be the community at large and the people the Community Foundation works with. “My learnings from the CAP® coursework strengthen both the philanthropic services we offer at the Community Foundation and our place as a trusted resource for community generosity in the region,” she said.