Staff Reports | Community Updates
Torrie A. Taj, chief executive officer of Child Crisis Arizona, has been named the 2026 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Global.
The Outstanding Fundraising Professional award is the organization’s highest honor, recognizing leadership in fundraising effectiveness, ethics and professional standards within the sector, according to a press release.
Ms. Taj will receive the award at AFP ICON 2026, the association’s annual conference, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26 in San Diego.
“I am deeply honored to receive this global recognition award from AFP,” Ms. Taj said.
“As I approach three decades of membership, I am reminded how profoundly my leadership journey has been shaped by volunteer service at the chapter level and by the learning, relationships, and inspiration found through our conferences. It has also been shaped by an extraordinary group of volunteers, donors, and colleagues whose optimism, integrity, and dedication truly make the world a better place.”
For more than 30 years, Ms. Taj has worked in Arizona’s nonprofit sector. During her 23‑year tenure at A New Leaf, she advanced from direct service roles to deputy chief executive officer, where she led capital campaigns, secured low‑income housing tax credit funding, expanded housing and shelter capacity and supported growth in the organization’s annual budget.
Since 2015, Ms. Taj has served as chief executive officer of Child Crisis Arizona. During that time, the organization’s operating budget increased from $15 million to $43 million, and philanthropic revenue grew from $5.5 million to $22 million, allowing the organization to expand services to approximately 40,000 individuals annually.
Ms. Taj also led the $25 million Fostering Bright Futures Campaign, which resulted in the development of the Center for Child & Family Wellness, a net‑zero campus that brings together more than 25 nonprofit partners to provide integrated services for children and families.
“Torrie Taj exemplifies the bold, innovative leadership our sector needs,” Mr. Taylor, president and chief executive officer of AFP, said.
“What makes Torrie truly stand out is her extraordinary commitment to reimagining what fundraising can and should be. She embraces innovation not as a luxury, but as a necessity. She challenges outdated narratives like the ‘overhead myth’ and instead champions investment in infrastructure, staff development, and long‑term financial reserves. Her abundance mindset — her belief that nonprofits should be driven by vision rather than scarcity — has transformed organizations and lives. Torrie’s work is a model for the future of fundraising, and AFP is proud to honor her with this year’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award.”
