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As the new year kicks off, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey that 2025 has been for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Western North Carolina (AFP WNC). From vibrant networking to deep learning, community celebration to professional development, this year was full of meaningful connection and impact for fundraisers across our region. Crafted Conversations: Connection, Community, and Collaboration One of the highlights of our year was the continued success of Crafted Conversations, our casual networking socials designed for fundraisers to gather, share experiences, and support one another in a relaxed setting. These events were hosted throughout the [...]

This is my final blog post as President of this chapter, and I honestly can’t believe how quickly two years have passed. (Is this what everyone meant when I was younger and they warned me time would speed up?!). When I first started attending AFP programs back in 2012 - still cutting my teeth on fundraising - I barely knew anyone. I felt out of my element and unsure of my place. Two years later, I joined the Philanthropy Institute planning committee, and the rest is history! I am so glad I took that first step and got involved with AFP. [...]

Aha! Moments and Messaging In September, I presented about resilience and recovery after Helene at the Association of Zoos & Aquarium’s international conference in Tampa, Florida. Conferences are a treasure-trove of great ideas, like-minded people, and new perspectives. I had so many aha! moments about fundraising, membership, marketing, conservation, and climate change. One of my aha! moments was during a session I attended about toxic positivity and climate change messaging. Here’s the history: 1960s–70s “doom and gloom” era This was the early Earth Day generation. The messaging emphasized catastrophic outcomes like pollution poisoning communities, population growth overwhelming resources, species extinctions, and [...]