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 year at beloved local breweries, including 12 Bones Brewing, River Arts District Brewing, White Labs Brewing, Highland Brewing, The Mule at Devil’s Foot Brewing, and Appalachian Mountain Brewing — offering not just great conversation but opportunities to learn from peers, explore timely topics in fundraising, and build lasting connections across the nonprofit sector.

Whether it was summer evenings discussing trends or fall check-ins around pressing fundraising challenges, these socials brought our community together in meaningful ways that went beyond traditional networking. Each Crafted Conversation reaffirmed that fundraising is about relationships first — and that when we gather as colleagues, we grow stronger together.

Professional Development Luncheons: Learning from the Best

In 2025, AFP WNC continued our tradition of professional development luncheons, featuring top experts in fundraising and philanthropy. We heard from:

• Rochelle Jerry, CFRM, a member of the AFP Global board of directors and current IDEA Chair
• Tracey Greene-Washington, Founder of CoThinkk, President of Indigo Innovation Group, TedX Spreaker, and Award-Winning Author of “Choosing Purposeful Alignment”
• Holland Dunn, Senior Vice President and Philanthropic Strategist with Bank of America Philanthropy
• Taylor Wilson, CEO and founder of Creative Shizzle, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and certified Business Made Simple and Storybrand coach
• Erica Waasdorp, expert fundraiser, author and AFP Master Trainer

These sessions offered practical tools, strategic insights, and peer learning tailored to both emerging and seasoned fundraisers. The thoughtful programming helped members sharpen skills, refine messaging, and take home actionable strategies to elevate their work.

From trends in donor engagement to evolving best practices, these luncheons served as anchor points in our chapter calendar — moments to gather, reflect, and grow professionally alongside the people doing this work every day.

A Milestone Gathering: The 2025 Philanthropy Summit

Perhaps our most ambitious event of the year was the 2025 AFPWNC Philanthropy Summit, held November 12 at the A-B Tech Conference Center in Asheville. This year’s Summit blended our National Philanthropy Day Awards Celebration with the professional development previously known as the Philanthropy Institute — creating a full-day experience celebrating generosity while offering robust training and dialogue for nonprofit professionals. 

The day began with an elegant breakfast, keynote with Jonathan Pritchard, business strategist and mentalist, and the presentation of the:

• Summit Award to Alex Comfort;
• Outstanding Nonprofit Leader Award to Margarita Yanes (Centro Unido Latino Americano);
• Oustanding Philathropist Award to Ellen Carr, and
• Outstanding Fundraiser Award to Becky Davis, CFRE (Community Foundation of WNC)

The morning was followed by breakout workshops, a networking lunch, an inspiring keynote from Tracey Greene-Washington, and engaging panels featuring local foundations and funders. This inclusive event brought together fundraisers, board members, volunteers, donors, and community leaders from across Western North Carolina to honor philanthropy’s power and challenge attendees to grow their influence in service of the common good. 

Responding to Our Region: Nonprofits After Helene

In 2025, AFP WNC also stepped into a critical field-building and advocacy role following Hurricane Helene. Recognizing the urgent need for accurate, on-the-ground information, we conducted a post-Helene survey of Western North Carolina nonprofits, with more than 60 organizations responding across subsectors and geographies.

The resulting data was synthesized into an infographic white paper designed to inform regional funders, community leaders, and local officials about the real and ongoing impacts nonprofits were experiencing—from operational disruptions to increased service demand and fundraising challenges. By lifting up the voices of nonprofits closest to the work, AFP WNC helped ensure that recovery conversations were grounded in lived experience and local reality.

This effort reinforced our commitment to strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem—not just individual organizations—by serving as a trusted connector between nonprofits, philanthropy, and decision-makers during a pivotal moment for our region.

Expanding Access & Reducing Barriers Through Equity-Centered Programming

Throughout the year, AFP WNC deepened its commitment to IDEA (inclusion diversity, equity, and access) through a Dogwood Health Trust–funded initiative focused on reducing barriers to professional development and institutional knowledge. As part of this work, we engaged grassroots and BIPOC-led nonprofits across Western North Carolina in no-cost programming designed to increase access to fundraising education, peer networks, and the broader philanthropy ecosystem.

This initiative recognized that many organizations—particularly those led by and serving historically marginalized communities—are often excluded from traditional fundraising spaces due to cost, capacity, or institutional access barriers. By intentionally removing those barriers, AFP WNC helped create pathways for connection, learning, and relationship-building that are essential to long-term nonprofit sustainability.

We also invested in local BIPOC-owneded businesses, intentionally curating events with caterers, presenters, photographers, and more. This work reflects our belief that a stronger fundraising profession requires a more inclusive and accessible ecosystem, where knowledge is shared generously and leadership is cultivated across communities.

Looking Forward With Gratitude

Every workshop attended, conversation shared, and connection made this year contributed to a growing culture of mutual support and professional excellence among fundraisers in Western North Carolina. 2025 reminded us that when we learn together and stand together, our impact multiplies.

To everyone who joined us at events, engaged in discussion, shared expertise, and supported AFP WNC’s mission — thank you. Your dedication makes this community vibrant, resilient, and forward-looking.

Stay tuned for what’s in store for 2026 — with plans that continue to deepen our community of practice, strengthen partnerships, and foster professional growth across the region. Here’s to another year of learning, connecting, and advancing philanthropy together.

Sincerely,

Jess McLean
President, AFP Western North Carolina Chapter