AFP WNC

Grow a Better Board: The 3 I’s of Board Engagement
2024-02-14 11:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | AB Tech Ivy Building, 10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
February Professional Development | Grow a Better Board: The 3 I’s of Board Engagement

Nonprofit boards are not realizing their full potential. Engage board members in a way that is mutually fulfilling for both board members and the organization they serve. Doing so can help your organization achieve more and develop advocates deeply committed to lifelong philanthropy. This interactive session will give you a roadmap you can put into practice now—to transform your board AND transform your mission.

Catered lunch will be included with your registration fee. Vegetarian and Gluten Free options will be available.

Presented by Ben Mohler, M.A., CFRE, ACFRE. Ben is the chief executive and principal consultant of GivingThree. Prior to this he served in key advancement roles for Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Eastern Kentucky University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Cedarville University, and University of Texas at Austin. He completed the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota philanthropy and development graduate program and has obtained his CFRE and ACFRE. He has served two full terms as a member of the ACFRE Credentialing Board. He currently serves on the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy Journal Advisory Council and the boards of both AFP Global and United Way of Kentucky.
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2024 Kickoff Social
2024-01-10 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Highland Brewery, 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville, NC, 28803, United States
January Event and Social Gathering

Start the new year networking with your development peers and learn about our 2024 offerings to support you in your work. Afternoon snacks, a drink ticket and door prizes provided! Let’s ring in a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Raffle prizes include various gift cards, French Broad Chocolates and Chocolate Factory Tour, Poppy Popcorn, and a “Golden Ticket” for a year of free AFP WNC programs!
Plus, savor a special small-batch brew made just for AFP WNC!
This is a drop-in style event and your first drink is on us. NA options will be available.

Event venue is located at 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville, NC 28803 and takes place in the Barrel Room, not the main tap room.

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Dogwood Health Trust's 2024 Grantmaking
2023-12-13 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | AB Tech Ivy Building, 10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
December Professional Development | Dogwood Health Trust’s 2024 Grantmaking

Mark Constantine, Dogwood Health Trust’s Senior Vice President of Community Investment, will share an overview of how Dogwood will approach grantmaking in 2024, including a single cycle for Strategic Priority Grant Opportunities, a rolling application process for community and racial equity, policy and advocacy, sustainable organizations, and impact investing, visits to all counties and the Qualla Boundary, the start of their Broadband Initiative, and streamlining their processes to better serve their partners.

Presented by Mark Constantine. Mark joined the Dogwood Health Trust team in April 2023 as Senior Vice President of Community Investment. Prior to joining Dogwood, Mark served as President and CEO of Richmond Memorial Health Foundation (RMHF). He also served as senior vice president at the Jessie Ball duPont Fund in Jacksonville, Florida. He has previously consulted to foundations and national nonprofit organizations on issues related to governance, strategy, and learning for more than a decade, including CFED, Demos, First Nations Development Institute, Ford Foundation, Lilly Endowment, Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Southern Education Foundation. In addition, he served as the assistant executive director of the Kathleen Price Bryan Family Fund and as a senior fellow of the Foundation for the Mid-South. He holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business (Duke University), and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Duke Divinity School.
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October Professional Development: From The Donors
2023-10-18 08:30 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | AB Tech Ivy Building, 10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
October Professional Development | From the Donors: Insight into Motivations, Do’s and Don’ts

How do our donors think about giving? What motivates them? Do they do it for the benefits or for tax reasons?
Come hear directly from a panel of local donors to find out what they look for in an organization to support, what they like and dislike about philanthropy and nonprofit relations, and how you can be a better donor-centric fundraiser. This is your chance for a candid conversation about what you can do better to earn their support!

This event will be in person, upstairs at A-B Tech’s Ivy Building, 10 Genevieve Circle, Asheville.

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September Professional Development: Ethics
2023-09-20 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Lenoir Rhyne University (Asheville), 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
September Professional Development | Navigating Sticky Situations

As fundraising professionals we are committed to ethical practices and work to avoid questionable situations. But sometimes they find us!
Join us this month for a lively group discussion about real world, sticky situations and how your peers have navigated them.
Whether it’s really obvious (you want me to do WHAT?!?) or something you never considered an ethical dilemma (I shouldn’t do THAT when I change jobs?), you need to be equipped with strategies and peers to support you.
Bring your bag lunch and we’ll bring the strategies and peer support. We’ll also provide dessert!
When you register, you will have the opportunity to submit an anonymous ethical question or situation for the group to tackle.

This event will be in person at Lenoir Rhyne’s Asheville campus, 36 Montford Avenue, room 314.

Quantifying Connection: The 5 Evolutions of AI in Philanthropy
2023-08-16 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
August Professional Development | Quantifying Connection: The 5 Evolutions of AI in Philanthropy

The recording of this program is available HERE.
The slides for this program are available for download as PDF HERE.

Nonprofit organizations are facing an ongoing Generosity Crisis as the pool of potential donors continues to shrink. However, advanced technology is the only scalable solution for reversing downward trends in charitable giving. By leveraging AI technologies like machine learning and generative AI like ChatGPT, fundraisers can create efficiencies while prioritizing relationships over revenue and target the best donors with the greatest long-term value.
Join us for an exploration of the five key evolutions of AI and how you can leverage this technology to drive greater impact and engagement.

Presented by Nathan Chappell, MBA, MNA, CFRE
Nathan Chappell has been a thought leader, public speaker, author and inventor, Nathan is one of the world’s foremost experts on the intersection between Artificial Intelligence and philanthropy. Nathan serves as Senior Vice President of DonorSearch AI, where he leads AI deployments for some of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations.
Nathan’s subject matter expertise has been featured in several publications, including Fast Company, University of Notre Dame and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. In 2021, Nathan founded Fundraising.Ai as a member-centric collaboration of nonprofit professionals with a focus on data ethics, data equality, privacy and security, sustainability. Nathan presented the first TEDx on the topic of artificial intelligence and the future of generosity in 2018.
Nathan is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and holds a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from University of Notre Dame, an MBA from University of Redlands, a certificate in International Economics from University of Cambridge and a certificate in Artificial Intelligence from MIT.

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Lemons to Lemonade: Finding Opportunity in Uncertainty
2023-06-21 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | NC
June Professional Development | Lemons to Lemonade: Finding Opportunity in Uncertainty

The slides for this program are available HERE.

The lemons: Cost of living increases, rising interest rates, aging baby boomers. Believe or not, there are giving opportunities that can sweeten the mix. In the spirit of a summer lemonade stand, we’ll stir up a couple of recipes to offer your donors, with variations for bequests, IRA gifts, and charitable gift annuities.

Sheryl Aikman is the principal of Alenda Consulting LLC. She serves a wide range of nonprofit, individual and professional advisor clients, with a focus on major, life income and planned gifts, legacy planning, and personal philanthropic consulting. Sheryl is also an affiliated consultant with Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates and Charitable Solutions LLC. Sheryl led asset development, planned giving, advisor, affiliate and nonprofit fundholder services at The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for over 21 years. She has held volunteer leadership roles for the community foundation field nationally, the North Carolina Planned Giving Council and the Land of Sky Estate Planning Council. For eight years, Sheryl served as a peer reviewer for the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, conducting policy, program and operational accreditation assessments. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College, she attended the University of Bristol (England) on a post-graduate fellowship and holds a masters degree in Management of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University (Ohio). Currently, Sheryl serves on the board of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in Asheville, where she lives with her spouse, teenagers, dogs and chickens.

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The Annual Fund - Unsung Hero of Fundraising
2023-05-17 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
May Professional Development | The Annual Fund – Unsung Hero of Fundraising

A recording of this program is available HERE.
The slides for this program are available for download HERE.
The annual fund is the building block for all fund raising. It can create a base of donors who consistently demonstrate their commitment to the mission of an organization, give those treasured unrestricted gifts and respond to simple but heartfelt solicitations. This program will focus on the practicality and math of a solid and successful annual fund program.

Presented by Kimerly Hinkelman
Kimerly Hinkelman has been a trusted leader, resource and advocate for nonprofit organizations for over 40 years, and applies her diverse leadership experiences to non profit organizations across the country to advance their missions. Her professional experience includes serving at executive-level leadership positions for health systems, hospital foundations, and non-profit agencies. Kim serves as an instructor for non-profit management programs, most recently WNC Non Profit Pathways and Western Carolina University. Kim is currently enjoying her consulting work at several non profits, serves on the Board of Literacy Connection and chairs the Athena Committee with the Chamber of Commerce in Henderson County.
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How to Raise Endowment Funding
2023-04-19 08:30 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | Lenoir Rhyne University (Asheville), 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
April Professional Development | How to Raise Endowment Funding

We all know we need to have a robust and growing endowment for our nonprofit. But, even if we have an endowment fund right now, how can we work in more money for that when we need dollars for more pressing needs? This session answers the following questions:

What exactly is an endowment?
How does it function?
How much does it need to be?
Should it produce income?
What should we spend it on?
Who is in charge of it?
How do we raise it?
Where does endowment fundraising fit in our annual funds, special events, major or capital campaigns, planned giving, and earned income?

Planning on how to handle and augment your endowment affects all avenues of revenue for your organization. In many ways, it is the true “ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM” in your fundraising. Smart and diversified fundraising plans always include careful and intentional planning regarding endowment. Come see how to master this phase of your planning. And you might want to invite your executive director and some board members to join you!

Presented by Alex Comfort, CFRE
Alex Comfort, CFRE is President of Mountain Non-Profit Solutions, a consulting company he formed in 2009 after 23 years as a professional fundraiser. He specializes in
working with all non-profits for sustainability, capital campaigns, major gifts, agency and development audits, planned giving and endowment growth. Additionally, since 2013 he
has taught an acclaimed 4-day, comprehensive Fundraising Boot Camp. With the onset of Covid-19 he has changed his teaching to a personalized, individual focus which also
includes a great deal of agency consulting. He served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Development: Major and Planned Gifts at the University of North Carolina at Asheville for over 11 years. In his thirty-seven years of development experience, he has also been a capital campaign field director for a national firm, Director of Development for Covenant House New Orleans, Vice President of the LSU Medical Center Foundation in New Orleans, and Executive Director of the Cradle of Forestry Interpretation Association in Brevard, NC. He was chosen “Outstanding Fund Raising Executive” twice: first for the AFP chapter of Greater New Orleans in 1995 and then for the western North Carolina AFP chapter in 2010. He has extensive experience as a teacher, speaker and writer about development – related topics. For the last 45 years, he has also been an Episcopal priest, serving both full time and part time in parish work. His capital campaign experience spans his development career, and he has directed 45 successful capital campaigns. His first book, Even a Blind Squirrel Finds an Occasional Acorn: Fundraising Tales from the Front Lines, was published in 2020.
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Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
2023-03-15 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | NC
March Professional Development | Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

This program will take place in-person at Lenoir Rhyne University, 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC 28801. We will meet in Classroom 314. There is free parking in the shared parking lot with the Visitor Center. Please bring yourself a bagged lunch to enjoy during the program!

The slides of this presentation are available for download HERE.

The focus of the presentation is to build a foundation of understanding terminology in which to move an organization forward in its DEIB Initiatives. Terms discussed include Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, Organizational Climate, System Biases, and Privilege, as well as addressing elements of the dominant culture related to creating a sense of belonging for ALL. Strategies are explored related to starting discussions of inclusivity issues within the organizational ecosystem. This is a dynamic discussion you won’t want to miss!

Dr. Joseph Fox is a life-long educator, mentor, and community advocate. He has advocated for
students of a darker hue for more than 30 years in his role as a community college instructor, as
well as his role as a former Department Chair of Business Administration at Asheville-
Buncombe Technical Community College. He is the owner of Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, LLC. He possesses an Ed.D. and an M.B.A. from Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, and a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC. Dr. Fox also possesses the
Professional in Human Resources Management (PHR) National Certification, Global Achieve Leadership Training Certification, and the Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) Certification.

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Why a Gift Acceptance Policy Saves Embarrassment and Reduces Confusion
2023-02-15 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
February Professional Development | Why a Gift Acceptance Policy Saves Embarrassment and Reduces Confusion
The recording of this program is available HERE.
The slides for this program are available for download HERE.

Every not for profit no matter what its size needs a gift acceptance policy.
Why?
To protect you from having to receive gifts you don’t want (are there such things???? Yes!!!) and to ensure the donor is aware of your organization’s values.
Our Zoom session will cover such topics as what are our organizations’ blues? How do I discover them and who codifies them? What is an example of a gift I don’t want? Are there such things as gifts we do prefer?
We will cover “CYA” or OUT clauses that give the organization freedom to accept a restricted gift that can be converted to other uses (How many scholarships for students from the Western Reserve of America who study organ and harpsichord does your organization need???)
And we will discuss the possibility of returning a gift and under what circumstances.

Presented by Annie Fritschner, ACFRE
Annie Fritschner, ACFRE has been president of the WNC AFP Chapter and serves on the AFP Global Foundation Board for America. She has worked in all aspects of fundraising and development and is a super fan of the new generation of professional fundraisers.
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January Professional Development: Prospect Research
2023-01-18 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
January Professional Development | Prospect Research
The recording of this program is available via YouTube HERE.
The slides for this presentation are available for download HERE.
Despite what the big vendors may want you to believe, basic prospect research can be done on a budget of absolutely nothing at all. Prospect research relies on information that is by definition public, and there’s more of it than you might realize! In this session, we’ll go step-by-step through a basic prospect profile template to learn about freely available resources to fill in each area. Bring your Google-fu, your curiosity, and any burning question you’ve ever had about prospect research!

Presented by Rachael Walker
Rachael Dietrich Walker joined the prospect research team at Cornell University in July 2022 after four years as the Director of Prospect Development at Western Carolina University, where she was a shop of one doing a little bit of everything in prospect development, analytics, and database work. She was previously the Director of Prospect Development and Analytics at the UNC System Office, where she built a shared services program to provide prospect research support to the UNC system’s emerging campuses. She holds an MLIS from UNC-Greensboro and a BA from the University of Richmond.
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The Joy of Fundraising from the Perspective of the Executive Director/CEO
2022-12-14 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St., Ste 10, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
December Professional Development | The Joy of Fundraising from the Perspective of the Executive Director/CEO

In this talk, Mark Weinstein will examine the differing roles and motivations of the Executive Director/CEO, the Chief Development Officer, the Board, Development staff and other key players in an organization where fundraising is a significant revenue need. He will address issues involved in the development of fundraising design structure, the use of metrics to measure and motivate, as well as the importance of involving the entire organization in development efforts. Mark will speak about the importance of managing expectations while simultaneously setting stretch goals. How can the ED/CEO overcome the reluctance of board members to fund raise? How can one use current donors to broaden the base? How can the ED/CEO act as the chief fundraiser while fulfilling all the other duties of a CEO? What are the key motivations of various types of donors including individuals, corporations and the varying types of foundations? Mark will also talk about key sales techniques that have worked for him over time as well as his success in integrating capital campaigns, planned giving and annual fundraising. Throughout his talk, Mark will share a few interesting (and short!) stories of fundraising moments he has experienced which illustrate important strategic and tactical fundamentals. In sum, Mark will share his love of fundraising from the perspective of the top leader of a nonprofit.

Presented by Mark Weinstein
Mark is a hands-on leader when it comes to fundraising. Since his arrival at the Brevard Music Center in 2013, annual fundraising has more than doubled, and the number of donors has roughly tripled. Mark’s experience at the Music Center includes two successful capital campaigns, raising millions of dollars to renovate many of the 150 buildings on the campus, restructure the main performance venue, and build new dormitories. Most importantly, the monies raised enabled the Music Center to build a new, state of the art concert hall. With the new Parker Concert Hall, the Music Center has been able to expand programming from its annual Summer Festival to year-round concerts with guest artists from all over the world. Mark also expanded student instruction from mostly classical music to include programs in jazz, classical guitar, bluegrass guitar, and banjo. Ticket sales have consistently set new records.
Over his 40 year career in the performing arts , Mark has served as Executive Director of the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center, General Director of the Pittsburgh Opera, Executive Director of the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, and CEO of the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas. In each of these positions Mark led successful fundraising efforts, working closely with boards and staff. During his career, Mark has partnered with development staff to raise approximately $200 million.
Mark has an MBA from the Harvard Business School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a BA in Political Science from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. His wife, Susanne Marsee, was the leading Mezzo-Soprano soloist at New York City Opera at Lincoln Center for over 20 years.

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Gift Planning Beyond Bequests: Three Big Opportunities
2022-10-19 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St., Ste 10, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
October Professional Development | Gift Planning Beyond Bequests: Three Big Opportunities

The slides from this presentation are available for download HERE.

Ready to ask your donors for more than a bequest in their will? Or at least offer more options
for significant planned gifts? Sheryl Aikman from Alenda Consulting will outline the planned gift
opportunities that can help you move your donors (and your organization) beyond the simple
bequest.

Sheryl Aikman is the principal of Alenda Consulting LLC. She serves a wide range of nonprofit,
individual and professional advisor clients, with a focus on major, life income and planned gifts,
legacy planning, and personal philanthropic consulting. Sheryl is also an affiliated consultant
with Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates and Charitable Solutions LLC.

Sheryl led asset development, planned giving, advisor, affiliate and nonprofit fundholder
services at The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for over 21 years. She has
held volunteer leadership roles for the community foundation field nationally, the North
Carolina Planned Giving Council and the Land of Sky Estate Planning Council. For eight years,
Sheryl served as a peer reviewer for the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations,
conducting policy, program and operational accreditation assessments.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College, she attended the University of Bristol (England)
on a post-graduate fellowship and holds a masters degree in Management of Nonprofit
Organizations from Case Western Reserve University (Ohio). Currently, Sheryl serves on the
board of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in Asheville, where she lives with
her spouse, teenagers, dogs and chickens.

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September Professional Development: Crypto Philanthropy
2022-09-21 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
September Professional Development | Crypto Philanthropy
The recording of this presentation is available HERE.
The slides for this presentation are available HERE.
With the massive surge in valuations over the last few years, cryptocurrency is gaining popularity among a rapidly growing number of investors who hope to cash in on its phenomenal growth. As cryptocurrency assets rise, many investors are opting to donate crypto to reduce their tax burden. In this session, we will:
1. Decode what cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is
2. Discuss why crypto donations matter to your organization
3. Outline steps that will prepare you to accept crypto

We will demystify how crypto philanthropy works and how you can add this important giving tool to your menu of giving options.

Presented by Doug Hartjes
Doug is the founder and President of COR Consulting – a firm that specializes in fundraising counsel, strategic planning and major gift/capital campaigns. Doug has spent the last 20 years of his career in nonprofit leadership and has served in varied roles in the nonprofit sector including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Development Officer, Board Member, Board Chair, Mentor and Consultant. Doug is also the founder of the Foothills Nonprofit Collaborative – a group of nonprofit professionals who meet monthly to address relevant topics and share best practices affecting the nonprofit and fundraising profession. Meetings occur once per month and there is no charge to attend.
Doug is a Certified Fundraising Executive and holds himself and those he works with to the highest ethical and professional standards of nonprofit fundraising and leadership. He is a past chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Charlotte Chapter and served on its board for eight years. Doug is also an accomplished speaker and facilitator who works with boards, leadership and
staff on how to achieve fundraising and nonprofit excellence. His leadership and commitment to the fundraising and nonprofit profession has enabled organizations he has worked with to
not only meet but exceed their growth expectations.
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The Power of YOU: The Art & Science of Self-Renewal
2022-08-17 11:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Red Cross, 100 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC, 28804, United States
August Professional Development | The Power of YOU: The Art & Science of Self-Renewal

Balance and resiliency don’t come from a new app or a better time management system – they come from the inside out. Learn how engaging the power of self-renewal, building a support network and managing your energy can increase your ability to be more creative, energized and resourced in all areas of your life. Passionate about supporting men and women in finding balance through the art/science of self-care, Renée Trudeau will share simple, powerful strategies and science-based tools for feeling more focused, connected and calm no matter how crazy your life is.

Make plans now to join us for an engaging, interactive experience and prepare to walk away with a fresh perspective and renewed clarity about your life and career.

Renée Peterson Trudeau is an internationally-recognized life balance coach, speaker and author. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, national conferences and leadership teams. Trudeau has been facilitating transformational events for more than 25 years. She’s on faculty at the prestigious Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Esalen Institute, 1440 Multiversity, the Art of Living Retreat Center and Omega Institute. A sought-after life balance expert, Trudeau’s work has been featured in The New York Times, US News and World Report, Good Housekeeping, AARP, Spirituality & Health and more. She is the author of two award-winning books on life-balance including The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life. She and her team have certified 400+ women leaders in more than 10 countries to lead self-renewal groups based on her pioneering curriculum. She lives with her husband in Brevard, NC and occasionally Austin, TX. Renee offers national and regional learning opportnities. Find out more at www.ReneeTrudeau.com. NC-based events info can be found at www.ReneeTrudeau.com/WildSouls

Please bring a bagged lunch. This event will be in-person at the Red Cross offices at 100 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. We can’t wait to see you! Advanced registration is required.

When you arrive at the Red Cross building, drive around to the upper parking lot in the back of the building, following signs to the 2nd floor training classroom entrance at the far end of the parking lot. Bring a bag lunch. Water and Iced Tea will be provided.
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Philanthropy Institute 2022
2022-07-14 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, 1 Resort Drive, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
Annual Professional Development Opportunity
Thursday, July 14, 2022, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Save the date for Philanthropy Institute 2022—Thursday, July 14th at the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville.

We anticipate this will be a sell-out event, so hold the date of Thursday, July 14, 2022 and watch the AFP-WNC website for updates, and REGISTER EARLY.

Mandy Pearce, Owner of the Hickory-based Funding for Good will be our Keynote Speaker for a presentation on the timely topic: Leading With Intent: Succession Planning.

For more information, please visit www.afpwnc.org/programs/philanthropy-institute/ or contact Laurel Amabile, Chair, Philanthropy Institute Committee institute@afpwnc.org
*Scholarship funding will be available to registered AFP members. For more information and to apply, check the AFP WNC website after June 1st.

Philanthropy Institute Cancellation Policy
Refunds and/or credits are not available for or applied to Philanthropy Institute or National Philanthropy Day. If payment is ‘pending at the door’ and an attendee is unable to attend, an invoice will be emailed following the program.

Privilege, Power & Philanthropy: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Fundraising World
2022-06-15 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
June Professional Development
Privilege, Power & Philanthropy: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Fundraising World
The recording of this event is available HERE.
The goal of fundraising is to raise money for good causes. In our effort to do “good work”, might we also be causing harm? In presenting Privilege, Power & Philanthropy, Danae Jones Aicher will guide us in thinking more deeply about who we approach for fundraising and how, and how — without an understanding of power and privilege — we might be upholding and maintaining old systems of oppression.

Presented by Danae Jones Aicher
Danaé Jones Aicher is an experienced Equity and Inclusion consultant and facilitator with a gift for creating brave spaces for people to address difficult topics around race within their organizations. A former mass communications professional with a degree in History and more than 20 years of experience in news, politics and public relations, she utilizes all of her experience to help teams understand how racist systems and policies replicate and perpetuate themselves in an ongoing cycle unless they are intentionally interrupted, and guides them through a collaborative process of shifting organizational culture and positioning themselves to be industry leaders with an equitable lens.

Danaé’s career trajectory has taken her from a political journalist to communication and messaging strategist to social/racial justice educator. Her diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work has deep roots in the mountains of western North Carolina, where she began working closely with a variety of organizations as they wrestled with diversifying their organizations and what it meant to maintain diversity. Her clientele has grown to include community groups, churches, a variety of non-profit agencies across the country, as well as for-profit companies seeking to be more culturally competent and responsive.
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The Ethical Imperative: Standing Tall in the Face of Pressure
2022-05-18 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St., Ste 10, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
May Professional Development | The Ethical Imperative: Standing Tall in the Face of Pressure

Join your colleagues on Wednesday, May 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wedge at Foundation for an interactive and insightful gathering centered around ethics. Kirk Swenson, Vice Chancellor at UNC Asheville, will present a framework for ethical decision making that protects our donors, our organizations and our profession. Kirk will share examples of ethical challenges he has faced in his own career and invites members to submit their own for discussion that day. You may choose to submit your ethical challenge anonymously. Examples of challenges or questions you face might include ethical collection and use of data, accurately representing donor and dollar totals, working with donors of declining cognitive ability… or anything you wrestle with. Please help make this important session highly relevant to all of our members by participating in this way.

Drink ticket included with registration. This event will be in-person at the Wedge at Foundation. We can’t wait to see you! Advanced registration is required.

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Getting to Know Dogwood Health Trust - Program and Social Gathering
2022-04-20 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St., Ste 10, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
April Professional Development | Getting to know Dogwood Health Trust

Join your colleagues on Wednesday, April 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Wedge at Foundation for an informative and fun gathering with our friends from the Dogwood Health Trust. Members of the Impact Team at Dogwood will offer brief remarks and answer questions from attendees. We’ll have ample time to interact with our speakers and one another. The event is a chance to reconnect with your AFP colleagues for our first official in-person program in two years. (Drink ticket included with registration.)

This event will be in-person at the Wedge at Foundation. We can’t wait to see you! Advanced registration is required. Space is limited and we expect this event to sell out, so register now.

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Non-profit and Local Government Relationships: A Conversation from Both Sides of the Table
2022-03-16 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Virtual
March Professional Development | Non-profit and Local Government Relationships: A Conversation from Both Sides of the Table

Critical to our success as fund raisers is understanding the dynamics of how non-profits can build better relationships with their local government and elected leaders. Presenter Amanda Edwards is in a unique position serving as a Buncombe County Commissioner and fundraiser simultaneously. Join us for inside tips and a conversation with Amanda about how to strengthen your case for support and build lasting relationships with your local government and elected leaders.

About Amanda Edwards

Amanda Edwards, CFRE, is the Executive Director of College Advancement at A-B Tech. Over the last 20 years, she served as Executive Director of the Asheville-Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Literacy Council of Buncombe County. She was recognized as the AFP-WNC Outstanding Fundraising Executive in 2017.

Amanda is also the vice-chair of Buncombe County Commission and represents District 2. She serves on the Affordable Housing Subcommittee, Department of Health and Human Services Board, Local Emergency Planning Committee, French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Asheville-Buncombe Regional Sports Association Board. Amanda also helped revamp and increase transparency for the County’s non-profit funding process. Amanda holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Tennessee and a B.A. in Mass Communication from UNC-Asheville.

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Directing Development: We Have A Job To Do
2022-02-16 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
February Professional Development | Directing Development: We Have A Job To Do

The recording of this program is available HERE.

Join fundraising leader P. Kevin Williamson for an inspiring presentation on the hard work of leading fundraising and how to focus on what matters most. Do the day-in, day-out tasks of fundraising sometimes distract you from pursuing your strategies? Do you ever wonder if your daily work aligns with good fundraising practice? Kevin will address these questions and more from his years of experience leading fundraising in higher education and nonprofit settings.

About P. Kevin Williamson

In his current role at NC Agricultural & Technical State University, P. Kevin oversees the Major Gifts Team and works to support other constituencies around campus to include academic areas like colleges and nonacademic areas such as centers of excellence, the library, and the band. He has a background in the management of major gifts, annual giving, leadership annual giving, planned giving, parent & family giving and prospect management & research. A native of High Point, NC, P. Kevin was an English major at NC A&T State University. Following graduation from NC A&T, he worked as a District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America for several years until transitioning into Higher Education philanthropy in 2007 where he served as Director of Development for Leadership Gifts at UNC Wilmington. He has since moved around the system having served in other roles at UNC Greensboro, WSSU and back to UNC Wilmington into the role of Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Development. In September 2016, P. Kevin was able to return to his alma mater into his current role at NC A&T. P. Kevin resides in High Point, NC with his wife of 17 years, Tia, their daughters Trinity and Winter, two schnauzers and one Great Dane.

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Mobilizing Your Agency with a Tactical Calendar
2022-01-19 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
January Professional Development | Mobilizing Your Agency with a Tactical Calendar
The recording of this program is available HERE.

Have you ever wished you could improve coordination and collaboration across your organization? What if you could leverage advocates throughout the operation to share key messages and reach your audiences?

Join Jim Brewer for an overview of how to set up a tactical calendar to strategically mobilize different departments and/or locations so that you can share your message and mobilize your donors. The objectives of a tactical calendar are to provide an overall framework for the organization, promote monthly themes, clarify communications and expectations, provide cross support for activities and events, identify and marshal resources and personnel, and maintain momentum.

About Jim Brewer

Jim Brewer is the first Director for Altruism in WNC–at least as far as he knows. He has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He has served in fundraising leadership roles at Winston-Salem State University, UNC Asheville, and Pardee Health; he is currently the Director of Altruism at ABCCM.

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Stewardship Through the Donor Lifecycle
2021-12-15 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
December Professional Development | Stewardship Through the Donor Lifecycle
The recording of this event is available HERE.
Materials for download:
Presentation Slides
Stewardship Matrix (excel sheet)
Generational Differences Chart (PDF)

Donor Stewardship is all about relationships – it starts with a gift and continues on throughout the lifetime of that donor and beyond. How do you develop a plan for this? What will a good plan accomplish? How do you connect with online donors and cultivate them? Join us for an interactive hour to explore donor stewardship and begin to create a plan for your organization. We will explore generational differences, the stages of stewardship and learn from one another.

About Kimerly Hinkelman and Olivia Palmer

Kimerly Hinkelman has been a trusted leader, resource and advocate for nonprofit organizations for over 40 years, and applies her diverse leadership experiences to non profit organizations across the country to advance their missions. Her professional experience includes serving at executive-level leadership positions for health systems, hospital foundations, and non-profit agencies. Kim serves as an instructor for non-profit management programs, most recently WNC Non Profit Pathways and Western Carolina University. Kim is currently enjoying her work with Olivia Palmer at Flat Rock Playhouse in Henderson County, serves on the Board of Blue Ridge Literacy Council and is a member of the Athena Committee with the Chamber of Commerce in Henderson County.
Olivia Palmer is a resource development professional at Flat Rock Playhouse, The State Theater of North Carolina. She began her fundraising career in 2018 at the Playhouse having previously served as the Assistant Box Office Manager as well as a Teaching Artist and Arts Education Administrator. Local to Hendersonville, she began her journey at Flat Rock Playhouse as a student in the arts education program. Today, she is thrilled to play a role in supporting the arts at Flat Rock Playhouse, particularly through volunteer management, board support, grant writing, and annual fund stewardship.

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Social Gathering at Pleb Urban Winery
2021-12-08 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | NC
AFP WNC Social Gathering
Pleb Urban Winery: December 8, 2021 beginning at 5:00 p.m.

AFP WNC is keeping our programming virtual for the moment, but that doesn’t prevent us from meeting up for a social event.

Please join your fellow AFP WNC members at Pleb Urban Winery on Wednesday, December 8th from 5:00-7:00pm. There’s no agenda or program, just a chance to gather with fellow fundraisers before the mad rush of the calendar year end is fully upon us. Pleb is located at 289 Lyman Street in Asheville. We hope to see you there!

Advance registration isn’t required, but please mark your calendars now. Pleb Urban Winery is in the River Arts District (289 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28801). See you soon!

The Ethical Challenges of All Positions in a Fundraising Shop: Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Grant Writer, Planned Giving, Director of Development, Event Specialist (and Consultant)
2021-10-20 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
October Professional Development | The Ethical Challenges of All Positions in a Fundraising Shop: Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Grant Writer, Planned Giving, Director of Development, Event Specialist (and Consultant)

The recording of this session is available HERE.

In this session, Alex Comfort, CFRE, is going to share a true story he has never told publicly – not in his book or in his Fundraising Boot Camp. He says people in his past have told him that the story is “life changing”, and he wants us to tune in and consider it. The session considers the ethical challenges of all positions in a fundraising shop: Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Grant Writer, Planned Giving, Director of Development, Event Specialist (and Consultant). Each has its own ethical emphases, and they all influence each other. Hopefully, we can compare these ethical issues in a fun, interactive session.

About Alex Comfort
Alex Comfort, CFRE is President of Mountain Non-Profit Solutions, a consulting company he formed in 2009 after 23 years as a professional fundraiser. He specializes in working with all non-profits for sustainability, capital campaigns, major gifts, agency and development audits, board development, planned giving and endowment growth. Additionally, over the past eight years he had taught an acclaimed 4 day, comprehensive Fundraising Boot Camp which he teaches at Western Carolina University, Biltmore Park. He served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Development: Major and Planned Gifts at the University of North Carolina at Asheville for over 11 years. His first book, “Even a Blind Squirrel Finds an Occasional Acorn: Fundraising Tales from the Front Lines”, was published in October of 2020 and is available on Amazon.

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The Fundraiser's Guide to Smart Segmentation
2021-09-15 11:30 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
September Professional Development | The Fundraiser’s Guide to Smart Segmentation
The recording of this presentation is available HERE.
In 2021 your organization is a data company. In this presentation we will explore the internal as well as external data insights available to you, which will increase the effectiveness of how you segment your constituents when communicating with them. Creating discrete populations for targeted communications increases response and strengthens relationships.

About Ryan Carpenter
Prior to joining Pursuant Ryan spent time both on the agency side at THD, within a nonprofit at Year Up and offering nonprofit software solutions with Causemo. He has experience and interest in developing innovative strategies that efficiently identify, cultivate and solicit donors and prospects through effective engagement tactics. He has a keen ability to synthesize large data sets and identify the underlying trends and points of importance. Ryan has a proven track record in creating successful cross-channel donor engagement strategies that will deepen donor relationships with organizations and upgrade those with the most capacity and inclination to give. Ryan has always felt most fulfilled working to help causes he cares about exceed their goals to accomplish their missions. Early on he realized that he could help nonprofits by doing something he loved, and they often lacked: Digging into their data and to help them become more efficient and maximize their fundraising potential.

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How The Annual Fund Suppresses Giving And What To Do About It
2021-08-18 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The recording of this event is available HERE.
The slides from this presentation are available for download HERE.
August Professional Development | How The Annual Fund Suppresses Giving And What To Do About It
Don’t miss this very insightful, strategic, and timely topic on the annual fund model and how it, and other fundraising strategies like giving clubs and societies, membership programs and pledge programs and campaigns, if not managed properly, will suppress giving from your best donors.

Richard Perry, Founding Partner of Veritus Group – veritusgroup.com – will lead this interactive session and explore:

How the annual fund and other fundraising strategies suppress giving.
How this suppression dynamic is counter to core donor motivations and inclinations.
Why donors who could give more to your organization don’t do it and steps you can take to correct the situation.
Why most non-profits have so few active major donors and how to correct the situation.
How COVID exposed this suppression dynamic and how progressive non-profits changed their fundraising strategies and secured more net revenue.

When the conversation is about people, their money and giving, you’ll find Richard a deeply caring counselor who helps donors fulfill their passions and interests. Richard believes that successful major-gift fundraising is not fundamentally about securing revenue for good causes. Instead, it is about helping donors express who they are through their giving.

About Richard Perry
Richard Perry is a founding partner of the Veritus Group. Richard has over 40 years’ experience helping nonprofits transform their Major Gift programs. He co-founded The Domain Group, which was one of the largest full-service fundraising consulting agencies serving major national, regional and local nonprofits in the United States. Richard also does management consulting and leadership development and transition, and he has worked with mergers and acquisitions.

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Philanthropy Institute 2021
2021-07-15 11:30 - 13:30 UTC | Virtual
Annual Professional Development Opportunity
Thursday, July 15, 2021, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Eastern Time
Philanthropy Institute 2021 will be a live virtual program with a Keynote Presentation by Vu Le from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM followed by a collegial discussion from 1:00 – 1:30 PM. Cost: $20 APF Members*, $30 non-AFP members. All nonprofit leaders are encouraged to register for this timely and thought-provoking event, so relevant to our work as nonprofit and philanthropic leaders in the communities that we serve. To register and for more information: https://www.afpwnc.org/programs/philanthropy-institute/
*Scholarship funding will be available to registered AFP members. For more information and to apply, check the AFP WNC website after June 1st.
2021 Event Information

Race, Equity, Access, Diversity, Inclusion, and the Future of Nonprofit and Philanthropy
The pandemic, combined with society’s reckoning with systemic racism, highlights the important role that nonprofit and philanthropy play in the world. We have been critical in lifting up families and strengthening communities. At the same time, we still have many things holding us back.
In this thought-provoking presentation Vu, author of NonprofitAF.com, will both affirm and provoke.
All nonprofit leaders are encouraged to register for this timely and thought-provoking event, so relevant to our work as nonprofit and philanthropic leaders in the communities that we serve.

Vu Le (“voo lay”) is a writer, speaker, vegan, Pisces, and the former Executive Director of RVC, a nonprofit in Seattle that promotes social justice by developing leaders of color, strengthening organizations led by communities of color, and fostering collaboration between diverse communities.
Vu’s passion to make the world better, combined with a low score on the Law School Admission Test, drove him into the field of nonprofit work, where he learned that we should take the work seriously, but not ourselves.
Known for his no-BS approach, irreverent sense of humor, and love of unicorns, Vu has been featured in dozens, if not hundreds, of his own blog posts at NonprofitAF.com.

To provide context for this presentation and Vu‘s dynamic and provocative approach to the sector’s work, we recommend checking out these links in advance of Philanthropy Institute:

Are You Guilty of Equity Offset?
White Supremacy and the Problem with Centering Donors Interests and Emotions
Star Trek and the Future of the Nonprofit Sector
Philanthropy and the Destructive Illusion of Leveling the Playing Field
21 Signs You or Your Organization May Be The White Moderate Dr. King Warned About

For more information, contact Laurel Amabile, Chair, Philanthropy Institute Committee institute@afpwnc.org
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Philanthropy Institute Cancellation Policy
Refunds and/or credits are not available for or applied to Philanthropy Institute or National Philanthropy Day. If payment is ‘pending at the door’ and an attendee is unable to attend, an invoice will be emailed following the program.

Social Gathering at Pleb Urban Winery
2021-06-23 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | NC
AFP WNC Social Gathering
Pleb Urban Winery: June 23, 2021 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

It’s been far too long since we’ve been together, and connecting with one another is one of the best parts of AFP!

Join your AFP colleagues for our first in-person gathering since the pandemic began. Pleb has set aside a few tables for us. Buy a beverage, catch up with your colleagues, and browse the offerings at the weekly local farmers market.

Advance registration isn’t required, but please mark your calendars now. Pleb Urban Winery is in the River Arts District (289 Lyman Street, Asheville, NC 28801). See you there!
