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• 2026-2027 Season Pass

  • Start
    Tuesday, September 15, 2026
  •  
    12:00 AM
  • End
    Friday, October 30, 2026
  •  
    11:30 PM
  • Location
    not applicable

  Register

  VAFRE members can once again purchase a Season Pass to prepay for all of their meetings, either in-person or virtually!

  A Season Pass covers either in-person or virtual registration for all regular meetings from September 2026 through June 2027, including the monthly luncheons and the Awards reception.* 

  The Season Pass allows members the convenience of one annual payment for VAFRE events at a discounted rate:

  • Just $230.00 for in-person - that's $35 less than paying as you register for each event! 
  • Just $75.00 for the virtual option - a discount of $15 off of the pay-as-you-go rates. Those with a virtual season pass will have the option to upgrade to an in-person registration when they wish to do so for a small fee to cover the costs associated with the in-person event.

  Members may also send another staff person in their place if they are unable to attend a meeting (simply contact our offices to register your substitute).

  ADDED BONUS: Season Pass holders may register one guest to attend any one regular monthly meeting (excludes Awards luncheon) at no additional charge. That's an additional savings of $30 for the in-person pass and $13 for the virtual pass!

  *VAFRE reserves the right to charge Season Pass holders for any additional events that may be scheduled.

  Please note: the Season Pass is available to members only. You must be logged in to register for this option.

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• Stewardship: Turning Donor Gifts into Lifelong Relationships - In-Person Event

  • When
    Tuesday, November 10, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Virginia War Memorial
  • Spaces left
    44
  • Registered
    41 registrants

  Register

  Our Program

  Securing a gift is just step one—keeping donors engaged is where long-term impact happens. Join our panel of industry experts as they break down modern donor stewardship strategies, impactful storytelling, and practical retention methods to build lifelong donor relationships.  

  Our Panelists

  Leah Coltrane is the Annual Fund Manager at the Richmond Symphony, where she develops and implements strategic fundraising initiatives that strengthen donor relationships, increase philanthropic support, and enhance the donor experience. A 2022 graduate of Hollins University, Leah began her career in Richmond’s nonprofit sector, gaining experience in nonprofit administration, grant writing, fundraising, and donor relations. Her work reflects a commitment to building meaningful relationships between nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. As a fundraising professional, Leah specializes in translating donor insights into actionable solicitation and stewardship strategies. Her work includes managing targeted, multichannel fundraising campaigns, analyzing giving patterns, and developing segmented outreach initiatives that advance annual fundraising goals, encourage donor retention, and foster long-term philanthropic engagement.

  Jenn Cornell serves as executive director of the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development Foundation. She oversees a team of advancement professionals charged with building lasting philanthropic relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the school. As the daughter and granddaughter of educators, Jenn is humbled to identify new sources of financial support for EHD’s students, faculty, and staff. She joined the EHD Foundation in 2017. She previously ran her own consulting firm, serving a variety of higher ed, nonprofit, for-profit, and government clients. Jenn spent over twenty years in the for-profit business world, in a variety of marketing, operations, and project management leadership roles in Richmond, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. A native of Connecticut, she lives in Westover Hills with her husband, Todd, where they love hiking and biking along the James River. They have three amazing adult children, plus a wonderful daughter-in-law, and a brand new granddaughter.

  

  Amy Smith serves as the Director of Donor Experience at Sportable, a Richmond-based nonprofit that provides sports and recreation opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments. With 10 years of nonprofit development experience, Amy specializes in donor stewardship, engagement, and relationship-building. At Sportable, she leads strategies to strengthen donor retention, deepen relationships, and foster a culture of philanthropy. Her work encompasses annual giving, donor communications, and recurring giving. She is also spearheading the development of donor recognition societies and planned giving initiatives. Amy is passionate about creating thoughtful, personalized donor experiences that extend well beyond the gift acknowledgment. She believes effective stewardship begins with understanding what motivates donors and helping them see the impact of their generosity. Through authentic storytelling, intentional communication, and relationship-building, she works to ensure donors feel valued, connected, and invested in the mission they support. When she's not thinking about donor stewardship, Amy is probably on a pickleball court, spending time with family and friends, or convincing her husband that the view from the summit is worth the climb.

  Our moderator, Robinette Tiller, is the Director of Donor Relations for the Office of Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at Virginia Commonwealth University. Bringing over two decades of expertise in non-profit fundraising and higher education advancement, she leads strategic donor relations across the VCU School of Medicine, VCU Health System, and the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. Throughout her career, Robinette has dedicated herself to cultivating meaningful donor experiences that drive philanthropic investment into healthcare excellence, patient care, and academic research. She is actively involved in professional organizations, having served as past president of VAFRE and as a mentor in VAFRE's Professional Partnership Program. She is also a member and presenter for both VAFRE and the National Association of Cancer Centers Development Offices (NACCDO). In addition to her professional work, she teaches courses on Annual Giving, Direct Mail, and Donor Relations at the University of Richmond's Institute on Philanthropy in the Continuing Education Series. Robinette has also received her CFRE certificiation.

  Our Schedule

  • 11:30 a.m. In-person Registration & Networking begins
  • 12 p.m. Lunch 
  • 12:10 Program begins 
  • 1:30 p.m. Adjourn

  Registration Fees

  • In-person registration is $25 for members  of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Season Pass or $15 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $30 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for members of the Central Virginia Chapter AFP, and $40 for guests. All in-person registrants should select their meal during the registration process.
  • Virtual registration is $10 for members ($0 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $13 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for members of the Central Virginia Chapter AFP, and $20 for nonmembers. The virtual registration fees help support the technology costs associated with offering a hybrid event.

  If you are not a VAFRE member and do not work in the office of a member, consider becoming a member of VAFRE in order to access reduced registration fees.

  Show details
• Stewardship: Turning Donor Gifts into Lifelong Relationships - Virtual Event

  • When
    Tuesday, November 10, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    92
  • Registered
    3 registrants

  Register

  Our Program

  Securing a gift is just step one—keeping donors engaged is where long-term impact happens. Join our panel of industry experts as they break down modern donor stewardship strategies, impactful storytelling, and practical retention methods to build lifelong donor relationships.  

  Our Panelists

  • Leah Coltrane, Richmond Symphony
  • Jenn Cornell, University of Virginia
  • Amy Smith, Sportable
  • Moderator: Robinette Tiller, CFRE, VCU

  Our Schedule

  • 11:30 a.m. In-person Registration & Networking begins
  • 12 p.m. Lunch begins 
  • 12:10 p.m. Program begins
  • 1:30 p.m. Session concludes, Adjourn

  Registration Fees

  • Virtual registration is $10 for members  of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $13 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for Central Virginia Chapter AFP members , and $20 for nonmembers. The virtual registration fees help support the technology costs associated with offering a hybrid event. 
  • In-person registration is $25 for members of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Season Pass or $15 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $30 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for Central Virginia Chapter AFP members , and $40 for guests. All in-person registrants should select their meal during the registration process.

  If you are not a VAFRE member and do nor work in the office of a VAFRE member, consider becoming a member of VAFRE in order to access reduced registration fees.

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• VAFRE Fall Member Social

  • When
    Thursday, November 12, 2026
  •  
    4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Brambly Park, 1708 Belleville Street, RVA 23230
  • Registered
    13 registrants

  Register

  Join us for a VAFRE Member Social!

  The VAFRE Membership Committee invites you to our Fall Member Social on Thursday, November 12th from 4-6 PM at Brambly Park. 

  Come relax and enjoy each other's company at Brambly Park, an urban winery located in the northwest corner of Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood (with outdoor seating and parking available).

  We also invite all participants to participate in idea sharing by bringing 10 copies of any development or marketing collateral from your organization. 

  VAFRE will provide appetizers, as well as several bottles of red and white wine to share at our reserved tables (first come, first served). 

  We hope to see you there! This is a FREE event, but we'd appreciate it if you'd let us know you're coming. Register now!

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• It's Personal: Direct Marketing Principles that Guide Successful Fundraising - In-Person Event

  • When
    Tuesday, December 08, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Virginia War Memorial
  • Spaces left
    89
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  What can fundraisers learn from decades of direct marketing research and practice? Quite a lot. Drawing on her experience as a former Professor of Marketing, her work at EAB engaging students, alumni, and other audiences, and her personal perspective as a volunteer and philanthropist, Pam Royall will explore five principles that translate directly to fundraising: know your audience, prioritize relevance over volume, distinguish personalization from a truly personal relationship, recognize that the ask is only one moment in a much longer relationship, and measure what really matters. The session will consider how insights from marketing and consumer behavior—along with data, segmentation, communications, and emerging technologies such as AI—can help organizations build stronger donor relationships while keeping authentic human connection at the center.

  Pending approval for CFRE credit.

  Our Presenter

  Pamela Kiecker Royall, PhD, Head of Research, Marketing and Enrollment Solutions, EAB.  Pam had 20 years of experience in higher education as a professor, department chair, and researcher prior to joining Royall & Company (now EAB Marketing and Enrollment Solutions). As a consumer behaviorist and statistician, Pam’s considerable experience has allowed her to refine and leverage her ability to ask the right questions to uncover what matters to different market segments.

  Pam leads EAB’s survey research programs. In this role, she has designed and directed more than 500 studies for hundreds of college and university partners. The research programs she leads at EAB provide timely and valuable information to guide both strategic marketing plans and communications campaigns.

  Pam holds a BA degree from Carleton College, an MBA from Minnesota State University, and a PhD in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is a Trustee for Carleton College and Virginia Union University, and an active volunteer and board member for a variety of arts and culture organization.

  Our Schedule

  • 11:30 a.m. In-person Registration & Networking begins
  • 12 p.m. Lunch 
  • 12:10 Program begins 
  • 1:30 p.m. Adjourn

  Registration Fees

  • In-person registration is $25 for members  of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Season Pass or $15 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $30 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for members of the Central Virginia Chapter AFP, and $40 for guests. All in-person registrants should select their meal during the registration process.
  • Virtual registration is $10 for members ($0 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $13 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for members of the Central Virginia Chapter AFP, and $20 for nonmembers. The virtual registration fees help support the technology costs associated with offering a hybrid event.

  If you are not a VAFRE member and do not work in the office of a member, consider becoming a member of VAFRE in order to access reduced registration fees.

  Show details
• It's Personal: Direct Marketing Principles that Guide Successful Fundraising - Virtual Event

  • When
    Tuesday, December 08, 2026
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    95

  What can fundraisers learn from decades of direct marketing research and practice? Quite a lot. Drawing on her experience as a former Professor of Marketing, her work at EAB engaging students, alumni, and other audiences, and her personal perspective as a volunteer and philanthropist, Pam Royall will explore five principles that translate directly to fundraising: know your audience, prioritize relevance over volume, distinguish personalization from a truly personal relationship, recognize that the ask is only one moment in a much longer relationship, and measure what really matters. The session will consider how insights from marketing and consumer behavior—along with data, segmentation, communications, and emerging technologies such as AI—can help organizations build stronger donor relationships while keeping authentic human connection at the center.

  Pending approval for CFRE credit.

  Our Presenter

  Pamela Kiecker Royall, PhD, Head of Research, Marketing and Enrollment Solutions, EAB.  Pam had 20 years of experience in higher education as a professor, department chair, and researcher prior to joining Royall & Company (now EAB Marketing and Enrollment Solutions). As a consumer behaviorist and statistician, Pam’s considerable experience has allowed her to refine and leverage her ability to ask the right questions to uncover what matters to different market segments.

  Pam leads EAB’s survey research programs. In this role, she has designed and directed more than 500 studies for hundreds of college and university partners. The research programs she leads at EAB provide timely and valuable information to guide both strategic marketing plans and communications campaigns.

  Pam holds a BA degree from Carleton College, an MBA from Minnesota State University, and a PhD in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is a Trustee for Carleton College and Virginia Union University, and an active volunteer and board member for a variety of arts and culture organization.

  Our Schedule

  • 11:30 a.m. In-person Registration & Networking begins
  • 12 p.m. Lunch begins 
  • 12:10 p.m. Program begins
  • 1:30 p.m. Session concludes, Adjourn

  Registration Fees

  • Virtual registration is $10 for members  of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $13 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for Central Virginia Chapter AFP members , and $20 for nonmembers. The virtual registration fees help support the technology costs associated with offering a hybrid event. 
  • In-person registration is $25 for members of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Season Pass or $15 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $30 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for Central Virginia Chapter AFP members , and $40 for guests. All in-person registrants should select their meal during the registration process.

  If you are not a VAFRE member and do nor work in the office of a VAFRE member, consider becoming a member of VAFRE in order to access reduced registration fees.

  Show details
• Topic TBA - In-Person Event

  • When
    Tuesday, January 12, 2027
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Virginia War Memorial
  • Spaces left
    90

  Program TBA

  Our Schedule

  • 11:30 a.m. In-person Registration & Networking begins
  • 12 p.m. Lunch 
  • 12:10 Program begins 
  • 1:30 p.m. Adjourn

  Registration Fees

  • In-person registration is $25 for members  of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Season Pass or $15 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $30 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for members of the Central Virginia Chapter AFP, and $40 for guests. All in-person registrants should select their meal during the registration process.
  • Virtual registration is $10 for members ($0 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $13 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for members of the Central Virginia Chapter AFP, and $20 for nonmembers. The virtual registration fees help support the technology costs associated with offering a hybrid event.

  If you are not a VAFRE member and do not work in the office of a member, consider becoming a member of VAFRE in order to access reduced registration fees.

  Show details
• Topic TBA - Virtual Event

  • When
    Tuesday, January 12, 2027
  •  
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom
  • Spaces left
    95

  Topic TBA

  Our Schedule

  • 11:30 a.m. In-person Registration & Networking begins
  • 12 p.m. Lunch begins 
  • 12:10 p.m. Program begins
  • 1:30 p.m. Session concludes, Adjourn

  Registration Fees

  • Virtual registration is $10 for members  of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $13 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for Central Virginia Chapter AFP members , and $20 for nonmembers. The virtual registration fees help support the technology costs associated with offering a hybrid event. 
  • In-person registration is $25 for members of VAFRE ($0 for those with a Season Pass or $15 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $30 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and for Central Virginia Chapter AFP members , and $40 for guests. All in-person registrants should select their meal during the registration process.

  If you are not a VAFRE member and do nor work in the office of a VAFRE member, consider becoming a member of VAFRE in order to access reduced registration fees.

  Show details