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• Annual Awards Presentation and Reception

  • When
    Tuesday, May 06, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Robins Auditorium at St. Joseph's Villa, 8000 Brook Road, Richmond 23227
  • Spaces left
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  • Registered
    70 registrants

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  Join VAFRE on the afternoon of May 6th as we honor our 2025 Award Winners during a reception at the Robins Auditorium on the Campus of St. Joseph's Villa.

  (For Sponsor registrations, which include 10 tickets for the event, click here)

  Nina Abady Award

  Lynne Berkness serves as the Chief Advancement Officer at Liberation Veteran Services. She has been working in nonprofit fundraising for more almost 30 years. Lynne’s previous fundraising roles include VP Philanthropy at Boys & Girls Clubs, Founding Director of Advancement at Cristo Rey Richmond High School, Director of Development at Northstar Academy, and Director of Planned Giving and Stewardship at Collegiate School. Lynne is a past president of Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives and served on the board for seven years. Before her work in nonprofit fundraising, Lynne supported air quality efforts as an Environmental Specialist at Dominion Power. Lynne serves on the Board of the UVA Club of Richmond and is also a member of the Academic Excellence Committee at Cristo Rey.

  She is a Richmond native and a graduate of Collegiate School and The University of Virginia (BA - Environmental Sciences). Lynne and her husband Peter Tlusty have two grown children, Meg and Russell Timmons, and two adopted greyhounds. She is a breast cancer survivor and enjoys long walks, Sports from A-Z, reading, making angel artworks, playing the piano, Bible studies and, of course, family time.

  Rising Star Award

  Margaret Dodson-Cordrey practices ethical fundraising in Richmond, VA, with over 8 years in non-profits focused on empowering women and girls and creating community. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 2017 and worked in her alma mater’s alumni office for 4 years. She moved to YWCA Richmond then Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has been with Girl Scouts for 1 year. Her passion for DEIRJ work is especially evident this year, knowing that advocating for and fundraising to build a better world is essential, now more than ever.

  Margaret is on the Board of Directors for the Poe Museum and on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium committee for YMCA of Greater Richmond. Finally, she is a talented fiber artist and works weekends at Center of the Yarniverse in Ashland, VA. Her deepest loves are her wife Kelsey, their dogs Phoebe and Gracie, knitting, and spending time with her loved ones talking and planning how to make a brighter future for all.

  Innovation in Fundraising Award

  Stephanie Glenn (she/her) is committed to fostering meaningful relationships between investors and entrepreneurs that share a vision of positive social impact and sustainable growth. At RUNWAY, she is passionate about creating pathways for investors to connect with entrepreneurs who are reshaping industries and driving positive change in their communities.  With a background in nonprofit development and foundation/corporate partnerships, Stephanie's career has been dedicated to creating strategies that support mission-driven leaders by raising vital funding and resources, supporting high-impact ventures and helping build more thriving communities.

  Stephanie holds a degree in Business Administration from Wilberforce University and Master of Public Administration at Wright State University.  She has over 10 years of experience in investor relations, fundraising, and development. She has also volunteered as a mentor for early-stage fundraising professionals  and served on various boards of organizations that focus on economic empowerment and innovation.  Stephanie is currently on the board of VAFRE serving as Treasurer. She’s a sought-after national expert and speaker, renowned for her insights on partnerships, community impact, and philanthropy. Stephanie was honored in 2023 as a Money Moves award winner by RichmondHer, recognizing her leadership and impact in philanthropy and community investment. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys exploring the outdoors, attending local art exhibits, and organizing community events. She’s also passionate about travel and enjoys learning about different cultures and perspectives. 

  Leadership in Philanthropy Award

  Nadia Gooray (she/her) has worked in wellness spaces, nonprofits, and social justice movements for 20 years as a community builder, nonprofit leader, and now as a coach. What fuels her work is a dedication to building relationships, centering justice, and working alongside others to build the tools for personal and collective healing. In her former roles as the Executive Director of Project Yoga Richmond and Director of Equity and External Affairs at YWCA Richmond, Nadia led initiatives focused on racial and gender justice, community engagement, nonprofit operational growth and management, and strategic planning.

  Nadia is currently participating in the Liberatory Coaching Certification Program, which is tailored for BIPOC social justice movement leaders who are committed to developing skills for individual and collective liberation.  Nadia offers coaching support to organizational leaders and teams looking to align values and embed a holistic anti-oppression framework into their organizational practices and team culture.  She deploys a collaborative, asset-based approach to support and develop people, teams, and strategic projects. She can be reached through her LinkedIn.

  Nicole Jones is a people-first cultivator with a proven record of creating safe spaces and structural change for justice. Her steadfast presence, commitment to self and community love, compassion, and respect show up in her work across the greater Richmond region, particularly in her role as Deputy Director of ART 180.

  As Deputy Director, Nicole is responsible for donor development and retention, special events, programs incorporating Restorative Justice practices, and operations management. Her resilience and leadership stem from her core belief that lived experiences can drive action and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion practices in fundraising.

  Nonprofit Excellence in Philanthropy Award

  Founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC), a private, non-profit organization, is the oldest museum and cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the United States. The museum cares for a renowned collection of more than nine million items representing the far-reaching story of Virginia.

  OUR SCHEDULE

  • 4:00 p.m. Reception Begins
  • 4:30 p.m. Awards Presentation Begin
  • 6:00 p.m. Awards Presentation Concludes

  Cost to attend

  • $35 for Members (no additional fee for Season Pass holders, $20 for Virtual Season Pass holders)
  • $40 for Member Organizations
  • $45 for Nonmembers

  SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

  To ensure that VAFRE membership is accessible to, and truly reflective of, Richmond's diverse fundraising community, we are offering scholarships so that individuals may join VAFRE regardless of their financial ability or the financial ability of the nonprofits for which they work. If you would like to make a gift of any size to support scholarships for VAFRE memberships, please select the "Make a donation" button when you register for this event, and we will gratefully apply your donation to the Susan Early Scholarship Fund*.  

  Questions?

  Contact VAFRE Administrator Mary Kidd at (804) 368-3398 or by e-mail to admin@vafre.org.

  *This donation is not tax deductible.

  
  

  Show details
• Sponsorship of the Annual Awards Reception

  • When
    Tuesday, May 06, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Robins Auditorium at St. Joseph's Villa, 8000 Brook Road, Richmond 23227

  

  Each spring VAFRE holds a special event to recognize excellence in philanthropy. This year, there will be five awards given out:

  • The Nina Abady Award recognizes lifetime achievement in fundraising,
  • The Rising Star Award recognizes a member who has demonstrated remarkable talents at an early stage in their fundraising career,
  • The Innovation in Fundraising Award recognizes a development professional, consultant, or team who demonstrates outstanding accomplishment in fundraising strategy in the previous year,
  • The Leadership in Philanthropy Award recognizes a development professional, consultant, or team who demonstrated a commitment to the future and sustainability of the profession in the previous year, and
  • The Nonprofit Excellence in Philanthropy Award recognizes a nonprofit for extraordinary accomplishment in fundraising in the previous year

  The following sponsorship levels are available for the reception, which will be held on May 6th at the Robins Auditorium at St. Joseph's Villa. (For individual reception tickets, click here.)

  Presenting Sponsor (Sold)

  • $1,500.00

  • Publicity on VAFRE website and in e-mails including organization logo and link

  • Logo on promotional materials

  • Prominent signage at the event

  • Recognition in press release

  • Recognition in all advertising for the event

  • Recognition in event program

  • Recognition from podium by event host

  • PowerPoint slide at the event
  • Opportunity to address audience during program (2 minutes) 
  • Ten tickets to the event

  Gold Sponsor (sold)

  • $1,200.00

  • Recognition in event program

  • Recognition from podium by event host

  • PowerPoint slide at the event

  • Ten tickets to the event

  • Opportunity to address audience briefly during the program 

  Silver Sponsor (2 Available) 

  • $900.00

  • Recognition in event program

  • Recognition from podium by event host

  • PowerPoint slide at the event

  • Ten tickets to the event

  • Opportunity to address audience briefly during reception

  Bronze Sponsor (2 available)

  • $600.00

  • Recognition in event program

  • Recognition from podium by event host

  • Ten tickets to the event

  

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