Our Program

Come plant spring seeds for harvesting future success by joining VAFRE for an informal conversation with four VAFRE Past Presidents. Learn from their over 115 years of experience as they tackle hard to handle ethical questions, provide professional tips, and share insightful lessons learned to help make your work successful.

Our Panel

Magnus Johnsson, CFRE, 2004-2005 VAFRE President,  is senior associate vice president of presidential and university philanthropy at VCU. In this role, Magnus oversees VCU's efforts in principal giving, presidential donor engagement, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, leadership annual giving, and regional major gifts. Johnsson brings 30 years of fundraising experience and has served in volunteer leadership roles as past president of the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives (VAFRE) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Central Virginia Chapter. First joining VCU in 2007 as executive director of external relations and development in the School of Education his previous work experience includes senior leadership roles at UMFS and the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg. He received his credential in 2004 as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Magnus is also a member of the 2015 class of Leadership Metro Richmond. Magnus holds an M.P.A. with a focus in nonprofit management from Virginia Commonwealth University and a B.S. in public administration from James Madison University. 

David Thomason, 2013-2014 VAFRE President, is President of Special Olympics Virginia, where he has enjoyed a thirty-six-year career. An alumnus of The College of William and Mary, he has committed his career to non-profit organizations—first as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco, and then at the American Heart Association prior to his work—and multiple roles-- at Special Olympics Virginia.  Thomason is a Past President of Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives (VAFRE), and its 2020 recipient of their highest honor, the Nina Abady Award.  His other board service includes The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Advisory Board for University of Richmond’s Institute on Philanthropy, and the Advisory Board of Blue Trunk Foundation. When not working, David enjoys music, biking, hiking and traveling—especially when it involves time with his two adult sons.

Robinette Tiller, CFRE, 2020-2021 VAFRE President, is VCU Massey Cancer Center’s Associate Director of Annual Giving.  She brings over 18 years of experience working in the field of higher education and non-profit fundraising. She directs and manages all aspects of the Massey Comphrensive Cancer Center direct response program, focused on direct mail and digital mail.  She directs and manages all aspects of the Massey Club (leadership annual giving donor society) including the recruitment, management, and engagement with the Massey Club Volunteer Solicitor Program with 17 current and past volunteer board members. She develops and manages annual giving stewardship and cultivation strategy for the annual giving team. She developed and manage the acknowledgment process for the Office of Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at VCU.  She is the past president of VAFRE 2020 - 2021, Past Mentor in VAFRE P3 (Professional Partnership Progam) 2021 - 2023. VAFRE and NACCDO (National Assoiation of Cancer Centers Development Officers) member and presenter.
 
Moderator: Suzanne Madison Hogg, 2003-2004 VAFRE President, is the founder of DSG Consulting. Suzanne brings over 30 years of diverse experience to bear on her work with nonprofit organizations. Her career began in the private wealth management division of a large regional bank and later grew to encompass both sales and administration. In the early 90’s she accepted an opportunity to serve her alma mater as Director of Alumni Affairs. There she discovered the power of applying customer service, relationship sales, and project management skills to the work of development. With her deep experience as both a development officer and a consultant, she has a broad perspective, understands how to apply best practices within a tremendous range of organization types and sizes, and grounds her counsel in attention to capacity. She leads with the “science” of development in conviction that the “art” of development can be best applied through a structured process. Her nonprofit clients and staff positions have included: The Faison Center (Richmond, VA), LIFT- UP (Rifle, CO), Salem Academy and College (Winston-Salem, NC), Forman Christian College (Lahore, Pakistan), and the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home (Washington, DC). Her corporate clients have included: Omega Performance (Arlington, VA), Bank of Bermuda (Hamilton, Bermuda), SAGE North America (Irvine, CA/Vancouver, BC), Wells Fargo (Charlotte, NC), and JP Morgan Chase (NYC, NY).

Our Schedule

• 11:30 a.m. In-person Registration & Networking begins
• 11:45 a.m. Virtual participants may login
• 12 p.m. Lunch
• 12:10 p.m. Program begins
• 1:30 p.m. Adjourn

Registration Fees

• Virtual registration is $8 for members ($0 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $11 for nonmembers who work at a member organization and $15 for nonmembers. The virtual registration fees help support the technology costs associated with offering a hybrid event. 
• In-person registration is $20 for members ($0 for those with a Season Pass or $12 for those with a Virtual Season Pass), $25 for nonmembers who work at a member organization, and $30 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.