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Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives

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VAFRE E-news, December 2024

Thank you to our Newsletter Sponsor!


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Submit Your Proposal!

You are invited to propose a program for VAFRE’s monthly luncheon sessions. Luncheons are held in person in Richmond, with a hybrid option. Submissions are open to the public, regardless of membership status, and will be accepted on a rolling basis.

VAFRE’s mission is to equip fundraising professionals with the expertise, strategies, and networks to deliver lasting impact for an inclusive philanthropic community. Our goal for monthly meetings is to provide innovative and relevant programming that will appeal to members across all experience levels and fundraising disciplines. VAFRE is committed to becoming a more equitable organization by supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access initiatives.

In accordance with VAFRE’s values, we are offering an honorarium for all luncheon speakers. This policy is to ensure we continue to select a diverse array of speakers and avoid any bias or discrimination that favors presenters from more privileged backgrounds. We believe presenters should be compensated equally, regardless of their position, personal traits or prominence.

For complete details and to submit a proposal, click here

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Thanks to our P3 Sponsors



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Do You Need CFRE Credit?

Check out the recordings of our recent programs on the Members Only page of the website. Login now to view the virtual versions of our programs: from Giving Black to Demystifying Giving Circles, Using Data to Drive Campaign Success to Grant Writing with ChatGPT, it's all there for VAFRE members to take advantage of.

Welcome New (& Returning) Members!

  • Megan Lopez, Tuckahoe Montessori School
  • Julia Ratliff, Medical Society of Virginia Foundation

                  Log in to the Member Directory to access contact information for these and all members.

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                  Not a VAFRE Member?

                  Join Now

                  Quarterly payment options and
                  scholarships available.

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                  There's Still Time!!

                  Join us TOMORROW, December 12, from 8 to 9 a.m. in Charlottesville.

                  Join VAFRE for an informal Mix & Mingle on Thursday, December 12th from 8-9 a.m. at Guajiros Miami Eatery in Charlottesville. Grab a drink and come mingle with other fundraising professionals in our community. We love meeting new people so feel free to bring a friend!

                  Come sip on a cup of cafecito (or tea) and enjoy a morning of networking and building connections. This is a free event, but please RSVP so we know how many to expect. Can't wait to see you there!

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                  Need Help with Your Dues?

                  The Susan Early Scholarship Fund is available to new and renewing VAFRE members to cover the cost of your dues. To apply for a scholarship, follow the link in the member application or, for current members, follow the link on the Members Only page.

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                  Link Up with VAFRE on LINKEDIN

                  VAFRE has a Company page on LinkedIn: check it out to see what's happening with VAFRE

                  Also, members can join our LinkedIn group page and post items of interest to other members.

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                  VAFRE is proud to be a participating organization with CFRE International. Members receive a 20% discount on certification and recertification. 

                  Letter from the President

                  Dear Friends and Colleagues,

                  What a year! Thank you all so much for being the heartbeat of VAFRE. Between our new and returning members, the lively conversations taking place before and after our programs, and the shared experiences discovered during socials, the sense of belonging I feel within our community is one that I hope you are feeling, too.

                  We are delighted to welcome Nicole Thomas as our next program speaker. She will be sharing her timely presentation, Self-care for Fundraisers, during VAFRE’s luncheon in January. We hope you’ll be able to join us on Tuesday, January 7th as we learn about taking an active role in protecting our well-being and happiness. A great way to kick off the new year!

                  And speaking of happiness, VAFRE will be hosting a Mix & Mingle at Guajiros Miami Eatery in Charlottesville on Thursday, December 12th. Members and nonmembers are invited to come network with other fundraisers in the Charlottesville area at this free morning event!

                  Lastly, I’m excited to share that nominations are opening next week for VAFRE’s Awards! You can read more about them below, and then give some thought to who you would like to nominate. All awards are open to members of VAFRE and the Central Virginia Chapter of AFP. (Just make sure you submit your nominations by January 31st!)

                  Thank you again for being such a vital part of VAFRE. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you in 2025!

                  Samantha Charlet
                  VAFRE President

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                  January Program: Health & Well-being for Fundraisers 

                  Kickstart your year with a commitment to your health and wellness - critical pillars of success in both fundraising and personal resilience. Join us on January 7th as we welcome Nicole Thomas, Contemplative Commons Director for the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA, for an empowering session that will help you take charge of your well-being and develop actionable strategies to make lasting, positive changes in the areas that matter most to you. Together, we'll explore the unique challenges that fundraisers face in maintaining wellness, including stress and burnout, and uncover effective ways to overcome them. By cultivating mindful awareness, you can improve your mood, enhance your relationships, and boost your overall agency. Don't wait - take the first step toward a healthier, more balanced you in 2025!

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                  New Award Categories Developed for VAFRE

                  In 2025, VAFRE will add three categories to its annual awards celebration of the fundraising profession. The new awards were developed in response to the goals of our strategic plan and will complement the existing Nina Abady and Rising Star Awards. VAFRE will award a complimentary one-year membership to each of the 5 honorees.

                  AWARD CATEGORIES

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

                  Criteria and application information will be available next week. VAFRE will accept nominations December 16 through January 31, 2025. A reminder: we celebrate the development profession with our partners in AFP-Central Virginia: members of both organizations are eligible to receive the awards, and the awards committee is composed of members of both organizations.

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                  Submit a Proposal for VFRI 2025

                  The 33rd Annual Virginia Fund Raising Institute Conference will take place July 23-25, 2025 at The Williamsburg Lodge Hotel adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg.  The Program Committee invites interested individuals to submit proposals for the 35 workshop sessions that will be offered. Individuals should submit no more than two (2) proposals each. Complete details and guidelines are available by accessing the RFP. RFPs are due by Friday, January 17.

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