Menu
Log in


Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives

Log in
VAFRE E-news, October 2023

Are You in the Charlottesville Area?


Interested in networking with your peers? Join VAFRE for an informal Mix & Mingle on Thursday, November 2nd from 8-9 a.m. at The Bradbury in Charlottesville. Grab a drink and come mingle with other fundraising professionals in our community. Plus, we love meeting new people so feel free to bring a friend! Click here to register for this free event. 

Thank you to our Newsletter Sponsor!


___________________

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.



Thanks to our P3 Sponsors



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. For complete details and to submit a proposal, click here.

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.


Welcome New (& Returning) Members!

  • Grant Brewer
  • Jessica Cocciolone, Shenandoah National Park Trust
  • Angela Harrison, Rusted Magnolia Farms Business Solution
  • Bernadette O'Shea, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Susan Rockwell, Science Museum of Virginia
  • Blair Smith, UVA, Virginia College Advising Corps
  • Emily Weinstein, First Tee - Greater Richmond

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

            ______________

            Not a VAFRE Member?

            Join Now

            Quarterly payment options and
            scholarships available.

            ______________

            VAFRE Member Becomes Certified Fundraising Executive

            We are proud to announce that VAFRE member Linda Wilkinson recently became a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

            Linda joins more than 7,700 fundraising professionals from 25 countries who currently hold the designation. The CFRE is the only globally recognized accredited credential for fundraising professionals.

            To become a CFRE, candidates must meet requirements for time in the profession, funds raised, and participation in education. Then, candidates must pass a 200-question exam that evaluates their knowledge of fundraising best practices.

            Becoming a CFRE is a true professional milestone. We applaud Linda for this incredible achievement!

            January 20, 2024, is the next CFRE application deadline.

            Learn more about the CFRE credential at cfre.org.

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

            AFP Announces National Philanthropy Day Honorees

            AFP Central Virginia has announced their 2023 NPD Honorees:

            • Enduring Spirit of Philanthropy Award, Burt Pinnock, FAIA, NOMA, nominated by Storefront for Community Design 
            • Outstanding Organizational Partner Award, RiverFront Investment Group, nominated by The Doorways 
            • Volunteer Impact Award, Suzanne T. Long, nominated by ACTS 

            Click here for complete details or to register for the November 9th program.

            Program Recordings Available to Members

            If you've been looking for a few credits of continuing education, be sure to check out the VAFRE website for recordings of all of our webinars. Members simply need to log-in to access the Program Recordings and Handouts page of the website, where all of our programs are available to view on-demand.


            From the President

            Dear Friends and Colleagues,

            It’s almost the busy season! But then again, is there such a thing as a slow season anymore? Not just at work, at VAFRE too! There are a lot of amazing programs coming up we hope you’ll be a part of.

            This Thursday, October 19th, we’ll be at Brambly Park in Scott’s Addition for a member social. There’s no hipper place in town, so stop by and spend some time with development friends and colleagues. Meanwhile Thursday, November 2nd, we’re hosting a social in Charlottesville to bring together members and colleagues in that region as well. Through our digital content and livestreams, the VAFRE community continues to grow outside of the Richmond area, which can only strengthen the development profession in Virginia. We've also got a virtual new member orientation on October 27th. Many thanks to the Membership Committee for pulling all this off!

            The annual P3 program kicks off October 25th, and we’re so appreciative to this year’s group leaders. Consistently, P3 brings together nonprofit professionals for education and fellowship, and we’re grateful to both mentors and participants for taking part in this important work.

            We continue to implement VAFRE’s new strategic plan to attract individuals to the profession, retain those already in development and create helpful resources for VAFRE members. We’ll be in touch soon about ways you can help, including upcoming surveys.

            We hope to see you at Thursday’s social at Brambly Park and best of luck with end of year giving!

            Warm regards,

            Will Glasco
            VAFRE President

            ___________________________________

            November Program: Unlocking Grant Writing Success with ChatGPT 

            During this live demonstration, participants will experience the incredible capabilities of ChatGPT in grant proposal writing. Watch as we select an audience member and showcase the seamless process of using prompts to generate and refine persuasive content for grant applications. Witness the speed, accuracy, and creativity of ChatGPT as it helps craft compelling narratives and impactful project descriptions. Learn how to leverage this AI tool to streamline proposal writing, save time, and enhance grant-seeking success.  

            Click here for complete details and to register.

            ___________________________________

            Fundraising.AI Virtual Global Summit Scheduled Next Week

            On October 23rd and 24th the Fundraising.AI Global Summit will be held. It is expected to be the largest gathering of nonprofit and for-profit professionals and organizations to explore the role of responsible AI in fundraising. Click here to register.

            ___________________________________

            National Philanthropy Day is Almost Here

            Members of VAFRE are invited to register for the Central Virginia Chapter AFP’s National Philanthropy Day on November 9th at the AFP Member rate. The program at Virginia State University gets underway at 2:00 p.m. with a free workshop featuring Birgit Smith Burton, AFP Global Board Chair, discussing The Accidental Fundraiser.

            The Awards Ceremony and Reception follow from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. as this year’s honorees are recognized:

            • Enduring Spirit of Philanthropy Award: Burt Pinnock, FAIA, NOMA, nominated by Storefront for Community Design 
            • Outstanding Organizational Partner Award: RiverFront Investment Group, nominated by The Doorways 
            • Volunteer Impact Award: Suzanne T. Long, nominated by ACTS 

            For complete details or to register, click here.

            ___________________________________

            Member Social at Brambly Park is Tomorrow

            The VAFRE Membership Committee invites you to our Fall Member Social on Thursday, October 19 from 4-7PM at Brambly Park. 

            Come mingle at Brambly Park, an urban winery located in the northwest corner of Richmond's Scott's Addition neighborhood (with parking available). 

            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!

            ___________________________________

            P3 Kickoff Meeting

            Join your P3 colleagues, in-person or virtually, as we kick off the eleventh year of the program! There will be a welcome from the VAFRE Board and a chance to meet some of our P3 alumni. This year's teams will be announced and each team will begin their discussions and schedule their first meetings.

            Click here for complete details or to register.

            ___________________________________

            Virtual New Member Orientation

            Come learn more about all that VAFRE has to offer in our virtual new member orientation next Friday, October 27th. Get to know other members, and learn about how to become more involved. This session is designed for those who have been members for one year or less.

            Click here to register.


              © 2022 Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives (VAFRE).
              All rights reserved.
              VAFRE • P.O. Box 6605 • Richmond, VA 23230
              Office/Fax (804) 368-3398

              Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software