Rachel McPherson
President
Chief Network Officer — Progress Alaska
rach.mcph@gmail.com
Rachael grew up in Fairbanks, then attended The University of Montana where she received a bachelors in Journalism. After some time working in TV news, she decided it wasn’t for her and moved to Laramie, Wyoming where she received a Masters of Public Administration.
Returning to Alaska she started working in development and has been with Girls Scouts of Alaska and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Rachael spent 5 years working with Planned Parenthood in Alaska, raising funds and community support with major donors and events in Anchorage and across Alaska. Rachael believes philanthropy is about connections and creating stronger communities and is so excited to see what can be achieved.
Rachael and her spouse, Iain, have 2 young kids and family throughout Alaska and can’t imagine living anywhere else.
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Celeste Earley, CFRE
President-Elect
Philanthropy Officer—The Alaska Community Foundation
celestecielearley@gmail.com
Celeste is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) with over 10 years of experience serving Alaska’s nonprofit sector. Born elsewhere but raised under the midnight sun, she is proud to call Alaska home. A graduate of the Anchorage School District and a UAA Alumna with a BA in History and a minor in Women’s Studies, Celeste is passionate about using her education to understand and address social issues.
Celeste’s career spans multiple sectors, including roles at a local art gallery, the Anchorage Museum, and Catholic Social Services. Now, as the Philanthropy Officer for The Alaska Community Foundation, she works to foster a love of philanthropy and build a more inclusive, giving community. Celeste brings her experience of running events, big and small, along with grassroots fundraising to achieve lasting relationships with donors and community partners. She is honored to work for an organization that is committed to connecting communities across Alaska with shared values and causes that matter.
Beyond her professional role, Celeste is actively involved in the Association of Fundraising Professionals Alaska Chapter, serving as President-Elect. Last November, she organized the Alaska Philanthropy Day Conference and Awards Luncheon, uniting community leaders to celebrate and elevate philanthropy in Alaska. She also spearheaded the successful campaign to have the Anchorage Assembly recognize November 15 as Philanthropy Day, highlighting the importance of local philanthropy.
Celeste enjoys running on Anchorage's scenic trails, volunteering, and spending quality time with her family and friends. A fitness lover, she completed her first marathon in 2024 and is now focused on training for the Lava Man Triathlon in 2026. Whether it’s pushing herself in the next race or working toward meaningful social impact, Celeste is driven by a deep passion for making a positive difference in her community and hopes to inspire others to do the same.
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KaLynn Coffey, CFRE
Immediate Past President
Senior Development Officer, School of Education and CTC —University of Alaska Anchorage
kc@alaska.edu
KaLynn is the Senior Development Officer for Scholarships at the University of Alaska Anchorage and previously worked as a donor relations officer for the University of Alaska Fairbanks. With a total of 18 years at the University of Alaska, she has work in many aspects of development from gift manager, to drafting fund agreements, planning donor events, and fundraising. An alumna of UAF, KaLynn will now earn a bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in digital journalism. KaLynn is honored to also serve as a board member with Katie’s Handprint.
Originally from Seattle, Washington, KaLynn’s first years in Alaska were living remotely while working in Cordova, Alaska, and at salmon hatcheries around Prince William Sound. KaLynn has made Alaska her home for the last 30 years.
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Matt Morse, CFRE
Treasurer and Secretary
Director of Operations—Providence Alaska Foundation
matthew.morse@providence.org
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Jason Dinneen
VP I.D.E.A
Development Officer—UAA Athletics
jldinneen@gmail.com
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Susan Metcalf
VP External Affairs
Manager of Individual Giving—Alaska Public Media
smetcalf@alaskapublic.org
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Jennifer Motes, CFRE
Government Affairs Chair
Senior Development Strategist—University of Alaska Anchorage
jomotes@alaska.edu
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Shannon Wolf
Scholarship Chair
Senior Development & Guest Services Manager—Alaska SeaLife Center
shannon@alaskasealife.org
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Tuan Graziano
Member at Large
Donor Relations Manager—ACLU Alaska
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Laura Morgan
Member at Large
Children's Miracle Network and Events Officer—Providence Alaska Foundation
morgan.3@providence.org
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