To my fellow members of the AFP-CVA Chapter,
As I prepare to conclude my term, it has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as your Chapter President. The past year has been defined by remarkable moments and significant, tangible growth for our Chapter, and I want to take a moment to celebrate what we have achieved together.
Remarkable Moments & Growth Through Intentional Programming
This past year, we truly rose to the challenge of becoming "Conveners of Crucial Conversations," a journey we embraced after receiving insightful advice from our consultants. We moved beyond theory and facilitated powerful dialogues that sparked fundamental shifts in thinking:
- Navigating Change Together: A Strategic Partner Dialogue (March): This insightful session with Casey Emery and Carla Willis was our first foray, setting the stage for candid, vulnerable dialogue between funders, consultants, and organizations. The tremendous engagement and candor from all participants fostered a deeper, more meaningful conversation about building resilient partnerships.
- Power Shift: Building Equitable Partnerships (April): Led by Fatima M. Smith, MSW, and Bianca Myrick, this dynamic workshop moved us from donor-centric to community-centered fundraising. This session was truly captivating, prompting many attendees to consider a fundamental "power shift" in their existing methods and inspiring a profound future impact.
- Fundraising in a Shifting Landscape: Trends and Strategies for Uncertain Times (June): In response to member needs, this timely session, led by The Curtis Group, directly addressed the immediate challenges posed by policy shifts and economic uncertainty, offering real-world strategies grounded in insights from Giving USA 2025 and other sector data.
- In September, we convened the Chapter for a pivotal Town Hall Meeting, fostering transparency and community building. Key segments included a deep dive into Membership Benefits with Allison Sedwick, Sr. Director of Chapter Engagement at AFP Global; the State of AFP-CVA address led by me, outlining key successes and areas for future development; a comprehensive Strategic Planning update led by President-Elect Dr. LaChelle Lewis, focusing on our roadmap for the next three years; and an Open Q&A session to ensure every member's voice was heard. We also launched a Call for Committee Members to encourage greater engagement and shared leadership.
- The Next Generation of Givers (October): This forward-looking panel (Julia Bell, Margaret Dodson-Cordrey, Josh Leidy, Dr. LaChelle Lewis, and Katie Rhodes) introduced us to the topic of generational giving. Our expert panelists explained specific trends, highlighting how youth and young adults respond to organizations' services and targeted funding initiatives.
- In November, we proudly partnered with VAFRE to hold this essential session entitled "Orange is Not the New Black". Facilitated by Linda Wilkinson, a respected leader with over 25 years of executive experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, we gathered to reaffirm our joint commitment to ethics in fundraising and to protecting the integrity of our profession.
Our Chapter's Growth & Commitment to Inclusion
The crucial conversations we hosted throughout this year were a direct reflection of our commitment to growth and continuous improvement. We embraced the findings of our internal report, which highlighted the need for:
- Increased Diversity in Leadership and Representation.
- Consistent Integration of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Principles throughout our programming.
- Enhancement of Member Value and Communication to better serve our diverse membership base.
We are already putting the wheels in motion, moving through our strategic plan's Foundation and Growth phases, with a clear timeline for Integration and Sustainment, all focused on making our Chapter more inclusive, engaging, and relevant to everyone.
Looking Ahead to 2026
I am thrilled to announce that the new Board has a great line-up of programs in store for 2026 that will build on this momentum, including a workshop series entitled "The Courage to Lead: Funding Our Work Here and Now". This series will kick off in February with a day-long interactive workshop that focuses on: Grounding in Our IDEA Values and Purpose, Navigating the Iceberg of Power & Privilege, and What Now: Answering the Call to Shift Fundraising Strategies.
The year 2026 will be a time of sustained momentum and deeper engagement as we continue to champion discussions that genuinely matter. Our goal for the new year is to go from Conversation to Commitment. We hope that you are ready for this next chapter.
As my term concludes, I ask you all to join me in supporting the new Chapter President and the latest slate of Board Members. They are energized, dedicated, and ready to lead our Chapter into its next era of impact and growth. Our strength lies in our collective commitment.
Thank you for your trust, your openness, and your active participation this past year. I look forward to continuing this journey alongside you, just in a different capacity.
With deepest gratitude,
Tonya S. Hall, Outgoing Chapter President
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