Committees

Advancement through Involvement - Join an AFP Greater Lehigh Valley Committee!

Committee service is beneficial for all members of AFP whether they are new to the fundraising profession or seasoned professionals. Committee participation allows for deeper involvement with the chapter and a path to potential leadership as a Committee Chair, VP, or member of our Board of Directors. Develop yourself personally and professionally while also making make new contacts and supporting philanthropy in the Lehigh Valley.

Committees are always accepting new members - and we welcome individuals who are not current AFP members! To get involved right away and ensure maximum participation as a committee member, please be in touch with a Committee Chair for more information.

Get to Know Our Committees



IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access)

IDEA Committee
The IDEA Committee's mission is to educate our members and the nonprofit community in general about the importance of understanding the role that the diverse members of our community play in fundraising. We also see that an additional role of our committee is to promote the fundraising profession as a career option among the diverse members of our community.  We strive to incorporate the IDEA principles in everything we do as a chapter.

For more information, please contact:
Rebecca McAtee, IDEA Co-Chair - Click to Email
Jessica Escobar-Eck, IDEA Co-Chair - Click to Email

Communications & External Affairs
Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee is responsible for coordinating communications from the chapter, including website updates, weekly emails, and social media.  Members with other committees to ensure all events, programs, and initiatives are being supported and promoted as needed.

For more information, please contact:
Sharon Alexander, CFRE, Marketing Chair - Click to Email 

National Philanthropy Day Committee
The National Philanthropy Day Committee is responsible for planning all aspects of the annual awards breakfast in November. Activities include soliciting vendors and sponsors, coordinating awards and ceremony, and preparing promotional materials.

For more information, please contact:
Sindy Berner, NPD Co-Chair - Click to Email

Education & Professional Development 

Program Committee
The Program Committee coordinates most of the chapter’s regularly scheduled meetings and other opportunities for education and professional development. Activities include choosing topics for monthly luncheons and coordinating logistics such as speakers, venues, and catering. This committee also coordinates the chapter's half-day programs and CFRE review course.

For more information, please contact:
Alex Dapkewicz, Program Chair - Click to Email

Lehigh Valley Philanthropy Institute Committee
The LVPI Committee is responsible for planning the annual Lehigh Valley Philanthropy Institute full-day conference, typically in May. Activities include securing a keynote speaker and presenters for educational workshops, soliciting vendors and sponsors, and preparing promotional materials.

For more information, please contact:
Melissa Siegfried, LVPI Co-Chair - Click to Email
Greg Wilson, MS, CFRE, CAP, LVPI Co-Chair - Click to Email

Membership

Membership & Scholarship Committee
The Membership Committee promotes AFP through outreach to fundraising professionals and by advocating the benefits of a professional organization to potential members. Activities include recruiting new members, stewardship with current members, and promoting membership at chapter events.  This committee also oversees application and review process for various scholarships offered by our chapter.

For more information, please contact:
Marissa Zondag, Membership Co-Chair - Click to Email 
Heather Ennis, Membership Co-Chair - Click to Email

NextGen Committee
NextGen Committee’s goal is to provide opportunities for young professionals in the nonprofit field to network, share resources, develop new fundraising/marketing skills, build leadership competencies and build a support network of individuals at the same stage of their careers. We primarily provide these opportunities via our networking events, which occur the third Thursday of each month. These events are hosted at different locations throughout the Lehigh Valley and are open to AFP Members and non-members. Our hope is to provide a welcoming and informal opportunity to newer members of the local nonprofit and for-profit community to engage with the NextGen Committee, Eastern PA Chapter of AFP members and to provide opportunities to meet funders from all over the Lehigh Valley.

For more information, please contact:
Michelle Veresink Richmond, NextGen Co-Chair - Click to Email
Lynn Schoof, NextGen Co-Chair - Click to Email