The AFPWM was established in 1984 under the guidance of Russ Gabier, who was Executive Director of the Western Michigan University Foundation at the time. Russ attended a Detroit meeting of the NSFRE, National Association of Fund Raising Executives, where he learned of the possibility of establishing a chapter in west Michigan. Russ served as our first president and was joined by Nancy Owen as the secretary and treasurer of the chapter. The first chapter administrator was Harriet Folz Angell, who was followed by Ethel Mitchell and Jean Forrest. The current chapter administrator is Deb O’Donnell at Aquinas College.
In the early 1990s the chapter established endowment funds at the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids Community Foundations. These endowments, funded annually through chapter program revenues and individual donations, continue to generate scholarship awards for individuals pursuing training in fundraising. Throughout the years the chapter has continued to grow to its current base of over 200 members.
Past AFPWM Presidents
The following list includes the distinguished presidents who have led our chapter.
- 1985 – Russell Gabier, CFRE
- 1986 – Russell Gabier, CFRE
- 1987 – Donald Distelberg, CFRE
- 1988 – Donald Distelberg, CFRE
- 1989 – Leonard Holt, CFRE
- 1990 – Leonard Holt, CFRE
- 1991 – S. Mark Terman, CFRE
- 1992 – S. Mark Terman, CFRE
- 1993 – S. Mark Terman, CFRE
- 1994 – Daryl Vogel, CFRE
- 1995 – Nancy Owen, CFRE
- 1996 – Nancy Owen, CFRE
- 1997 – Robert Berkhof, CFRE
- 1998 – Gary Faircloth
- 1999 – Alice Kemerling, CFRE
- 2000 – Ronald Rozema
- 2001 – Debra Minton, CFRE
- 2002 – Scott Wolterink, CFRE
- 2003 – Lon Swartzentruber
- 2004 – William Weitzel
- 2005 – Lynn Jackson
- 2006 – Jay Ediger
- 2007 – Kim Loftus
- 2008 – Keith Hopkins, CFRE
- 2009 – Keith Meyering, CFRE
- 2010 – Brett Holleman, CFRE
- 2011 – Anna Goddard
- 2012 – Anna Goddard
- 2013 – Janice Fonger
- 2014 – Janice Fonger
- 2015 – Barbara Hohman, CFRE
- 2016 – Barbara Hohman, CFRE
- 2017 – Catherine Rogg, CFRE
- 2018 – Catherine Rogg, CFRE
- 2019 – Barbara Anderson
- 2020 – Barbara Anderson