Conference

Schedule

Friday, September 5, 2025

7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

7:00 - 8:15 a.m.	Registration \| Breakfast \| Networking Session
8:15 - 9:15 a.m.	Breakfast Continues \| Opening Program: Stefanie Adams
Break
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.	Concurrent Session 1
Break
10:45 - 11:45 a.m.	Concurrent Session 2
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.	Lunch \| Keynote Speaker: Celia Rivenbark
1:45 - 2:45 p.m.	Concurrent Session 3
Break
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.	Networking Reception: Cash Bar, Charcuterie, Networking, Gift Card Raffle

Pricing

AFP Member Pricing

Early Bird (until 7/7/2025) $175
Regular Rate $250

Non-Member Pricing

Early Bird (until 7/7/2025) $225
Regular Rate $300

Welcome Reception
$30

Early bird pricing for conference registration ends July 7 at 11:59 p.m.
Registration for the conference on Friday, August 29. Walk-ins will be permitted, provided space is available, at a flat rate of $350.
No refunds will be given after August 15.

Location

Our 2025 NC Philanthropy Conference will take place in the historic downtown Wilmington, NC.

Conference Hotel

Hotel Ballast Wilmington

Make a Reservation at the Hotel Ballast

301 N Water St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Please communicate you are reserving as part of the AFP NC Philanthropy Conference.

Speakers

Keynote, Humorist Celia Rivenbark

We are pleased to announce that Celia Rivenbark, an award-winning syndicated humor columnist and New York Times bestselling author, will be our conference keynote speaker. A native of Duplin County, North Carolina, she began her journalism career at the Wallace Enterprise before joining the Wilmington Morning Star. Her weekly humor column has been widely syndicated through McClatchy-Tribune News Services. Celia is the author of several bestselling books, including Bless Your Heart, Tramp, We're Just Like You, Only Prettier, and Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank. Her work has earned multiple awards and nominations, including recognition from the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance and the James Thurber Prize for American Humor. She lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, with her husband, Scott Whisnant. Read more.

See a list of all Celia's books here.

Morning Kickoff: Stefanie Adams

We are excited to welcome Stefanie Adams, leadership expert and founder of WNY People Development LLC, as our morning kick-off speaker. With over 20 years of experience in corporate, nonprofit, and government settings, Stefanie brings a dynamic, engaging approach to leadership development. She holds a Master's in Multicultural Education and has served in leadership training roles at Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Cape Fear Community College, and CastleBranch. Since launching her company in 2020, Stefanie has delivered impactful keynote presentations and training programs for clients across industries--from healthcare and finance to hospitality and higher education. Her work is rooted in authenticity, practical skill-building, and the belief that leadership is not one-size-fits-all. She has recently spoken at events including NC SHRM, Women on the Move, and the NC Public Health Conference. Stefanie lives in Wilmington, North Carolina. Read More

Scheduled Speakers

With 20+ expert speakers lined up, you'll find a wide range of educational sessions ready for you at the 2025 NC Philanthropy Conference. Whether you're looking to strengthen your leadership, sharpen your fundraising strategy, improve donor engagement, or all of the above, AFP has the latest insights and tools to help you succeed.