Annual Members' Meeting & Reception

Held in March, this special event is an opportunity for DVG members to come together to celebrate the collective strength and diversity of our network.  Members are invited to gather with friends and peers to welcome new colleagues, elect new board officers and directors, learn about future plans for the association from DVG's leadership and hear keynote remarks by a leader in the philanthropic sector. 

A member appreciation presentation was added to the program in 2010 to honor some of the individuals and organizations that demonstrated outstanding commitment to DVG.  The event concludes with a popular networking reception.

Here are a few snaphots from our 2010 Members' Meeting:

From left: Past DVG presidents Frances M. Sheehan, Brandywine Health Foundation and Bruce Melgary, The Lenfest Foundation; speaker Mark Sedway, Philanthropy Awareness Initiative; board members Andrew Toy, The Merchants Fund, and Mailee Walker, Claneil Foundation, Inc.

Left: DVG executive director Debra Kahn (center) with new board member Ann Schmieg, United Way of Southeastern PA (left) and new Board president Ronnie Bloom, Esq., William Penn Foundation. Right: PNC representatives Dawn Brogan, Regina Canfield, and Rebecca Quinn-Wolf display their 20-year member certificate.

Fall Conference

DVG’s annual fall conference is the premier event for regional funders to join with their grantmaking peers, nonprofit executives and other civic leaders for a day of networking and shared learning on important trends and issues impacting philanthropy and regional giving. DVG presents top-notch national speakers who address timely topics of interest to the regional grantmaking community. Speakers at past DVG conferences have included: • Diana Aviv, President and CEO, INDEPENDENT SECTOR • Paul Brest, President, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation • Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D, CEO and President, Silicon Valley Community    Foundation • Christine DeVita, President, The Wallace Foundation • Michele Jolin, White House Senior Advisor for Social Innovation for the    Domestic Policy Council • Dr. Claire Gaudiani, author and past President, Connecticut College • Andy Goodman, Communications Consultant and Trainer • Alberto Ibargüen, President, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation • Ralph R. Smith, Senior Vice President, Annie E. Casey Foundation • Bill Strickland, President and CEO, Manchester Bidwell Corporation WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING . . . Here are a few comments attendees have made about our fall conference: "I am always struck by the care and planning that is put into these conferences and enjoy the opportunity to learn and exchange ideas."  * * * "The conference was extremely well-organized and the speakers were great. The presentations and discussions stimulated my thinking about our grantmaking.” * * * "This was an awesome opportunity for our organization. It was helpful to hear the challenges, new directions and needs of funders. The exchange of thoughts and questions between organizations in need of funding and organizations that have funding available was enlightening.” * * * Photos from our 2009 conference:  Information * Innovation * Inspiration

Past Speakers Paul Brest William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D. Silicon Valley Community Foundation Andy Goodman Communications Guru

John Culhane, Widener University School of Law and Bill Harral, Barra Foundation being interiewed by Loraine Ballard-Morrill	Jennifer Childs of 1812 Productions as "Patsy
Speaker Michele Jolin from the White House Office of Social Innovation	Networking over lunch are JoAnn Weinberger, Center for Literacy and Lisa Nutter, Philadelphia Academies Inc.