LISTEN

Day One: Wednesday, April 24th

• Members, Non-Member Funders, & Practitioners Learning Sessions (8:30am-5:00pm)

  • Day 1 at the Appalachia Funders Network Gathering is tailored to hear from the practitioners leading innovation and impact in our region. Engage in dynamic panels where seasoned experts unravel insights across arts and culture, revitalization, development, health, and the sustainable frontier of energy & natural resources. Immerse yourself in a day of collaborative exploration, where practitioners converge to shape the future of Appalachia and uplift gaps in capital, challenges in the sector, and opportunities for scaled impact.

  • Funders Tour (Bus)

    • Site Visits will provide a firsthand look at the transformation underway in both rural and urban settings. Projects recommended by AFN Groups will highlight grantees, emerging leaders, and social enterprises from around the area. Among the sites included is the Town of Clendenin, West Virginia, where participants will witness a community revitalization following disastrous flooding and have the opportunity to meet with leaders who worked with funders and other community figures to rebuild. 

      • View the Funders Tour Site Visit Itinerary here

• State-Based PSO Breakout Dine-Arounds (6:00pm-8:00pm)

Please note that the PSO Dine-Arounds will be self-paid

UNITE

Day Two: Thursday, April 25th

• Members & Non-Member Funders Learning Sessions (8:30am-4:00pm)

  • Day 2 at the Appalachia Funders Network Gathering invites members to participate in a dynamic day of programming featuring exclusive roundtables, a dive into Deepening Shared Analysis for Philanthropy, insights on Narrative Change efforts and Trends in Land Use and Place-Based Development, and engaging breakout sessions.

• Open Air Funders Tour (4:30pm-6:45pm)

  • The Downtown Revitalization Tour continues in Charleston with stops at various sites such as Arts Amplified at Slack Plaza, Fife Street Brewery, Business Improvement District, Kanawha County Public Library, and the University of Charleston's Innovation HUB. Along the way, attendees will engage with community leaders, including Mayor Amy Goodwin, President Dr. Marty Roth of UC, and President Ericke S. Cage of WVSU, gaining insights into collaborative efforts. The tour includes interactive discussions showcasing the transformative power of strategic investments in community development.

• Cultural Immersion (7:00pm)

  • Following the tour, enjoy curated cultural activities around the charming city of Charleston, including live music at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences and a private screening of the documentary King Coal, at the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema. Experience how art, foodways, and capital investments are re-making the area and share what’s happening in your community

Please note that the Open Air Funders Tour and the Cultural Immersion are included with the “Thursday Evening Entertainment” Add-On to your registration. If you have already registered and would like to add this option, you can do so here.

ACT

Day Three: Friday, April 26th

• Members & Non-Member Funders Sessions, AFN Group Meetings (9:00am-1:00pm)

  • Day 3 at the Appalachia Funders Network Gathering is focused on action, hosting interactive workshops for hands-on partnership, where strategies take shape. Culminate your experience with an impactful closing keynote that helps everyone within the diverse sector of funders meet this moment. Amidst polarized times and in an election year, hear from people at the heart of nurturing civic engagement in a healthy way. Be part of the culmination as we chart the course for Appalachia's future together.