Member Spotlight on Liz Hefner
Posted by [email protected] on May. 26, 2026 / Membership & Spotlights / Subscribe 0
Author: Hannah Fisher Gray | AFP-GPC Committee Member | Project Manager at Schultz & Williams
Tell us about your career background.
Like many fundraisers, I took an indirect path to this career. I am a science nerd from a family of engineers and scientists, so I went into the family business. I studied biomolecular engineering in hopes of finding life-saving solutions to everyday health challenges. After college, I moved to Philadelphia to work as an engineer, exactly as planned.
As I was working, I couldn’t shake the sense that I should be doing more. I spent time in New Orleans as the city rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, and, as a small participant in that effort, I saw firsthand the role nonprofits play in restoring not only infrastructure but also people’s lives.
When my first major engineering project concluded, I decided I could do more to help the people in my community. I leaped into the nonprofit sector, taking on a role as a development associate. While I began as a fundraising generalist, working alongside organizations that serve individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, and generational poverty, fifteen years later, I have had the joy of working with organizations in every sector to achieve their goals and increase their mission impact.
Why are you a member of AFP-GPC?
I joined AFP in 2013, and I stepped into my first role as a Development Director. I recognized that in this new role, I needed to learn from successful fundraising leaders as quickly as possible and gain as many tools and resources as possible.
I found so much more; I have found a real sense of community. I have built relationships that go beyond any one job or organization. The networking here matters because it is based on a shared purpose, and these connections often become trusted sources of advice.
This has also been a community that has invested in me. I attended AFP ICON 2017 for the first time as our chapter’s Chamberlin Scholar, and I earned my CFRE with support from the inaugural M. Jane Williams Professional Development Award in 2019. I had mentors who coached, encouraged, and shaped me professionally and personally.
Today, I’m proud to give back as President-Elect of our chapter and as a member of the AFP Icon and AFP LEAD Education Selection Committees. AFP-GPC continues to challenge and inspire me to lead with purpose.
Where do you like to volunteer outside of AFP?
Beyond AFP, I serve on the Planning Committee for The Nonprofit Alliance Rising Leaders Summit. Outside the fundraising world, I stay connected through my community of faith, and I continue to volunteer with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and my local food pantry.
What do you do with your free time?
Being in nature recharges my soul, so I am outside as much as possible hiking, rock climbing, and camping. I also love reading and being my street’s librarian, curating the not-so-little Little Free Library with books for all ages.
What are your future aspirations?
I want to have an exponential impact on the world around me, creating a positive ripple effect that strengthens the nonprofit sector by building capacity and confidence within organizations, enabling them to serve their communities more effectively.
I’m also committed to developing the next generation of fundraisers. I want to promote an inclusive and equitable community where everyone can reach their potential and feel valued for their contributions.
What are your hopes for AFP-GPC moving forward?
My hope is that AFP-GPC continues to be a vibrant, inclusive community where fundraisers at every stage feel supported, challenged to lead, and part of something larger than themselves.
I know this sense of community and commitment to strengthening our profession is not accidental. It is built and sustained by the dedication of our chapter volunteers, whose time, energy, and leadership continue to shape and strengthen AFP-GPC for all of us.
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