UAA's Ivy Spohnholz earns 2009 Alaska Fundraising Professional of the Year honor

Ivy Spohnholz, Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a senior development officer in UAA's Office of University Advancement, was recently honored as the 2009 Alaska Fundraising Professional of the Year. She was recognized at the Alaska Philanthropy Day luncheon on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.

Alaska Philanthropy Day recognizes the great contributions of philanthropy -- and those people active in the philanthropic community -- to the enrichment of our world. The Alaska Philanthropy Day Conference and Luncheon was held in conjunction with National Philanthropy Day to celebrate the outstanding contributions of philanthropy in communities throughout Alaska.

Ivy Spohnholz was born and raised in Alaska, and has worked in development for about 12 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington, and she later worked in the university's Annual Giving department. Before joining UAA's development team in 2006, she worked for Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, the Anchorage Concert Association and the Alaska Conservation Foundation.

In her role as senior development officer, Spohnholz focuses on the College of Arts and Sciences, UAA's Health Programs, University Honors College and UAA/APU Consortium Library. She works to engage potential donors to the university with the goal of securing contributions to improve the quality of UAA's programs, increase scholarship opportunities and to help retain great faculty and students.

"It's a great job because I get to spend time with caring community members and our best faculty and staff to find ways to make UAA even better," Spohnholz said. "Every day I wake up knowing that I am helping to make the world a better place."

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Alaska Chapter is committed to supporting its more than 100 members, who serve as development directors, fundraising consultants, grant writers, volunteer fundraisers, foundation executives and other individuals dedicated to fundraising and philanthropy.