Rising Stars: Meet Anna Chafen of Dunwoody

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Chafen.

Hi Anna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi! I’m Anna Chafen, Senior Director of Development for the Alzheimer’s Association. For the past three years, I have overseen our Relationship Events portfolio across the state, including galas in Atlanta, Columbus, and Savannah, Georgia. I’m responsible for $3M+ in revenue and proudly crossed a fundraising milestone on Saturday, May 9, when our biggest event of the year, Dancing Stars of Atlanta, raised a record-breaking $2,665,059 toward a mission that advances critical research, care, and advocacy.

Prior to working in the non-profit space, I spent more than a decade building relationships and enriching lives as the Senior Director of Member Experience for ClubCorp (now Invited), overseeing events, engagement, and retention at both Buckhead Club and The Commerce Club, two premier private business clubs in the city.

My background in Public Relations with a concentration in Journalism has equipped me for a robust and successful career in a city where we all know relationships matter, connections are key, and social currency is everything. However, the accomplishment I am most proud of lies outside of professional settings. When I was a college student, I wrote letters to SPIN magazine letting them know high schools in Georgia, including the one I had graduated from, still had segregated proms and homecomings. The Editor responded and covered the story, giving us an exciting six-page spread in the publication. From there, the news quickly spread and I wound up being featured not only in SPIN, but by NPR, the New York Times Magazine, TIME magazine, and eventually the story was turned into a movie, Southern Rites, for HBO.

I think it’s our duty and responsibility as civic-minded leaders to better our communities and advance progress for all, not just for ourselves or those who look like us. As someone who benefits from white privilege, my continued work in the race relations space is just as critical as what I do day-to-day in the public relations space. I would encourage everyone to find work that matters beyond a career. Remember, you can build a legacy and make impact that lasts regardless of what your 9-to-5 is!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road and likely never will be in this lifetime. Competing agendas and priorities will pull at your attention as they ebb and flow in different political and social climates; and there will always be the doubters and nay-sayers along the way.

I am an optimist and visionary, so one distraction for me are closed-minded people and/or those with limited perspective. For a long time I struggled with wanting to bring everyone along, even those who didn’t want to go, and now I know to lay that burden down. I know what progress needs to look like, I’ve tasted success. I’m going to move forward with or without you; I can’t force you to come along.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In every setting I’m in, I’ve established a brand as being a super connector. By that, I mean I get deep satisfaction from connecting others, from opening doors that maybe no one else saw opening. I’ve worked very hard throughout my career at ensuring everyone has a seat at the table — not be removing those who have been seated there longest, but by building a longer table. There has to be space for all of us.

No matter where it is, when I walk into a room, I want to ensure everyone feels comfortable being there. There is an art, not a science, to that. It’s certainly not always easy. I pride myself on asking the hard, sometimes uncomfortable questions — Who is here? Who is not here who should be? What do we need to add? What do we need to take away? Have things always been done this way? If so, what things might need to change for us to move forward?

Those are critical questions I find myself asking, especially now that I work in the nonprofit space. Last week I heard someone say, “White women invented philanthropy.” That may be true, but it’s certainly nothing to be proud of. It’s my job, my mission, to work to ensure that so much philanthropy isn’t needed in the first place. To do that, we have to do the hard work of changing established systems, systems that have been in place for hundreds of years, from the inside out — and of empowering others to do the same.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success is tied to impact made, to lives touched or changed, and not at all to money. I’ve lost a few friends in the last year and been thinking a lot recently about legacy, about reputation. What do people say about you when you’re not in the room? That’s who you really are.

I will consider myself successful when others reflect back and say, “She saw me, she advocated for me, she included me. The world was a better place because Anna was in it!”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alz.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlanta_anna?igsh=bDJrMXkza2hxZ3c2&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-r-chafen-006a556b/