The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Atlanta Chapter will celebrate the 40th anniversary of National Philanthropy Day (NPD) on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Georgia Aquarium. With Delta Air Lines as our presenting sponsor, the milestone celebration will recognize the individuals and organizations whose generosity, leadership, and volunteerism have strengthened metro Atlanta for decades. This year's event will honor:

• Philanthropists of the Year, Angie and Sam Allen
• Volunteer Fundraisers of the Year, Esther and Jim Stokes
• Philanthropic Leader of the Year, Lauren Koontz
• Lifetime Achievement Award, posthumously, Ted Turner

2026 Honorees

Angie and Sam Allen will be honored as this year’s Philanthropists of the Year, nominated by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Grady Health Foundation, and Griffin Spalding County Schools. For decades, the Allens have invested their time, expertise, and resources to address the issues of inequity through strengthening access to education, healthcare, and economic mobility.

Esther and Jim Stokes will be honored as Volunteer Fundraisers of the Year, nominated by Chattahoochee Nature Center, Birds Georgia, and Georgia Forestry Foundation. They are recognized for their extraordinary commitment to conservation, reflecting decades of service dedicated to strengthening Georgia’s communities and protecting its natural resources. United by a lifelong passion for the environment, the Stokeses have made a lasting impact with many of Georgia’s most respected nonprofit organizations.

Lauren Koontz will receive the Philanthropic Leader of the Year award, nominated by Andrew Young Foundation, Gas South, and the Latin American Association. As president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Lauren leads the organization’s efforts to ensure that all people — especially children — experience an equal opportunity to fully reach their potential. Since becoming the organization's first female president and CEO in 2019, she has inspired innovation, collaboration, and service throughout the nonprofit sector.

Lifetime Achievement Award

This year’s celebration will also honor the legacy of philanthropist Ted Turner, nominated by Captain Planet Foundation and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Over the course of his life, Ted acquired and conserved more than 2 million acres across the Southeast, the Great Plains, and the West, protecting them through conservation easements and ecologically driven stewardship. His historic one billion dollar pledge to create the United Nations Foundation catalyzed others to follow suit and was the inspiration for Bill Gates and Warren Buffer to create the Giving Pledge. Through that coalition, 256 global families have now committed to give away 50% of their net worth during their lifetimes.

As AFP Greater Atlanta celebrates 40 years of National Philanthropy Day, the chapter looks forward to recognizing these outstanding leaders alongside hundreds of changemakers who continue to strengthen metro Atlanta through their generosity and service. 

AFP Greater Atlanta is proud to welcome Delta Air Lines as the Title Sponsor of the 2026 National Philanthropy Day celebration. As Atlanta's hometown airline, Delta has long demonstrated its commitment to building stronger communities through employee volunteerism, strategic charitable investments, and the work of The Delta Air Lines Foundation. Guided by its focus on environment, equity, education, and entire wellness, Delta returns 1% of the company's annual net income to nonprofit organizations worldwide each year, helping create lasting impact both in Atlanta and around the globe.

Sponsorship opportunities, as well as individual tickets and table sales, are now available. Additional information about the 2026 National Philanthropy Day can be found at www.afpgreateratlanta.org or by contacting the 2026 Chair, Alyson Ackerman. Additional information on the honorees is available upon request.