In Memory of Rebecca A. Powell
There are people whose influence is felt long after they leave the room. Rebecca A. Powell was one of those people. For nearly 22 years, she helped shape AFP not only through her work but through the way she carried herself steadily, thoughtfully, and deeply committed to doing what was right.
Rebecca served in several key roles, including Director of Board Governance and Ethics and Executive Assistant to the CEO. She supported eight AFP Global board chairs and worked closely with the AFP President and CEO, always bringing clarity, calm, and a sense of purpose to the work. Her guidance to the AFP Ethics Committee was trusted and respected, not because she sought attention, but because she earned confidence through consistency and care.
Those who worked with her remember the moments that revealed her character most clearly. After 9/11, when fear and uncertainty were everywhere, Rebecca helped keep the AFP staff grounded. She had a way of steadying people—of reminding them that even in difficult moments, they weren’t alone. And she approached every challenge with the same quiet determination. “It can’t be done” simply wasn’t part of her vocabulary.
Rebecca also brought warmth into every relationship. She listened closely. She noticed the small things. She made people feel seen. In recognition of her lasting impact, AFP named its conference room in Arlington, VA, in her honor—a simple, heartfelt acknowledgment of the legacy she leaves behind.
The Rebecca A. Powell Fund
Rebecca cared deeply about ethical practice in fundraising. She believed that ethics wasn’t just a policy area—it was the foundation of trust between fundraisers and the communities they serve. To honor that commitment, the Rebecca A. Powell Fund was created to support the AFP Ethics Program.
Supporting this fund is one of the most meaningful ways to carry Rebecca’s influence forward. Your gift sustains the work she poured herself into, equips fundraisers with the ethical guidance they rely on, and keeps her steady, principled voice present in the profession she helped shape.
By giving in her memory, you help ensure that the values she lived by continue to guide AFP—and the fundraising community—for years to come.
Make Your Gift to Honor Rebecca
Those who wish may also choose to contribute to the Alzheimer's Association.