American Family Housing Welcomes New Chief Development Officer

MIDWAY CITY, CA--(Marketwired - May 10, 2016) - American Family Housing (AFH) -- a nonprofit organization that provides housing and related services to low-income and homeless families and adults -- announced today the appointment of a new chief development officer, Meghan Vu. As the new leader of AFH's fund development programs, Vu will be responsible for donor cultivation, communication, solicitation and stewardship. Vu's seasoned leadership skills and overwhelming passion for helping others will contribute greatly to her role in the capital campaign for building Potter's Lane -- an energy-efficient and sustainable housing development that beautifully upcycles steel shipping containers to provide permanent housing for chronically homeless veterans. This project was recently granted a rental housing loan of $1.8 million for new construction from the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention program.

"When looking for candidates, we go to great lengths to find those with the right talent to support our organization's growth that also share our deep passion for serving the community," says Donna Gallup, president and CEO of AFH. "Meghan has a proven track record of successful strategic planning and effective cultivation of strong relationships. Her incredible work ethic, communication skills and connectivity make her a perfect fit for our organization. She came highly recommended, and I know she will be an asset to our community."

Before joining AFH, Vu spent nearly five years with Orange County United Way where she led aspects of the organization's major donor fundraising and donor engagement programs, including creating and managing cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for all giving programs. In the last fiscal year, Vu increased total annual individual gifts by 22 percent or $1.45 million. She also produced the most successful Women's Philanthropy Fund Breakfast event to date, increasing revenue by 19 percent or $70,000 compared to the previous year and successfully championed a restructure of the development department by maximizing its fundraising potential.

As the chief development officer, Vu will focus on growing American Family Housing's major donor base, while focusing on the richness and relevance of programs as well as the efficacy of best business practices, fiscal accountability and institutional impact. Additionally, she will be chief spokesperson representing the organization to internal and external constituencies.

For media requests and information, please contact Alex Farrar at alex@beyondfifteen.com or (949) 733-8679. For information and to donate to AFH, please visit www.afhusa.org or call (714) 897-3221.

ABOUT AMERICAN FAMILY HOUSING: Founded in 1985, American Family Housing (AFH) is a nonprofit organization that provides a continuum of housing and a broad spectrum of services to vulnerable populations facing barriers to achieving housing stability, including war veterans and adults with disabilities and mental illness. Operating 63 housing sites, with 267 units that serve more than 1,000 adults and children each year in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties, AFH is committed to permanently ending the cycle of homelessness, helping low-income families and adults achieve a self-sustaining way of life and become active members of their communities. Follow American Family Housing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and visit www.afhusa.org for more information.