Distinguished Service Award to Melissa Wagner Filipi. The award is designed to commemorate the dedicated leadership of Bob Sandberg and to recognize in his honor, notable and distinctive service to the planned giving profession.
Filipi has served the nonprofit and charitable sector at the highest levels for nearly 20 years. Her service, both as a direct line fund raiser and as a consultant, has included the Humane Society, the Dressage Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club, Audubon and the Community Services Fund of Nebraska.
In addition to her undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, Melissa also received her Master’s in Business Administration from UNO and, in 2011, she received the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential – the CFRE.
In addition to her demanding professional role, she has also served on a number of nonprofit Boards including the Keno Human Services Advisory Board designing programs for children and families in need.
Melissa’s service to the gift planning profession is well-known in Nebraska. She has served on the Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska’s Board of Directors for nearly 13 years including two years as President. Her leadership helped establish regular goal-setting and strategic planning efforts for the association’s membership and Board that continues today.
The CGP of Nebraska is honored to name Filipi as the 2019 J. Robert Sandberg Distinguished Service Award recipient.
Past winners of this distinguished award include: J. Robert Sandberg, Robert Chitwood, Jim Heller, Melvin Friesen, Michael Geis, Tom Cullinan, Jim Gustafson, CK Duryea, Chan Tyrrell, Paul Strawhecker, Jodie Nolan, Marty Ricks and Kristine Morton.
The recipient of this award must have tenure in the planned giving profession. This person must be an active member of the Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska. Also, this person must have made a difference, demonstrated his/her commitment, and mentored others in the field of planned giving.
