When
April 13–15, 2026
Where
Ashland, Kentucky
Delta Hotel · KY · WV · OH
Who Should Attend
All AFN members
Each year, the Network's Annual Gathering brings funders face-to-face with the communities, ideas, and local leaders shaping Central Appalachia's future. This multi-day convening delivers workshops building funders' skills, panels featuring the current work of our region's funders and on-the-ground organizations, and targeted presentations by federal staff.
During the Annual Gathering, we also offer site visits in the Appalachian communities surrounding the meeting venue. Past site visits have included a mountain bike trail project for economic development, a photography-focused arts organization supporting those with mental disabilities, a sanctuary for medicinal plant conservation, a water purification plant for acid mine runoff, and more.
Through these opportunities, we ground funder ambitions, strategies, and relationships in a real sense of place and purpose.
This year, in a double callback to our 2025 Gathering, which took place across both the Tennessee and Virginia borders, the 2026 Annual Gathering will chart our shared path forward in Ashland, Kentucky — a river city where three Appalachian states meet: West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.
Rail lines cross and generations of Appalachian grit, creativity, and reinvention converge here, reminding us that our futures and innovations do not stop at state lines. From a steel and manufacturing powerhouse to a hub of cultural revival, entrepreneurship, and civic energy, Ashland embodies both the complex history and bold possibility of our region.
This year's theme calls us to step boldly into what comes next — rooted in our shared past, grounded in our present realities, and lifted by the promise, creativity, and stubborn joy that fuel this region's future.
Connect with attendees, browse the schedule, and plan your gathering before you arrive.
Reserve your room in the AFN room block at the Delta Hotel in Ashland, Kentucky. Booking early is the safest bet — rooms tend to go quickly once folks start mapping out their travel.
Conference hotel · AFN room block
Alternative Accommodations with Room Blocks
Three airports serve the Ashland area. Huntington is by far the closest at just over 20 minutes away. If you choose to fly into Lexington or Charleston, we recommend renting a car. Once the event website is live, you will also be able to connect with fellow attendees about potential ridesharing options.
Huntington Tri-State Airport Closest
1449 Co Rte 3/1, Huntington, WV 25704
Airlines: American Airlines, Allegiant
West Virginia International Yeager
100 Airport Rd #175, Charleston, WV 25311
Airlines: American Airlines, Delta, United, Breeze
Lexington Blue Grass Airport
4000 Terminal Drive, Lexington, KY 40510
Airlines: Allegiant, American Airlines, United Airlines