Dylan Gunnels
Founder & Director
The Agape Table
Nonprofit
Original Join Date: 2022
Professional Bio
Dylan Gunnels (he/him) is a South Carolina–based activist, community organizer, writer, facilitator, and social entrepreneur. A graduate of Charleston Southern University with a BA in Theology, Dylan has spent his career at the intersection of faith and nonprofit leadership, walking alongside individuals and communities as they explore identity, belonging, and purpose.
Dylan is the Founder & Director of The Agape Table, an organization dedicated to healing, educating, and activating communities to create a South Carolina where every LGBTQ+ person belongs. He also serves as Missions Pastor at Emmaus Church, President of South Carolina Pride, co-owns Terracotta Nursery Columbia, and consults with nonprofit leaders across the state through his work in coaching and organizational development.
With experience spanning nearly every facet of nonprofit work - including programming, case management, fundraising, leadership, board governance, advocacy, and community engagement - Dylan brings a deeply practical and relational approach to his work. He has served in roles ranging from case worker to executive director, pastor to board president, shaping a coaching style that is grounded in practical leadership and the day-to-day realities organizations face.
As a facilitator and coach, Dylan partners with nonprofits, faith communities, and grassroots organizations to strengthen their impact and sustainability. He works closely with leaders to connect mission to resources, emphasizing that fundraising is not just about money, but about meaning—rooted in storytelling, trust, and authentic relationships. He believes lasting organizational health requires both art and science: strong systems and data alongside a culture of care, liberation, and belonging.
Dylan is the Founder & Director of The Agape Table, an organization dedicated to healing, educating, and activating communities to create a South Carolina where every LGBTQ+ person belongs. He also serves as Missions Pastor at Emmaus Church, President of South Carolina Pride, co-owns Terracotta Nursery Columbia, and consults with nonprofit leaders across the state through his work in coaching and organizational development.
With experience spanning nearly every facet of nonprofit work - including programming, case management, fundraising, leadership, board governance, advocacy, and community engagement - Dylan brings a deeply practical and relational approach to his work. He has served in roles ranging from case worker to executive director, pastor to board president, shaping a coaching style that is grounded in practical leadership and the day-to-day realities organizations face.
As a facilitator and coach, Dylan partners with nonprofits, faith communities, and grassroots organizations to strengthen their impact and sustainability. He works closely with leaders to connect mission to resources, emphasizing that fundraising is not just about money, but about meaning—rooted in storytelling, trust, and authentic relationships. He believes lasting organizational health requires both art and science: strong systems and data alongside a culture of care, liberation, and belonging.
Organization