In 1999, Donaldson was responsible in part for saving and restoring the Historic Hooper House on Main Street in Sylva to eventually become the home of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. 

Over the next 20 years, she also created or co-created the WNC Fly Fishing Trail (2008), the Concerts on the Creek music series (2009), the resurgence of the July 4 Fireworks Festivities (2015), N.C. Trout Capital (2016), and the Hook, Line and Drinker Festival (2017).