Speaker: Russell James

Dr. James has new research to share on what growing planned giving programs do differently from stagnant programs. Presenting live to us via Skype, he’ll reveal the types of donors they seek, the types of gifts they accept and their most successful strategies for reaching out to donors and following up after gifts are committed.

Speakers:  Laura Hansen Dean and Pam Davidson

When a donor says “I would love to make the gift we’ve talked about, BUT…,” development officers hear a NO and may not listen to what comes after the BUT. Donors may not know they can combine a gift and accomplish a personal financial goal at the same time. We’ll review the most common reasons donors tell development officers why they cannot make a gift and practice what to say to keep the gift conversation moving forward.

Gift planners need to be aware of challenges and opportunities related to estate settlement, even if they aren’t in charge of the process. If things aren’t going well, your donor’s may not ever be completed. Panelists will discuss what happens when a donors dies, including things like rights and responsibilities of charitable beneficiaries, what to expect during the will/trust administration and protecting the charity’s interests, collecting retirement plan and insurance assets, terminating life income gifts and retained life estates, fulfilling donor intent, when to hire an attorney, and continuing stewardship. 

Speaker:  Cathy Sheffield

What do you own? Is it valuable (and how do you know)? Has the value appreciated? Do your kids want it? Do you owe anything on it? Are you thinking about selling it? Wouldn’t it be great to just straight up ask the questions that will help you identify assets that might be ripe for charitable giving? When you can’t be that blunt, Greg Sharkey helps you ease into conversations that yield the information you need to develop gift options.

More Americans own real estate than any other asset, and Russel James’s research demonstrates that impact that real estate gifts have on development income.

You don’t need to be an expert in real estate to help donors consider plans that include their home or investment property. At this meeting, you’ll build a working knowledge of real estate opportunities and challenges so that you can participate in discussions with donors, advisors and your own managers. You’ll leave the meeting ready to respond to questions from donors, manager and advisors. Your answers can lead everyone to more meaningful gifts.

The millionaire next door is retiring soon, and his kids don’t want to run the business. This is the wealth transfer in action, and gift planners need to recognize opportunities that are much more lucrative than a gift from proceeds after the sale. In a further exploration of the donor case introduced in February, this session begins with the simplest possible options that are within the reach even of small nonprofits and progresses to several more complex options that require specialized planning counsel.

Ethical practice crosses disciplines in the gift planning world. Undue influence, unauthorized practice, diminished capacity, negligence in drafting agreements or in honoring donor intent are hazards for advisors and attorneys. In the session, consider how you’d respond to a variety of common ethical dilemmas before hearing from experienced panelists.