Planning in Practice (PIP) - September 17, 2020

   Program: 9:30am - 10:30am 

   Casual Networking: 10:30am - 11:00am

Program Description:

Eighty-five percent of Americans donate to charities during their lifetime, yet fewer than 5.7% of Americans leave a charitable gift in their estate plans. Why is this? Perhaps the charitable organizations never asked or developed the trusted relationships necessary to merit being added to a will. All charitable organizations, regardless of size, can and should have a bequest program. In many planned giving programs, realized bequests may account for 80%-90% or more of all planned gifts. However, many charities choose to passively accept bequests. Organizations with the most successful bequest programs take a proactive approach by marketing and soliciting bequest gifts. This presentation will review the top ways to encourage bequests – from identifying best prospects to donors’ options for making a bequest, to marketing and stewardship. We will also discuss how to have conversations with donors about making a bequest gift.

Presented by:

Cathy R. Sheffield, CAP®, CFRE, CSPG, FCEP

Founder and President, ThinkGiving

Cathy is on a mission to help nonprofits raise more planned and major gifts. Cathy is a nationally recognized planned giving thought leader with 25-years in healthcare and higher education. From the moment you meet Cathy, you will recognize her enthusiasm for her work, appreciate her collaborative method for achieving results for both donors and nonprofit organizations alike, and welcome her sense of humor. 

Cathy serves on the American Council on Gift Annuities Board of Directors, is the current President of the Fort Worth Metro Chapter of AFP and was the 2017 Board Chair of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners. Cathy is a faculty member of the American Institute for Philanthropic Studies which administers the Certified Specialist in Planned Giving designation program. Cathy is a co-host of Charitable Chit Chat with Cathy & Claire, a radio show for philanthropy professionals. 

Cathy received her MBA from Texas Christian University and her undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University.  

Continuing Education Credit: CFRE (*Pending approval)

Program Fees: Members - $25; Non-members - $35

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Registration closes September 15, 2020.