The Role of the Attorney

Posted March 15th, 2024

Attorneys play a crucial role in charitable giving by providing legal guidance and expertise to individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations involved in philanthropy. Though their role encompasses various aspects of charitable giving, here we will discuss their role as the donor’s advisor. Attorneys assist in developing tax-efficient strategies for charitable giving. This may involve advising …Read More

The Role of the Accountant

Posted March 7th, 2024

An accountant is the advisor most likely to have detailed information on a donor’s tax and cash-flow situation, and they are often the closest and most trusted advisor for business owners. Therefore, an accountant may appreciate a detailed proposal about a charitable gift. What they do for your donor Accountants work with clients to optimize …Read More

Getting To Know the Advisors

Posted February 26th, 2024

The phrase “it takes a village” couldn’t be more applicable to fundraising, especially to completing gifts and advisors.  How many times have you worked diligently to get to the point where your donor says, “I want to make this gift,” and you’re thinking, “Where—and with whom—do I begin?” In addition to family members, one or …Read More

Using SWOT Analysis for Nonprofit Organizations

Posted February 23rd, 2024

As I have made the transition to working with charities, I have found there are many tools and methods used in the for-profit world that can be applied successfully to nonprofit organizations. One of these is SWOT analysis, whose creation is generally attributed to Albert Humphrey in the 1960s at the Stanford Research Institute. to …Read More

Paddling Ducks and Napping Turtles

Posted February 6th, 2024

The window of my home office overlooks a beautiful natural pond filled with ducks and turtles. While the water appears calm and lovely most days, and the ducks are gently swimming back and forth, I cannot help but think about the chaos of their flippers underneath, propelling them from one side of the pond to …Read More

What We NEED To Know

Posted February 5th, 2024

When I have a project on my to-do list, I like to prepare far in advance. For me, it feels good to have a looming assignment taken care of. This is why I began working on my presentations for the recent Sharpe Charitable Giving SUMMIT in September of last year. I did my research, designed …Read More

Lessons From My Dad

Posted February 5th, 2024

Growing up, I watched my father (who just celebrated his 93rd birthday) give blood to the Red Cross, deliver food to the local food bank and take leadership roles in our church. Through his actions, I learned the importance of philanthropy, which led me to my career in fundraising. Another important lesson I learned from …Read More

Legacies

Posted January 29th, 2024

I found my passion for working with nonprofits as a career later in life. Making the switch from the for-profit world, I had a desire to redirect my legacy and leave the world better than I found it. My newest client is a faith-based organization primarily located in the Middle East and Eastern Africa with …Read More

Commitments, Not Resolutions

Posted January 22nd, 2024

According to Forbes Health, in a survey conducted in October of 2023, 48% of Americans with a 2024 New Year’s resolution planned to improve their fitness. Most resolutions, unfortunately, last just two to three months. For those who know me best, a commitment to exercise has never been part of my identity. However, I can …Read More

Good Times for Gift Annuities

Posted January 15th, 2024

When it comes to charitable gift annuity programs, the past several decades have been difficult ones. Like a perfect storm, lower interest rates combined with a smaller group of Silent Generation donors who had aged into the 75+ age range, causing the long-popular split-interest gift plan to lose some of its appeal. But now things …Read More