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7:30 – 8:30am: Registration, Breakfast and Sponsor Exhibits
8:30 – 8:45am: Welcome
Carol Eames
Gift Planning Officer,
American Red Cross
8:45 – 9:45am: Keynote Address
Understanding Death: A Culturally Competent Approach
Angel Flores, CSPG
Senior Vice President,
CCS Fundraising
We use many terms and euphemisms related to death in our work as gift planners–realized bequests, testamentary gifts, life estates. Yet, how much do any of us really know about death preparation and celebration practices? Participants will leave this session with a deepened understanding of various practices related to preparation for dying and death across cultures and religions. We’ll explore how, in our roles as fundraisers, we can use this enhanced cultural competency to improve our understanding of our donors and strengthen our relationships with them.
9:45 – 10:00am: Break and Sponsor Exhibits
10:00 – 11:00am: Breakout Session I
Breakout Session I: Track One
Planned Giving 101: Introduction to Gift Planning
William Dolan, JD
Vice President, Senior Philanthropic Advisor,
U.S. Bank, Charitable Services Group
Designed for attendees who are new to planned giving or are in need of a refresher of the basics, this seminar will provide a broad overview of types of planned gifts. We will cover bequests, beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, and IRA gifts with an explanation of what each of these tools are and how they can benefit your donors. We will also take a moment to look at the big picture of planned giving, what it is and how it fits into development.
Breakout Session I: Track Two
Are Charitable Deductions Holding Us Back?
Sharon Benson
Independent Philanthropy Advisor,
SB Strategies
If donors paid taxes up front, would we need less philanthropy? We’ll examine history and current events to consider the implications of tax-driven charitable giving.
Fundraising with a fairness lens acknowledges the connection between tax avoidance at the front end and philanthropy at the back end: if more tax was paid, would we need as much philanthropy?
We’ll examine the history and implications of tax-avoidance charitable giving, talk openly about philanthropy’s role in wealth stockpiling, and ponder if it’s possible to use a social justice lens to engage donors in a more equitable way.
Breakout Session I: Track Three
Insurance and Charitable Giving
Kendall Blunt, CLU
Founder,
Requisite Resources, LLC
Jim Pittman, CLU, CFP, CLTC
President,
Insurance Consulting Services, Inc
Insurance experts will discuss how life insurance can be used to maximize philanthropic support while also solving for common issues. The session will include an overview of common policy types, ownership, valuation, insurable interest, and more. Case studies will include life insurance strategies that address equitable gifting to family (and charity) and to solve for liquidity challenges.
Common policy types and terms will be covered, such as permanent life, whole life, insurable interest, commercial annuities, and second-to-die. Case studies will focus on common challenges for private business owners facing succession planning or sale (balancing gifts to family and charity) and how insurance can be used when the donor is not liquid.
11:00 – 11:20am: Break and Sponsor Exhibits
11:20am – 12:20pm: Breakout Session II
Breakout Session II: Track One
Planned Giving 102: Legacy Giving and How to Talk to Your Donors About It
William Dolan, JD
Vice President, Senior Philanthropic Advisor,
U.S. Bank, Charitable Services Group
Now that we know what the types of planned gift are, let’s look closer at how they intersect with your donor’s estate planning and how to identify opportunities to discuss these vehicles with your donors. We will discuss when these tools may be appropriate for your donors and what the next steps are when you identify a prospective planned gift. Part of this discussion will also focus on marketing of planned gifts as well as a discussion on legacy giving in general, the motivations involved, and how to work with your donors to help ensure that their intent and wishes are fulfilled by their planning.
Breakout Session II: Track Two
Beyond the Ask: Cultivating Legacy Through Values-Based Planning
Scott Claeys, CAP, CFRE, FCEP,
Senior Director of Gift Planning,
Salvation Army
Jan Jacobs, CAP
Philanthropic Client Manager,
Bank of America Private Bank
Monica Long
Executive Director of Planned Giving,
Providence
This panel session tackles the legacy giving disconnect: while many Americans support charities annually, far fewer include charitable gifts in their estate plans. Lead by Leave 10 board members, we’ll explore the cultural, economic, and emotional obstacles hindering these gifts and provide practical strategies to overcome them.
Participants will learn how to confidently initiate conversations about planned giving, emphasizing its power to empower donors to protect their family and provide for the community. The session will include case studies illustrating effective approaches across different generations and donor types.
Breakout Session II: Track Three
Yes, You Can Accept That Gift!
Jeffrey Thede, JD
Partner,
Thede Culpepper Moore Munro & Silliman LLP
A review of complex and “problematic” charitable gifts and ideas to allow acceptance. Too many charitable organizations are forced to decline gifts because of rigid gift acceptance policies or a lack of understanding. In this presentation we will review a variety of “problematic” gifts, identify the technical and practical risks to a variety of “problematic” gifts, identify the technical and practical risks to the donor and the charity, and explore ideas to facilitate acceptance of the gift.
12:20 – 1:40pm: Lunch and Program
1:40 – 2:40pm: Breakout Session III
Breakout Session III: Track One
Putting the Plan in Planned Giving—Your Post-Conference Playbook
Liz Arrington, CSPG
Senior Director of Principal Gifts,
OHSU Foundation
Teri Patapoff, CFRE, CSPG
Director of Development,
OHSU Foundation
Charitable gift planning can be an intimidating and overwhelming facet of philanthropy. For those newer to the concept, it’s easy to leave conferences and courses energized by the ideas but unsure how to put that inspiration into action. This session, presented by two gift planning professionals who were intentional in building their own toolkits and mapping their careers, will examine how to convert ideas into action, focusing on five areas: equipping yourself with knowledge and skills, enhancing gift planning in your workplace (regardless of your title), building and activating your network and mentors, identifying professional advisor partners, incorporating planned giving into your donor work, and doing it all with ethics, integrity, and self confidence. Attendees will leave with a playbook of specific action items empowering them to dive into the fulfilling work of charitable gift planning.
Breakout Session III: Track Two
Harnessing Data to Transform Gift Planning: A Strategic Approach
Jessie Myers
Senior Coordinator for the Office of Gift Planning,
Oregon State University Foundation
Jenna Proctor
Associate Director of Relationships Insights,
Oregon State University Foundation
Learn how data-driven strategies and cross-department collaboration enhance gift planning pipelines, improve donor engagement, and optimize future campaign planning for long-term fundraising success.
This session explores how data analytics and strategic collaboration between Advancement Services and Gift Planning teams can transform donor engagement and pipeline development. Presenters, Jenna Proctor and Jessie Myers (Sr. Coordinator, Gift Planning, OSUF) will share insights on leveraging GP involvement coding, predictive scoring, and enhanced tracking to identify and cultivate planned giving prospects. Attendees will gain practical strategies for using data to improve stewardship of unbooked gifts and drive future fundraising success. The session will be presented using engaging slides with real-world examples. Key takeaways include innovative data applications, strategic partnership benefits, and actionable methods to optimize gift planning efforts.
Breakout Session III: Track Three
Intergenerational Wealth Transfer & Family Succession Planning
Patrick Green, JD
Principal,
TruNorth Partners
Scott Phillips
Managing Partner and Founder,
TruNorth Partners
At TruNorth partners we’ve seen that passing down a business is about more than continuity—it’s also a chance to reflect values, legacy and purpose. And increasingly, founders and owners want their transition to include a charitable component. But how do you do that without disrupting the deal – or their family dynamics? Today we’ll share how this can be done, including two real-life stories where owners used the succession moment to give back meaningfully.
2:40 – 3:00pm: Dessert and Sponsor Exhibits
3:00 – 4:00pm: Breakout Session IV
Breakout Session IV: Track One
Planned Giving Essentials for Small Shops
Amy Easton
Development Director, Gifts and Communications,
ALS Northwest
Small-shop fundraisers can build sustainable planned giving programs – even when juggling multiple roles – by using focused tools, loyal donor insights and adaptable strategies outlined in this model.
This solo presentation is designed for fundraisers juggling multiple roles. Using practical tools and guided handouts, attendees will walk away with achievable steps to integrate planned giving into their annual workflow. A key learning outcome is the ability to answer: “Are we prepared to accept a large gift—and what would we do with it?” If not, participants will be encouraged to take that discussion back to their board or leadership.The session includes brief slides, printed materials, and guided small-group conversations to encourage dialogue, reflection, and action planning tailored to small-shop realities.
Breakout Session IV: Track Two
Cultivating Connections: Right-Sized Strategies for Stronger Professional Advisor Relationships
Rebecca Bibleheimer, JD, LLM, CAP
Senior Complex Gift Officer,
Oregon Community Foundation
Elena Fracchia,
Founder & CEO,
The Good Philanthropist
Kim Kono, MPA, CFRE, CAP
Senior Philanthropic Partner,
Oregon Community Foundation
Liz Lawrence
Philanthropic Advisor,
Oregon Community Foundation
Ryland Moore, MCRP
Business Development Officer and Wealth Manager,
Coldstream
A focused conversation about how to have effective partnerships with professional advisors around gift planning, even if you are starting a legacy program or have limited resources and capacity.
Professional advisors, such as attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, are important partners to development professionals and donors in planned giving. Yet, many nonprofits may not be maximizing their relationships with advisors, or even know how to begin that connection. In this session, Oregon Community Foundation shares the program and processes they developed to foster effective collaborations with professional advisors, from creating specialized learning programs to implementing stewardship strategies. This moderated discussion with OCF development staff, including Rebecca Bibleheimer, Senior Complex Gifts Officer, and a professional advisor, will also include interesting case studies that show how work with professional advisors on unique gifts can unfold. Development staff at organizations of all sizes will come away with fundamental steps they can take to build a stronger professional advisor network.
Breakout Session IV: Track Three
Giving Trends, Legislative Changes and the Market – What Advisors and Donors Need to Know
Mary Lago, CFP, CTFA
Chief Wealth Strategist, Principal Shareholder,
Ferguson Wellman
Charitable giving is evolving at a rapid pace, shaped by shifting tax policies, economic conditions, and new strategies that influence how donors engage with philanthropy. This session will explore current trends in charitable gift planning, highlight the most significant legislative changes impacting advisors and their clients, and examine how broader market forces affect donor behavior and planning opportunities.
Whether you work directly with donors or advise them on tax and estate strategies, you’ll gain practical insights into how these changes intersect and what they mean for philanthropic planning in 2025 and beyond. You’ll be equipped with the tools to anticipate donor needs, navigate regulatory updates, and seize opportunities to align giving strategies with personal values and financial goals—while also unlocking new possibilities for organizations to strengthen and enhance their missions through this evolving landscape.