The Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia recently held its annual Planned Giving Day Conference for which Schultz & Williams was both a sponsor and a speaker. Members from nonprofit organizations across the tristate area were in attendance for the region’s leading professional association event for individuals involved in charitable gift planning.
The day began with Andrea Custis, President & CEO of the Urban League of Philadelphia, giving a rousing and inspiring breakfast keynote presentation about her work and the Urban League’s impact on young black people in Philadelphia. Through the power of storytelling, she described countless ways in which individuals, civic organizations, corporations, and public officials can work together to foster an environment where people of color can thrive via economic independence and social mobility.
Later that morning, Don Kramer presented a thought-provoking series of questions around ethics in fundraising with a focus on planned gifts. Ethics discussions are constantly evolving as new issues arise and more attention is paid to sources of wealth.
The afternoon kicked off with Scott Schultz, President of Schultz & Williams and Mimi Blackwell, Director of Philanthropic Services at Friends Fiduciary covering a session titled: Doing Good and Doing Well: How to Create a Socially Responsible Approach to Planned Giving. They drove home the importance of meeting donors where they are regarding their philanthropy, noting that good stewardship and cultivation include understanding how socially responsible asset/endowment management plays an increasingly important role.
Throughout the luncheon, Robert F. Sharpe, Jr., CEO of Encore, presented an intriguing exploration of five primary factors that have proven the best barometers of funding success in the wake of COVID-19. He also offered a brief overview of new and proposed tax legislation followed by a description of COVID 19’s possible impact on popular charitable planning vehicles as the effects of the pandemic begin to wane.
Every session offered a unique perspective on the emerging challenges and innovations seen throughout the pandemic. Planned Giving Day 2021 was an opportunity to interact with a diverse community of individuals who feel just as passionately about philanthropic responsibility, donor acquisition, and charitable giving strategies.
