E-Newsletter

Written By: Delia G. Perez, CFRE, CAP®

Dear esteemed PGCGP members,

The end of year is traditionally a hectic time for the fundraising profession, and it feels like the second half of 2022 has been a frantic race toward “normalcy” with 2023 destined to be more of the same. It’s important to remember during the hustle and bustle of December to take time to celebrate you and your personal and professional accomplishments, and to fully enjoy reconnecting with loved ones, friends and colleagues in person once more.

That said, the new year is a great time to recommit to strengthening and growing our profession through the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia. Why not make a resolution to recruit a colleague to join the Council this year, or get involved with a committee or attend an upcoming workshop? Networking with others in the profession in a non-virtual setting is a highly rewarding and the best way to get the most of your participation.

As an example of the Council’s involvement within the fundraising community, PGCGP nominated the late Charles “Chuck” for the 2022 Association of Fundraising Professionals -- Greater Philadelphia Chapter’s Legacy Award. 

Happy holidays and warmest winter wishes for a sparkling new year!

Written By: Delia G. Perez, CFRE, CAP®

As we welcome the summer season, we hope you are fortunate enough to enjoy the good weather and engage in your favorite pursuits with family and friends. We also urge you to take advantage of the PGCGP educational curriculum to improve your overall philanthropic results on behalf of the nonprofits we serve and to learn from our expert presenters.

Please consider partnering with PGCGP to cultivate connections with our constituents and colleagues. Our educational sessions offer useful venues to interact with fellow practitioners who can share their insights and advice to achieve positive results within the planned giving field. Together we can share our success stories and best practices while benefiting both the causes we serve and the benefactors who support them with their philanthropic legacies.

We look forward to seeing you soon and all good wishes for a wonderful summer!

2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act major provisions currently scheduled to “sunset” December 31, 2025.

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Written By: Wade Pfau, Ph.D., CFA

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Michael A. Berardi
Financial Services Professional, offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, A Licensed Insurance Agency and New York Life Company
Agent, New York Life Insurance Company
PGCGP Member since 2022

What responsibilities do you have in your current role?

I help individuals and business owners plan for their futures using insurance and investments to reach their financial goals.

How is your work connected to gift planning?

For many people, they want to leave a legacy, sometimes not just to their family but to institutions that they’re grateful for – like their alma mater, a hospital that has helped them, a special cause. I learned very early on in my career that if you want to be remembered, leave something behind.

What part of your job do you find most enjoyable?

It’s not really a job because I love what I do. In my 23 years at New York Life I’ve never felt like it was just a job. Most importantly, I help people. Sometimes, unfortunately, that’s paying a death claim. Sometimes it’s seeing my clients’ goals come to fruition; I’m starting to see clients take money out of a college savings plan they started with me 20 years ago to help their children pay for college.

What concerns are you hearing from clients at this point in time?

So much uncertainty in the world with the economy, the safety of our children, the political divide in this country; some big lines in the sand being drawn right now and it’s scary. I’m getting contacted by clients right now worried about inflation and economy.  Certainly, regarding the economy, clients are concerned about investments so depending on where they are at in their lives, we’ll make adjustments.

How do you see planned gifts making a difference to charitable organizations?

It’s the bloodline of these organizations. Unfortunately, so many people want that instant gratification, both the institutions receiving the gifts and the people helping. If we don’t continue with the legacy planning, five or ten or fifteen years from now these organizations won’t be able to provide the services they’re providing now. People think that donors have to leave multi-million dollar bequests, but the reality is it’s the little gifts coming in consistently that keep these organizations going.

How do you benefit from your PGCGP membership?

I became involved after filling in for a scheduled speaker who couldn’t attend a PGCGP event last year and was asked to join the council. I felt I could really wrap my arms around the organization, like it was meant to be.

My business doesn’t afford a lot of instant gratification because it’s long-term strategies to put in place. I’m just now seeing some things that were put into place 20 years ago. For me to fill in that gap, to feel like I’m doing that good, I enjoy volunteering to get that instant gratification, which makes a difference on these sorts of committees. I bring what I know of my business to educate (PGCGP) members on ways to help maximize gifts from their donors and leverage their gifts a little bit better. I can be a great resource by also bringing the knowledge and resources of New York Life’s advance planning team¹.

¹As an Agent of New York Life, I have exclusive access to the Advanced Planning Group - a premier planning team at New York Life Insurance Company with experience in law, accounting, insurance and business planning. My access to these resources allows me to bring experience, value and insight to assist you with your business and estate planning needs. Neither New York Life nor we provide legal or tax advice.

Written By: Delia G. Perez, CFRE, CAP®

Chinese New Year 2022 began on February 1^st 2022, ushering in The Year of the Water Tiger along with its power, passion, and daring. Now is the time to pounce, take a risk, and start new endeavors. Courage, bravery and bold actions are rewarded and maybe we will finally banish COVID in 2022.

According to Chinese astrology, Tiger years set the stage for creativity, innovation and deep insights. It’s a time of extremes when all of life’s activities will be experienced on a grand scale. Tempers flare, drama and excitement reign, and dreams can become reality while social change, political unrest and economic uncertainty abound.  

There is no middle ground in a Tiger year with its much-needed dynamism and energy. This is the time to be bold and tackle new projects, and learn new things. Pursue a new job or career, keep progressing and working towards a better future, because you will have the wind at your back during the Year of the Water Tiger!

The new year and swiftly approaching springtime, represent a time to reflect and recalibrate, review your accomplishments and determine if you achieved your goals, fell short or exceeded your own expectations. Only you know for sure if you did your best. 

We encourage you to take advantage of the PGCGP educational curriculum and improve your results. We plan to return to our usual in-person meetings at the Racquet Club in Philadelphia in June 2022 as COVID rates continue to decrease. Please join us for our virtual March 25^th and April 1^st educational sessions to learn from our expert presenters. 

PGCGP offers a mentoring program for newcomers in the planned giving field and assigns seasoned professionals to help grow a budding career. We offer multiple opportunities for volunteer assignments supporting our council activities and invite you to consider joining your colleagues in service for our profession. We need your help to support PGCGP initiatives. One of the benefits of volunteering is a great networking connection with your colleagues to discuss important facets of your work and exchange ideas to improve effectiveness and efficiency. 

Make the most of your PGCGP membership and re-energize your work life this year. Wow your donors with excellent stewardship and let them know they are appreciated. Discuss the impact of their generosity, thank them often, ask their advice, and extend an invitation to visit without always soliciting donations. Phone frequently and let your donors know they are important and matter to the mission of your organization. And whenever possible, go visit your donors.

Be sure to invest in you! Take a course, attend a conference, and strengthen your skill set. Be a better professional by taking better care of you. Get a good night’s sleep, take walks and exercise, and whenever possible, spend time with your loved ones and the important people in your life. Always remember, our donors and the missions we serve deserve us at our very best; don’t skimp on yourself or them.

We hope the Year of the Tiger will surprise you as one of your best years ever, and as they say for the Chinese New Year: "Gong xi fa cai," which means “wishing you great happiness and prosperity.”

Written by: Katrina M. Pipasts, CSPG,  Director of Planned Giving Services Foundation & Institutional Advisors

It's Time to Revisit Your Gift Acceptance and Windfall Gift Policies

Renée P. Atkinson
Director, Gift Planning
Swarthmore College
PGCGP member since 1996

How did you become involved in the area of gift planning?

I was lured away from my job at PNC Bank to work for a private gift administration business. I learned most of what I know about Gift Planning from the late Peter Hemmenway. The business is now a part of PGCalc.

What responsibilities do you have in your current role?

My primary responsibility is to support the mission of Swarthmore College by assisting donors who want to make an impact on the college using their time, talent, treasure and testimony. Planned giving is the tool I use to assist alumni fulfill their philanthropic goals at Swarthmore.  I am also responsible for tracking and handling estates that come to the college, compliance for our gift planning program, work with our communications team on planned giving marketing and collaborate with colleagues to handle reunion giving for the 50 plus milestone reunion years.

What part of your job do you find most enjoyable?

Each time I meet with donors, I am reminded why I do this job. It is uplifting to listen to the stories of why they love the college and the reason for their desire to give back to an institution that means so much to them. I’ve met incredible people.

What has been the most impactful gift you have worked on in your career?

I would have to say the most impactful gift I’ve worked on is not the largest, but meant so much to the donor. She is an older alumna of, in her words, “modest means” and was not very connected to the college. However, as she contemplated her mortality she knew she wanted to help a Swarthmore College student.  As a recent immigrant to the U.S. when she matriculated, she had a difficult time adjusting to the point of contemplating taking her life. She felt if her six-figure gift could in anyway help a student from experiencing what she did, then it was worth it. 

What are you hearing from donors and prospects at this point in time?

Right now, I am hearing a mixture of hope with the lifting of the pandemic and despair with the start of the Russia/Ukraine war.  Our donors continue to be generous and are giving through IRAs and Donor Advised Funds.  It is prudent of us as gift planners to forge relationships with financial advisors and vice versa. We should all want the same thing – to assist our donor/clients in the way that makes most sense for them.

How do planned gifts make a difference to your organization?

Planned gifts insure the future of the college. I like to say that while outright giving is king, planned giving rules.

How do you benefit from your PGCGP membership?

I’ve benefited from my 18 plus years of membership in the council in many ways. I’ve been able to increase my knowledge about more complex gifts through the quarterly education sessions and Planned Giving Day, I’ve met peers who’ve become mentors and friends and I’ve taken advantage of the council’s mentorship program to become a mentor myself.

Written By: Delia G. Perez, CFRE, CAP®

As the year’s end swiftly approaches, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their efforts throughout the year. The success of the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia relies on the contributions of our members and this past year, we enjoyed much success in spite of the lingering impact of the pandemic. On behalf of PGCGP, thank you for your dedicated support of the council throughout the year.

We’ve come through a year filled with both challenges and opportunities, and it’s been reassuring to know that we can count on your endorsement of our council to provide an informative and educational curriculum focused on best practices in planned giving. On behalf of the council, we extend our genuine appreciation to each and every one you for your invaluable support of PGCGP.

We encourage you to explore ways to get the most from your PGCGP membership: 

• Regularly attend PGCGP’s Educational Programs offered in-person at the Racquet Club in Philadelphia to stay current in our field.
• Register for the two-day Planned Giving Course in April 2022 as an informative overview of planned giving’s role in our field of philanthropy. 
• Attend our annual premier educational event, the Planned Giving Day Conference, on October 27^th 2022 at the Union League in Philadelphia to improve overall philanthropic results on behalf of the causes we serve.
• Volunteer your time and expertise. Get involved with PGCGP committees to ensure the success of PGCGP program offerings while also strengthening your own professional skills.
• Get acquainted with our sponsors and take advantage of the quality services and products they provide to better serve our planned giving community. We remain deeply grateful for our ongoing partnerships with our sponsors.

As we reflect on events on the past year, be sure to cherish time with family and friends, and also resolve to make 2022 the best of years. With all good wishes and happiness to you and your families for a wonderful holiday season.

Wishing you healthy and happy holidays!