Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia upcoming events

Planned Giving Course (Friday, April 17, 2026)

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:30:00 GMT

2026 Planned Giving Course®

The Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia announces the return of the Planned Giving Course® on April 17, 2026 at The American College of Financial Services in King of Prussia, PA.

Schedule:

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. - Registration and Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. - PG Course Sessions with a Break for Lunch
4:45 - 5:45 p.m. - Networking Reception

CFRE, PACE and CLE offered

Please note that there is a maximum capacity of 36 registrants for the in-person course and if we exceed that number, there will be a waiting list. The last time the Course was offered it sold out, so be sure to register early to save your seat!

Who will benefit from taking The Planned Giving Course®?

Those new to the field of planned giving
Professionals at cash-based fundraising departments who want to increase planned gifts
Seasoned fundraising professionals looking to refresh their knowledge of and gain new ideas for planned gifts
Board members and volunteers who fundraise for charitable organizations
Financial advisors and attorneys interested in building philanthropy into financial and estate plans
Anyone interested in learning more about planned giving while networking with like-minded professionals!

Curriculum (in-person)

Ethical Considerations When Working with Clients and Donors – Model Standards of Practice, Donor Bill of Rights, conflicts of interest, issues of competency
Best Practices – infrastructure, gift acceptance policies, fundraising campaigns
Taxes and Terminology – tax-incentivized gifts, charitable trusts, life income gifts
Tools and Rules – endowments, investment policies, resources and guidance
Marketing Planned Gifts - The most common communication vehicles and marketing approaches that any organization can implement in support of a planned giving program.

A networking reception will follow the conclusion of the final session.

Nearby accommodations:

Hyatt Place Philadelphia/King of Prussia

SpringHill Suites Philadelphia Valley Forge/King of Prussia

Fairfield Inn Philadelphia Valley Forge/King of Prussia

Registration Fees: $275 PGCGP members / $325 non-members
Breakfast, lunch and networking reception included in the registration fee. Parking is free.

June Education Programs (Thursday, June 11, 2026)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

More details for this program are coming soon.

Morning Session
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Luncheon Session

12:15 - 2:00 p.m.

Dear Members, did you know that your Council gets charged for every meal we sign up for even if registrants do not show up? We are trying to be mindful of unnecessary and wasteful expenditures and would rather spend this money on educational and networking opportunities. So if you register for this program but can no longer attend, we require cancellation notification at least three (3) business day in advance of the program. Members who do not attend without notice will be charged a $25 no-show fee.

Thank you for your understanding and help in reducing food waste and unnecessary expenses.

September Education Programs (Thursday, September 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

More details for this program are coming soon.

Morning Session
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Luncheon Session
12:15 - 2:00 p.m.

Thank you for your understanding and help in reducing food waste and unnecessary expenses.

2026 Planned Giving Day Conference (Wednesday, October 21, 2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

2026 Planned Giving Day Conference
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Inn at Villanova

Our Theme this year, “Legacy Reflections,” embodies the enduring power of legacy giving for today and tomorrow. Given the increasing array of social, economic and political challenges within our philanthropic landscape, the planned giving community remains confident that donors will continue to provide generous support. Planned giving retains its prominent role as donors reflect upon their personal legacies as well as consider the benefits of deferred along with current giving strategies. Our conference is a destination for personal and professional growth and the authenticity necessary for our collaborative efforts with individual philanthropists, large and small, crafting charitable legacies for tomorrow. Planned Giving Day provides an understanding of various planned giving options and the necessary information to structure and implement these charitable giving strategies. We encourage you to submit presentations focused on the current charitable giving environment – such as changing demographics, challenges in the financial market place, shifting national priorities and politics, blended gifts, and new marketing tools – and to illustrate their impact on philanthropic planning strategies.

Morning Keynote Speaker

Viken Mikaelian is the Founder and CEO of PlannedGiving.com, a leading planned giving marketing platform launched in 1998 — the same year Google was founded. Over 26 years, he has worked with more than 5,000 nonprofit clients and reached tens of thousands more through publications, boot camps, webinars, and advisory work. A nationally recognized speaker and author, he has presented at more than 500 fundraising conferences and authored over 1,500 articles on planned giving and philanthropy. Viken is donating his speaking fee to the Planned Giving Council of Greater Philadelphia.

The Bald Head in the Room

Viken Mikaelian has worked with over 5,000 nonprofits. He could deliver a safe, predictable keynote. He won’t.

Research shows that only 2% of fundraisers ever truly master the legacy conversation. This session is for those who intend to be in that 2%.

Built around short true stories, honest questions, and the theme of the day — Legacy Reflections — this is an interactive keynote where the audience matters as much as the speaker.

Expect laughs. Expect silence. Expect to be part of the conversation.

Bring your own stories. Viken will bring the questions.

Accommodations are available at the Inn at Villanova, the Radnor Hotel and the Residence Inn Conshohocken.