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High Propensity Donors: Who are they?

High propensity donors are the best prospects for making a major gift of assets or planned gift. They have both the ability to give and interest in giving to your organization. But, how do you know who they are? In this session, Dr. Eddie Thompson will reveal fourteen characteristics of high propensity donors based on both his own extensive experience and research by his firm, Thompson & Associates.

We anticipate that by participating in this session, participant will better understand:

• The characteristics of high propensity donors
• The best methods and techniques, which HP donors find attractive
• The reason why a few organizations secure gifts from HP donors

Eddie Thompson, Ed.D., FCEP founded the unique Thompson & Associates process in 1996 (then, under TrustMark Charitable Strategies) and later incorporating as its own entity in 2005.  As CEO of Thompson & Associates, Eddie provides leadership and direction to over 35 seasoned charitable estate planners with an inspiring sense of generosity, integrity and passion for helping others. 

By creating a unique values-based model at Thompson & Associates, Eddie and his team have established a way for people to dedicate the necessary time to consider important life decisions and to engage in thoughtful discussion that leads to optimal results for all.  

He has planned thousands of estates, which has generated billions of dollars to charity during his thirty plus years working with nonprofits.  Eddie speaks to organizations from coast to coast on successful fundraising techniques, nonprofit management and charitable estate planning and has garnered many honors during his distinguished career.  He credits his parents with shaping his personal and professional path; they were very poor, but very generous. 

Eddie serves as the Chair of the Charitable Estate Planning Institute, a 501(c)(3) public charity offering top level education on charitable estate planning for development staff, gift planning officers and professional advisors. Eddie and a group of Thompson & Associates colleagues formed the Institute in 2012.  He is also a Fellow in Charitable Estate Planning (FCEP) awarded by the Institute. 

A native of Florida, Eddie and his wife, Sheryl, have been married over more than 40 years and have made Nashville their home. They have two sons, one daughter and four grandchildren.  Eddie and his family are involved in many community organizations and their church. He is an instrument pilot with both land and seaplane ratings.