Sharpe Insights: Conversations With Your Planned Giving Experts
Sharpe Insights: Conversations With Your Planned Giving Experts is the podcast for nonprofit development professionals looking to deepen their understanding of planned giving. Whether you’re new to planned giving or looking to enhance your existing program, we will provide you with practical tips, expert advice and real-world stories.
Host Grant Miller will explore the nuances of planned giving, covering everything from building relationships with donors to understanding the various gift vehicles to learning how to ask for a planned gift. We’ll feature advice from Sharpe consultants and interviews with planned giving professionals who will share strategies for engaging donors in meaningful...Show more
All Episodes
Mistletoe, Markets and the True Meaning of Year-End Giving
Taking a break from checking those lists (twice) we’ve got Barlow Mann in the Insights studio at the North Pole office for a lively Q&A with the Sharpe elves—host Grant Miller and special guest Teri Sullivan. They talk tax law changes, December giving strategies and the best-laid plans for 2026. Panelist info: Santa’s elf and podcast host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Barlow “Santa” Mann, JD. Sharpe Group’s General Counsel, attended National Planned Giving Institute Seminars, joining the faculty in the late 1970’s. He began his career at several university development offices and a healthcare center. In his decades at Sharpe Group, he has focused on consulting, seminar training and developing planned and major gift marketing efforts for small, medium and large nonprofit organizations. Santa’s elf #2, Teri Sullivan, is the vice president of marketing for Sharpe Group. She has been a marketing professional for more than three decades. Prior to joining Sharpe, she was led promotion strategies for a public broadcasting station and served on the board of a literacy organization.
Donor-Advised Funds: Unlocking Potential for Philanthropy
In this episode of Sharpe Insights: Conversations with Your Planned Giving Experts, I, Grant Miller, delve into the world of donor-advised funds (DAFs) and their transformative potential for philanthropy. Joining me is Sarah Barba, an expert in philanthropy and tax policy, who shares her insights on why DAFs have surged in popularity among donors. We discuss the flexibility, tax advantages, and ease of use that make DAFs an attractive option for charitable giving. Sarah clarifies the mechanics of DAFs, including how they can streamline grant-making while providing donors with advisory privileges. We also explore the implications of recent legislative changes and how fundraisers can adapt to engage effectively with DAF donors. Tune in for expert tips and practical strategies to enhance your planned giving efforts.
No Need to Fear: How Do Digital Assets Factor into Planned Giving?
Are digital assets the “unknown unknowns?” In a timely discussion with host Grant Miller, Sharpe Group technical consultant Chris Woehrle sheds some light on the role they can play in estate planning and planned giving. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Chris Woehrle, JD, LLM is a technical consultant for Sharpe Group, writing and editing our advisory communications. A magna cum laude graduate of Cornell University, Chris earned his JD and LLM (Taxation) from the Widger School of Law at Villanova University, where he is a member of the Graduate Tax Program Advisory Board. He also teaches charitable gift planning and principles of wealth management in the LLM taxation program.
The Donor Relationship Roadmap: The Road Less Taken
Meaningful donor relationships don’t happen overnight—they happen over time. And sometimes you have to go off the beaten path. Join host Grant Miller as he talks to Sharpe Senior Consultant Joe Chickey who shares his own fundraising stories that will provide creative ideas for connecting with donors beyond the donor visit. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Joe Chickey, MBA, CFP®, Sharpe Group Senior Vice President and Senior Consultant, brings more than 30 years of experience to gift planning. He assesses planned giving programs for Sharpe clients and helps them create and enhance their planned giving strategic plans.