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
A Valuable Member of the Team: The Role of the Advisor in Planned Giving
Though they may not be the starting quarterback, advisors do play an important role in helping the gift reach the “finish line.” Host Grant Miller and Chris Woehrle discuss how and why to make engagement with attorneys, accountants and financial advisors a part of your program strategy. 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 One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What It Means for Planned Giving
Having a basic understanding of the OBBBA is essential when communicating with donors. Planned giving fundraising expert Phil Purcell explains what has changed, what hasn’t changed, the best gifts to promote this year and next and how, overall, the tax benefits for philanthropy are alive and well. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Phil Purcell is currently the director of planned giving for the Salvation Army Central Territory and editor of Planned Giving Today. Phil has guided countless nonprofits through the complexities of tax law, charitable tools and fundraising strategy. Additionally, he is a 2025 National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Hall of Fame inductee.
Making Cents of “The Great Wealth Transfer”
With trillions of dollars at stake, the Great Wealth Transfer has been a hot topic in the nonprofit and financial communities for decades. In this episode, the Sharpe Group team, led by Barlow Mann, break down what’s truth (and what’s fiction), which assets Boomers have to give and how to ensure your charity gets a piece of the pie. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is a creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Barlow Mann, Esq. 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, he has focused on consulting, seminar training and developing planned and major gift marketing efforts for small, medium and large nonprofit organizations. Julie Schuldner, Senior Consultant, has experience working with national health research organizations and national environmental and scientific education organizations, as well as small nonprofits of various different types of missions. She focuses on data appends and analytics, engagement strategies for donors and prospects, staff and board training on ethics, storytelling and marketing, and how to have the planned giving conversation. Kristin Croone, JD, Sharpe Group Senior Consultant, has worked for both law and accounting firms and has served as director of planned giving and legal counsel for the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. In addition, Kristin has valuable experience in donor stewardship as well as tax and estate planning law and processes, including estate settlement. 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.
Year-End Giving for the Years Ahead
Like peas and carrots. Sharpe consultants Julie Schuldner and Kristin Croone join host Grant Miller in a lively discussion about integrating planned giving into your year-end giving messaging. They share proven year-end communications strategies for success and discuss mistakes to avoid during the most generous time of the year. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Kristin Croone, JD, Sharpe Group Senior Consultant, has worked for both law and accounting firms and has served as director of planned giving and legal counsel for the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. In addition, Kristin has valuable experience in donor stewardship as well as tax and estate planning law and processes, including estate settlement. Julie Schuldner, MBA, CFRE®, Sharpe Group Senior Consultant, works with many Sharpe clients to analyze and update their donor data, plan their planned giving strategies and create effective donor communications.