PPGC News and Updates

CGP is delighted to announce the Hall of Fame 2024 inductees. Three outstanding professionals were selected for the 2024 Hall of Fame Award: Angela Woo Sosdian, Bruce Bigelow, PhD, and posthumously, Alice Pinsley, PhD. Over the course of their careers, they continue the mission of charitable gift planning through their dedication to philanthropy and impact on the organizations they've served.

Congratulations to the new inductees!

Click here to read more.

Dear Members and Friends,

As we reach the halfway mark of 2024, I am thrilled to share the progress and highlights of our council's activities. Since assuming my role as president in January, it has been a rewarding experience to see the dedication and enthusiasm of our members in advancing the mission of planned giving in our community. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the events we've hosted so far this year and provide a preview of our upcoming activities.

Highlights of 2024 Events

1. Philanthropy is a Team Sport (January 9, 2024) Mike Bell emphasized the collaborative nature of philanthropy, highlighting the crucial roles of the CEO, Chief Development Officer, and Board members. He discussed the importance of leveraging leadership visibility to promote philanthropy, and the need for seamless collaboration between gift planning officers and other fundraisers.
2. Understanding Taxation & Philanthropy from a Gift Officer’s Perspective (March 19, 2024) Natalie Taylor & Richard Peyser, provided gift officers and financial advisors with a primer on tax-wise giving covering taxation, tax rates, standard deduction vs. itemizing, capital gains impact, and utilizing assets to maximize philanthropic impact.
3. Promises Made, Promises Kept, and a Promising Future (May 14, 2024) Saleem Ghubril & Chan-Elle Vassell presented "Promises Made, Promises Kept, and a Promising Future," a discussion highlighting the evolution and impact of The Pittsburgh Promise, which has awarded nearly 12,000 scholarships worth $174 million. The speakers discussed lessons from their journey and the future direction of the organization, emphasizing the importance of local voices in fundraising and social change.

Upcoming Events

1. PPGC Summer Social (July 16, 2024) Join us for an evening of networking and celebration at our Summer Social Event at the East Side Campus of the Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh. This gathering will be a fantastic opportunity to connect with other fundraising professionals, share experiences, and enjoy a relaxing evening together. Hors d'oeuvres, light refreshments and a tour of the facility will be offered! Attendance is free and you don’t have to be a member to attend—we look forward to seeing you there!
2. Emerging Philanthropy Conference (September 27, 2024) Mark your calendars for our flagship event, the Emerging Philanthropy Conference. This annual conference will feature a stellar lineup of speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. It promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees, providing the latest insights and trends in the world of philanthropy and planned giving. Registration is now open!

Thank you!

I would be remiss if I did not also extend my heartfelt gratitude to our board members and other volunteers for their continued support and participation. Your commitment to PPGC and to advancing planned giving in our community is truly inspiring.

As we move forward, I encourage you to stay engaged, share your ideas, and participate in our upcoming events. Together, we can make a significant impact and continue to foster a culture of giving in Pittsburgh.

Thank you for your dedication, and I look forward to seeing you at our future events.

Warm regards,

Matthew Clark
PPGC President

The 2024 CGP Conference scholarship window is open through July 15. Each scholarship includes complimentary conference registration and a one-year CGP membership. Scholarships are restricted to first-time conference attendees. Scholarships are funded through the generosity of individual donors and companies dedicated to supporting the broader profession of charitable gift planning. The goal of the scholarship fund is to promote philanthropic planning techniques among a broad base of individuals. Learn more about the process and submit an application below. CGP Scholarship

Join us for a conversation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Planned Giving on May 15 at 1 p.m. ET. Hosted by CGP’s DEI Committee, this discussion will explore the latest trends, emerging practices, and future outlooks in the realm of planned giving. No matter your role in planned giving, don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the DEI Committee, share insights, and chart a course toward a more inclusive and impactful philanthropic future. May 2024 15 1 p.m. ET

Register Now

Giving Docs has announced the 2024 Giving Docs biennial DEI in Planned Giving survey. Launched in 2022, this survey is a cornerstone of our mission to monitor industry trends and share effective practices in planned giving fundraising. Your participation is essential in helping us gather valuable insights and continue our collective pursuit of inclusive excellence.

Survey Details

Eligibility: Open exclusively to fundraisers currently employed in non-profit roles (please note, this survey is not intended for consultants or professional advisors).

Confidentiality: Your responses will be kept confidential. While individual comments will remain anonymous, we may publish summarized data and non-attributable quotes.

Thank you for helping us gather this important data that will provide greater insights on DEI practices in planned giving.

Take the Survey

Congratulations to our new board members for the 2024-2025 term:

• Matthew Clark - President
• Cynthia Caldwell - Immediate Past President
• Rachel Zadnik - Vice President / President Elect
• Susan Salyards - Secretary
• Colin Connolly - Treasurer
• Taylor Staiger - Assistant Treasurer
• Jack Owen - Legislative Affairs
• Brittany Zuckerman - Public Relations Committee Chair
• Patricia Winter - Resources Committee Chair
• Z. Allen Abbott - Program  Committee Chair
• Anne Lee - Emerging Philanthropy Conference Committee Chair
• Chris Crytzer - Membership Committee Chair
• Josh Diller - Director-at-large

We had our first board meeting prior to the January 9, 2024 regular meeting and are looking forward to working together to create a community where every individual leaves a legacy through philanthropic estate gifts.

“Transformational philanthropy” is a gift that has as profound an impact on the donor who makes it (and often their family) as it does on the organization receiving the gift. Transformational philanthropy is not a function of the size of the gift. It is a function of the passion behind the gift.

Join us on November 14, 2023 as Rod Zeeb describes the steps to creating a transformational gift, and the one vital question that philanthropic planners often fail to ask.

Registration is now open! 

Happy Estate Planning Awareness Week! Didn't know that this was a thing? The third week of October has been recognized as National Estate Planning Awareness Week since 2008 to help the public understand what estate planning is and why it's so vital.

How does your organization participate? Members, please share your ideas in our online forum. 

We are thrilled to share that the Emerging Philanthropy Conference on September 29 was a huge success, thanks to all of you who attended. We had a record-breaking attendance of 218, which was a 50% increase from 2022!

We want to thank MC Houser and the EPC Planning Committee for organizing a fantastic day of professional development, networking, and fun. We learned from experts and peers about topics such as social media fundraising, donor retention, grant writing, and more. We also had a chance to connect with other professionals and organizations in the field of philanthropy.

We hope you enjoyed the conference as much as we did. We’d love to see your pictures and hear your feedback. Please visit https://ppgc.net/EPC-Pictures to upload and share your photos. We hope to see you at next year's conference!

The Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council (PPGC) is pleased to announce that three non-profit fundraising professionals have been selected to receive scholarships to the Emerging Philanthropy Conference on September 29, 2023. The Conference, which is co-hosted by AFP Western PA Chapter, will take place at the Regional Learning Alliance Conference Center in Cranberry Township.

Congratulations to Teresa Trich, Director of Development, Braddock Carnegie Library; Devan Mercurio, Senior Manager of Development, Pittsburgh Public Theater; and Olivia Narciso, Donor Relations Manager, Pittsburgh Glass Center! 

Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council is a membership organization of planned giving officers, development professionals, attorneys, financial planners, financial services officers, and insurance underwriters. The Council meets regularly to discuss issues and trends in the area of charitable gift planning and provides educational opportunities for its members. Visit our website at: ppgc.net.