Thompson & Associates

You don't want to miss this inspiring episode of Conversations with Industry Leaders featuring Susan Doliner from Maine Medical Center. In this 12-minute podcast, Sue shares: The priceless key to making a tremendous impact; Where the spirit of philanthropy shows up; The most important ingredient in philanthropy; How to overcome imposter syndrome; and more! Sue's insights are inspiring for all in the fundraising world; from the new gift officer to seasoned leaders. Take a listen! 

There's no better way to kick off the relaunch than with experienced charitable gift planner, Grant Whitney. Previously with Harvard for 21 years, Grant is celebrating his first anniversary at Mass General Hospital. In this 19-minute podcast, Grant shares what inspired his work in philanthropy; what he's learned to appreciate about the work; what he learned from mentors and what ingredients led to his success, and more! He also shares a donor story from Harvard that continues to remind and inspire for excellency in all we do.

There's no better way to kick off March, Women's History Month, than to feature the National Association of Charitable Gift Planner's new Chair, Kelli Smith! In this 14-minute podcast, Kelli jam-packs three critical lessons she's learned and how she's achieved them: Be fearless; Have solid relationships; and, Be fully present. Don't miss this insightful podcast!  Kelli also shares how she overcame the imposter syndrome. 

We're humbled and grateful to have some of the country's leading specialists in the area of estate planning on our team.  We want to highlight a wonderful new resource becoming available on February 1!  Vice President Paul Hood releases his second book in his trilogy Planning Your Future series. Yours, Mine & Ours: Estate Planning for People in Blended or Stepfamilies is written for the lay audience to provide these families with a comprehensive guide to estate planning for people in blended or stepfamilies.  As a member of a blended family himself, Paul has pooled his personal and professional knowledge to create this resource.Grieving children are often left drowning in paperwork and tough decisions.  It's even more demanding and grueling for stepchildren and members of blended families to sort through these estates. In this short 9-minute podcast, Paul shares his passion and intention behind this series, including a sneak peek into book 3.

Eddie is joined by this month's industry icon, Rebecca Locke, Executive Director, Gift Planning for the American Red Cross, a role she's held for 22 years. In this 8.5 minute podcast, Rebecca shares: What she's learned from donors; How to serve both your donors and the mission you're trying to fund; What pressure to take off yourself when fundraising; And, Eddie shares a great response to use when you're asked a question you don't know the answer to!

Eddie sits down with Cindy Atmar, Executive Director of Trusts, Estate and Gift Planning, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the largest cancer center in the United States. In this 9-minute podcast, Cindy shares: A perfect reminder as we approach year-end on what to keep at the forefront of your donor giving goals; What she wishes she would have learned early on in her career; and, What bit of advice she would give someone who's beginning their career.

Join us as Eddie sits down with Art Ochoa, Senior Vice President, Advancement, Chief Advancement Officer, at Cedars-Sinai. In this 9-minute podcast, Art shares: What aspect(s) of your job description to focus on to be successful and receive promotions; A caution, and encouragement, for individuals who are ambitious and creative; What trap not to fall into to maximize donor gift potential.

We're delighted to talk with Laurie Kelley this week from Providence, a large health care provider across seven western states.  In this 7-minute podcast, Laurie shares:  Where she finds the bigger dollars, and ultimately donors who want to stay with the organization through the years;  Where to give yourself grace;  How to open the giving doors among reluctant donors;  And, how to be a better person and leader by making these kinds of "waves."

Eddie talks with Randy Varju from west coast healthcare system AdovcateAurora Health. Randy jam-packs a multitude of invaluable wisdom in this 12-minute podcast, such as:  The true purpose behind philanthropy, beyond metrics and dollar raised;  The danger, and lesson learned, in focusing too much on metrics;  How to look at data and make meaningful changes;  What success looks like in a philanthropic shop of their size;  Not to underestimate the reluctance that others have around joining solicitation calls and how to overcome it;  Defending philanthropy in different ways depending on your audience; and, so much more!

Join us as Eddie sits down with Susan Dolbert, Senior Vice President with City of Hope. In this 9-minute podcast, Susan shares insightful wisdom she's experienced in her fundraising career, such as knowing when to say no to a gift; keeping the relationship healthy and positive between a benefactor and the organization; and, learning to trust your gut - your gut is based on experience!

This week, we have the pleasure of talking with health care philanthropy thought leader, Fred Najjar, from CommonSpirit Health. In this 15-minute podcast, Fred shares a multitude of lessons he's learned in his career: • How to treat others, especially as a leader; • What to look for in hiring new talent for his team; • How important it is to be a philanthropy advocate at the corporate-level; • The value of delegating work and trusting your team; • The drive to always better yourself with continuing education and networking a community, and so much more!

This week, our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson spends time with Jodi Davis, Chief Philanthropy Officer with California healthcare provider Sutter Health. In this 9-minute podcast, Jodi shares: - The approach she utilizes to learn everyday, making life more enjoyable and people and situations more interesting; - The three best questions to ask your donors to clarify their needs; - Knowing when to let donors go; and, -The importance of reminding people why philanthropy exists at her organization, and why it's more important than ever right now.

You likely recognize this popular book trilogy by none other than Alex Brovey titled Zen and the Art of Fundraising. But, when was the last time you read it and have you read all three in the series? Eddie Thompson, our Founder and CEO, sits down with Alex to discuss what compelled Alex to write the first book, which quickly grew into a trilogy, and how this practical series can empower fundraisers to be successful.

Our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson sits down with Joe Chickey, from the Sharpe Group. Joe shares what he learned when a donor made an eight-figure gift to another charity; what's critically important to the success of a planned giving program; how to calculate the percentage of planned giving dollars your organization ought to be raising; and, why you should treat donors like family.

Join us as we talk with Mark Larkin, President of Boca Raton Regional Hospital's Foundation. Mark has spent 35 years in philanthropy, with the last 20 in health care. In this 11-minute podcast, Mark shares: -How you can get much greater levels of giving (for the same amount of time spent); -The three components he looks for to replenish his major giving list; -The key to a successful fundraising event or capital campaign, and more!

For our next industry leader, you likely have one of her books on your shelf. Join Eddie as he sits down with industry veteran, Alexandra Brovey, to hear what she has learned during her 21 years in gift planning. In this 7-minute podcast, Alex shares: What has really made a difference in her career that especially resonates during the pandemic—something Eddie points out as the most important lesson in success; 3 simple questions she asks herself when a difficult or uncomfortable situation arises; and, the art of trying too hard to get in front of people.

Join Eddie as he talks with 20-year planned giving marketing veteran Nathan Stelter, President of The Stelter Company. In this 10-minute podcast, Nathan shares his firm belief in this personal quality for achieving success; the most important component when bringing on a new team member; a critical juncture where hard, but important, business decisions had to be made and the impact it had on the company's success; and more!

Take a listen to this short 5-minute podcast with Lynn Ierardi, J.D., author of Storytelling: The Secret Sauce of Fundraising Success, to hear what inspired her to write this quick, but impactful, read. Nonprofits have amazing stories to share — stories of perseverance, fortitude, and generosity. Stories give nonprofits a way to stand out in a world that gets noisier every day, where people are looking for ways to find meaning and connection. Great stories engage donors and raise more money. Scientific evidence confirms good storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to engage stakeholders and influence behavior. Stories raise awareness, change behavior, and trigger generosity. But what makes a great story? What ingredients engage the audience and have an impact? What flavors will spark the appetite and make the mouth water? There are some ingredients that are essential. You just can’t make a good sauce without tomatoes.

Join Eddie as he talks with a nationally-known authority on estate planning and planned giving, Larry Katzenstein. Larry divides his practice between representation of wealthy individuals in estate planning matters and serving as outside counsel to planned giving programs at nonprofits nationwide.

Just in time for the holidays, we sit down with Wayne Olson to hear about his new book, Fundraising for Nonprofit Board Members: Wholesome goodness for you and your nonprofit. Wayne wrote this book to be an easy and quick read, designed specifically for the busy executive. It shows what each board member needs to know about fundraising, and dispels many myths that make fundraising seem unappealing. The book is the essential resource for all board members charged with fundraising. In this podcast, hear why Wayne wrote this book and what he hopes it achieves.

Eddie talks with 30-year industry veteran Lynn Ierardi, Director of Gift Planning at University of Pennsylvania and consultant with Gift Planning Advisor. In this 11-minute podcast, Lynn shares: -Two virtues she's learned that serve her well in the gift planning world; -How Penn has persevered through challenging times in the past and present; -Her encouraging take on how donors are feeling during the pandemic; and, -A comical story from early in her career that has proven to be a valuable lesson learned many times over the years.

Now more than ever, many organizations (and their decision makers) are focused on getting cash in the door now, but nonprofits who focus their fundraising efforts on non-cash assets raise six times more than those who focus on cash gifts from discretionary income. In this short podcast, hear Dr. Russell James share with Eddie Thompson different ways to sell philanthropy to your organization's leadership.

We sit down with Alice Ayres, President and CEO of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), as they prepare to kick off their Annual International Conference this week (October 21-22), the largest gathering of health care development professionals. In this 13-minute podcast, Alice shares: • Two keys to success; • The differentiating factor for those who are remaining robust through the pandemic; and, • What she struggled with early in her career that she now shares with those she mentors, especially younger women, that increases someone's ability to grow as a person and leader, bringing more authenticity to their roles.

Thompson & Associates Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson sits down with President and CEO of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (NACGP) to talk about the association's great work and resources available to the industry. Recorded after NACGP's national conference in October 2019.

With Crescendo's Practical Planned Giving Conference kicking off digitally this week, we took a moment to sit down and talk with Crescendo Interactive's President and CEO Charles Schultz. Charles has greatly impacted the nonprofit industry with the development of Crescendo Interactive launched in 1984. Additionally, Charles is a big contributor to our own Founder and CEO, Eddie Thompson's, career. Hear from Charles on: -One thing that has not changed over his 40 years in the nonprofit industry; -Two things that have changed in the industry; -How COVID-19 has impacted electronic marketing versus printed marketing; -Emerging technologies that will impact donor education and communication; and, -What he learned from his career's biggest mistake.

Don't miss Shannon Duval in this excellent podcast, where she shares powerful suggestions to consider no matter what point you find yourself in your career to achieve all the success you seek.

There are scores of ways individuals can give to an organization. But, we can’t confuse method of giving with motivation for giving. In this podcast, Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson shares 3 primary reasons why individuals are motivated to give. You’ll learn the key to unlocking the powerful impact that can be found between the how and why an individual gives.

In this series’ tenth installment, hear industry veteran Sid Mallory candidly tell his own stories of mishap on his way to becoming a highly knowledgeable and successful fundraiser. Listen as the AHP Fellow and former recipient of AHP’s Si Seymour Award explains the lessons he’s learned during his prestigious career. Sid’s simple reminders will help keep you on a successful track!

Our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson talks with one of the nation's leading health care philanthropy professionals with more than three decades of experience, Bill Littlejohn from Sharp Healthcare.  Bill has led and directed philanthropic programs that have generated nearly a billion dollars.  In this podcast, Bill shares his philosophy and drive for philanthropy, cautions of easy traps to fall into, and inspires professionals what to truly focus on as fundraisers to achieve lasting impact.

Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson discusses 5 steps for nonprofits to weather a market recession with their donor base.

Listen in as our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson talks with industry legend Jerry Linzy from Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners, Inc. Jerry shares: • The 3 simple roles of a nonprofit's board • The key question for new board members • How philanthropy today differs from the 1980s • An industry-wide challenge facing philanthropy

Being a fundraiser is a lot like being a professional matchmaker.  You introduce eligible people to your organization, point out its best qualities, and hope they fall in love with your organization.  But, how do you get people to fall in love so much that they leave your organization an estate gift? In this podcast, Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson shares 6 reasons why individuals fall in love with an organization, leaving them an estate gift.  Eddie shares ways to cultivate your donor relationships, making a "match" much more likely among your supporters.

Listen in with our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson's conversation with industry thought leader, David Flood, Senior VP and CDO for Intermountain Healthcare. Don't miss this powerful episode where David shares humble lessons he's learned in his philanthropy career, including what Eddie calls the most important lesson in fundraising!

Listen in as President Cayce Powell talks with our planning attorneys Bill Gustoff and Jason Meredith on how the recent passing of the SECURE Act affects estate plans and how nonprofit organizations can help ensure their supporters have the plans they desire.

Listen in with our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson's conversation with industry leader, Steve Orr, Managing Partner of the Orr Group to learn what he's learned about the nonprofit industry and how he works to improve it with his financial and business background.

In this episode, Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson proposes a new pyramid corresponding to an individual’s affinity to your organization and how developing passion for your mission leads to greater financial support for your organization.

Listen in on our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson's conversation with industry leader, Michael Kenyon, President and CEO of the National Associate of Charitable Gift Planners (NACGP) as Michael shares his career lessons.

You don't want to miss this conversation! In this episode, Eddie talks with Bruce Bartoo, CFRE, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer for MedStar Health. Bruce packs in tremendous insights he's learned over his career, where he shares: • What he strives for in his role as a philanthropic leader; • What never to do as a fundraiser; • What he's found to be a significant cause for people to be inspired and motivated in becoming more involved in your organization in a meaningful way and how to uncover it, and so much more! Bruce's stories and nuggets of wisdom serve as perfect reminders for our every day work! So much so that Eddie encourages you to bookmark this podcast and listen to it every few weeks.

In this episode, Cayce Powell and Bill Gustoff discuss: • Why owning property in another state is a potential problem when you pass away. • How people can avoid transfer issues with out-of-state property. • Tips to help determine if a donor has property in another state.

In this episode, Eddie talks with one of health care philanthropy’s most provocative thought leaders, Betsy Chapin Taylor, FAHP, where she shares: -What she wishes she could change about the industry; -How to view donors and what they really wish to achieve; -What's required of us to provide to donors to really create impact, and more!

In the second episode of the series, Eddie talks with author, public speaker and thought leader, Brian Sagrestano, JD, where he shares: • How his diagnosis of a rare form of cancer has reshaped his focus on charitable planning; • How to approach and stay close to supporters facing a serious health diagnosis; • The important lesson he learned focusing on what donors want to accomplish for themselves, their families and the organizations they support, and more.

In this episode, Cayce and Bill discuss: • How states handle estate planning documents executed in another state. • What happens if documents are prepared in another state. • What should we do to prepare ourselves to identify these issues and help our donors avoid problems?

Founder and CEO of Thompson & Associates Eddie Thompson introduces his new podcast series of conversations with industry icons, highlighting what they've learned in their careers, while sharing nuggets of wisdom in these bite-sized podcasts. Join us, you won't want to miss it! View more on the series on our website at www.ceplan.com.

Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson talks with Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP. Russell shares who you should you be visiting; an important factor to consider when visiting this demographic; in all of Russell’s research, what has changed over the years and what the number one predictor of leaving a gift has been consistently; what the best gift asset is to receive, and how that affects overall giving; how to motivate transformational giving, and more!

In this episode, Cayce Powell and Jason Meredith discuss: • What we mean by a "Brady Bunch" family. • What happens to assets (accounts and real estate/homes) if planning doesn’t specifically consider different scenarios. • As development officers, what can we be listening for to know if our donors have this issue?

For much of our Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson’s career, he’s focused on what makes outstanding organizations outstanding.  In this episode, Eddie compares the winning traditions of two sports franchises to apply to the nonprofit world. That’s right, Eddie’s comparing the New England Patriots with the Cleveland Browns (sorry, Browns’ fans!).  Each team is given the same salary amount for their players, but why are the Patriots much more successful?  Eddie explains how the difference can be found in their philosophy and approach, then applies that to the nonprofit industry – what is the key to organizational success?

In this episode, Cayce and Jason discuss: • Problems created by lack of planning for people recently married and/or divorced. • Practical things people need to do when they get married or divorced. • As development officers, what can we be listening for to know if our donors have this issue?

In this 8-minute podcast, Founder and CEO Eddie Thompson shares on a topic we are all challenged by - how to hire the right person for annual and major giving. These important team members are critical to achieving your organization’s mission, and having the wrong people in these roles can be costly. It’s imperative we take our time to qualify candidates. Take a listen as Eddie shares questions to ask yourself as you prepare to fill these positions, along with questions to ask your candidates to find the perfect fit.

In this episode, Cayce Powell and Jason Meredith discuss married couple estates valued under $5 Million. They'll highlight: • Recent estate tax law changes • Reducing married couples' estate tax using a bypass trust • Why a good bypass trust a few years ago may not be good planning now

What’s more important – a donor’s capacity to give or propensity to give? We spend a great deal of time and energy looking at an individual’s capacity, or net worth. But, in today’s podcast, Eddie talks about the importance of not only an individual’s capacity but their propensity to give. Listen in as Eddie shares why this is so important, along with specific questions to ask donors to determine both their capacity AND propensity.

President Cayce Powell, MBA, JD, FCEP and Executive Vice President Jason Meredith, MBA, JD, FCEP discuss: 1. Brief history of estate tax law and the "use it or lose it" exemption. 2. How can DSUEA be preserved? 3. As development officers, what can we be listening for to know if our donors have this issue?