Gift Planning – GP 101
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
7:30am – 12:15pm
Kauffman Foundation & Conference Center
Limited Capacity – Register Today
About GP 101 | Speakers | Topic Descriptions | Schedule | Register
CFRE certification pending
No Virtual Program Available
Emerging Trends in Gift Planning and Donor Engagement
Presenters: Jay Gilman, Vice President, The Compass Group, Cole Eason, Vice President of Advancement, Truman Heartland Community Foundation, Rob Bull, President & CEO, The Compass Group
Description: Join us for the conference’s opening plenary as The Compass Group explores national and local trends shaping the future of gift planning in 2025 and beyond. Cole Eason, Vice President of Advancement at the Truman Heartland Foundation, will join Compass to offer real-world reflections on how these trends translate into meaningful donor engagement. This session will deliver key insights into both time-tested strategies and emerging practices—inviting us to consider how these shifts will influence our collective work in the years ahead.
Getting a Handle on the Buckets of Estate Planning
Presenter: Brynne Brown, Member, Lewis Rice
Description: Estate planning is not just for the wealthy, or just for people with children, or just for… well, you fill in the blank. There are many preconceived notions and general misunderstandings about estate planning, which might be the root cause as to why almost two-thirds of America has not completed an estate plan. This presentation provides the basic concepts of estate planning in terms of three buckets – the Done Nothing Bucket, the Will-Based Plan Bucket, and the Trust-Based Plan Bucket – and is intended to guide or aid in conversations with donors and perspective donors about their estate plans.
Introducing Gift Planning in a Small Shop: The A-Z Process
Presenter: Krista Hurd, Director of Development at Community LINC
Description: How do I use gift planning to increase future revenue for my organization while also focusing on cash in the door now? Are you potentially overlooking support for your organization because of a lack of familiarity with gift planning? Join this session to discover how to introduce the concept of gift planning to potential donors and initiate the process of securing your organization’s future through strategic blended giving.
Marketing Strategies for Gift Planners
Presenter: Rebecca Zandarski, Director of Gift Planning, KC Ballet
Description: An email is not enough: A deeper dive into how to prospect, engage, and steward your gift planning donor pipeline using marketing strategies.
Holy Cow! The Basic How and Why of Planned Gifts
Presenter: Ed Roberts, Divisional Director of Capital Campaigns, The Salvation Army Kansas/Western Missouri Division
Description: Gift plans don’t need to be hard to understand and explain. What are key and simple points to share with donors and prospects? With the help of a farm illustration, discover the basics of planned gifts and how they work. There’s both meat and milk! Also, find out why and what donors are drawn to each type of gift. Some donor stories will highlight the power of planned gifts.
Behind the Gift: Donors Reveal Their ‘Why’ and Planned Giving Journey
Panel Discussion Moderators: Jennifer Wampler, Chief Philanthropy Officer, KC Ballet, & Laura Martin, Manager of Philanthropic Giving, Children’s Mercy Hospital
Description: In this panel discussion, a diverse group of donors will share their motivations and decision-making process for planned giving. Hear firsthand how their values, personal experiences, and vision for future impact shape philanthropic goals, and gain practical insights into making and facilitating meaningful planned gifts.
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