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With thanks to our education sponsor, the Donor Motivation Program for fifteen years of providing support to our education program.
EXTRA CHARGE APPLIES
Are you new to gift planning and want to learn the basics?
Are you an executive director or board member who is interested in starting a gift planning program at your charity but need to learn more before ‘jumping in’?
Or, perhaps you want to add some gift planning ‘tools and techniques’ to support your donors in expanding and enhancing their philanthropy.
If so, this course is exactly what you need.
"Be a part of this session featuring life insurance experts as they share compelling stories about how Canada Life My Par GiftTM policies are helping charities today and for the long-term.
They will also cover strategies for initiating planned giving conversations with donors using permanent life insurance.
Don’t miss out on what promises to be an engaging and interactive experience!"
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Vikram Malik
Vice President, Par Pricing & Special Initiatives, Insurance Solutions
Evan Connell
Director, Insurance Sales Strategies
The philanthropic sector in Canada has much to learn from the enduring wisdom and practices of Indigenous peoples who have lived on these lands for generations. In this keynote presentation, we will explore the concept of redistributing wealth through traditional practices such as potlatch ceremonies and other examples from Indigenous communities. By delving into these time-honoured traditions, we can uncover valuable insights that can inform and transform the philanthropic landscape in Canada.
SPONSOR: Aquaduct Foundation
Michelle Okere
Executive Director
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
This unique panel will bring together the charity, wealth management, advisor and donor advised fund provider perspective like never before. We will uncover the challenges that have arisen over the years as this financial charitable giving product has gained popularity amongst Canadian donors. This session will use a hybrid presentation and workshop approach to examine how collaboration and communication can aid in developing best practices and identify how advisors and charities can embrace DAFs to benefit their organizations and help steward relationships. There will be a special booklet help facilitate this conversation and capture the key takeaways.
SPONSOR: BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Serena Hak
Head of Philanthropic Advisory Services
Joely Elkins
Director, Granting & Philanthropy
Rich Widdifield
Planned Giving Consultant
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: General / Général, Introductory / Introduction
When organizations shift their planned giving messaging from focussing on “how-to” to focussing on “why” – they dramatically improve their results. But there are even more benefits to embracing the power of “why”. In this bilingual session, you’ll discover how communicating the core motivations behind your organization's mission and vision can inspire deeper donor connections, foster long-term commitment, and engage stakeholders authentically. And, through practical examples and interactive discussions, we’ll explore how a purpose-driven focus can foster employee engagement, enhance donor loyalty, and build a culture of philanthropy. Come learn about this powerful approach — for your planned giving program and beyond.
Aimée Lindenberger
Senior Consultant
Claude Lestage
Senior Consultant
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Pas sur la planification des dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire, Advanced / Avancé, General / Général
Based on 12 women's stories, this presentation highlights four of the lived experiences of women's journey to leadership. Tied to Meghan Rehbeins's dissertation on leadership journey challenges, participants will hear first hand life experiences with takeaways for how they can excel in their own leadership journeys.
Sherry Schaefer
Director, Emerging Leaders
Jenny Mitchell
CEO
Mojdeh Cox
CEO
Heather Bach
Executive Director
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
Candace Wasacase-Lafferty and Kathy Arney have been collaborating for a number of years around incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into fundraising practices, and the importance of Indigenous Women Leadership. This session will explore the notion of Reciprocal Allyship. When reciprocity is not present, our nervous system subconsciously can view this as a lack of safety (Dr. Stephen Borges). This session will explore how Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies can support each other in the journey to reciprocity.
Candace Wasacase-Lafferty
Indigenous Relations Coach/Consultant
Kathy Arney
Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications, Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
It’s time to hit the road! With so many giving vehicles, marketing tools, and audiences to consider reaching the ultimate destination, it can be challenging to get started. In this session, we’ll look at our past trips to help plan what you need in your suitcase before you hit the road. Then we’ll build a map of routes, highlighting differences for small cars vs. sedans, solo drivers, or those with a passenger. You’ll leave the session with a plan and road map you can implement right away to get your legacy program out of the garage and enroute!
SPONSOR: BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Laura Svajlenko
Planned Giving Specialist, Fund Development
Christy Soholt
Director, Legacy & Strategic Philanthropy
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
Wealth is not held in cash; it’s held in other assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and IRAs. Research shows that shifting donors to giving from their wealth (assets), rather than just from their cash (disposable income) can lead to transformational donations. But how can we actually make this happen? Talking about someone else’s wealth can be scary! In this presentation, Professor James walks through the step-by-step process that makes these conversations simple, easy, and stress free. You don’t need to be a gift planning expert to inspire major gifts of assets. You just need to attend this presentation!
Russell James
J.D., Ph.D., CFP®
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
This unique panel will bring together the charity, wealth management, advisor and donor advised fund provider perspective like never before. We will uncover the challenges that have arisen over the years as this financial charitable giving product has gained popularity amongst Canadian donors. This session will use a hybrid presentation and workshop approach to examine how collaboration and communication can aid in developing best practices and identify how advisors and charities can embrace DAFs to benefit their organizations and help steward relationships. There will be a special booklet help facilitate this conversation and capture the key takeaways.
SPONSOR: BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Serena Hak
Head of Philanthropic Advisory Services
Joely Elkins
Director, Granting & Philanthropy
Rich Widdifield
Planned Giving Consultant
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Introductory / Introduction
New to the field? Curious how gift planning can amplify your overall fundraising results? What IS “Gift Planning”, anyway, and how does it work? You are welcome here and we want to ensure you are prepared with an understanding of key concepts and terminology to make the most of other sessions at the conference. Leave with an orientation to the basics, along with practical ideas and resources.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Jill Nelson
Charitable Gift Planner
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Donor surveying is a key component of many legacy programs. But, how do you do it? How do you use them to connect with donor values, educate on planned giving, and move the needle on a person’s legacy journey? How do you write survey questions that elicit emotional responses, build surveys that get completed – and what do you do with the data? This practical session will help you create values-driven, persuasive powerhouses that don’t just uncover existing gifts in wills – they create new ones. We’ll talk copywriting (with samples!), explore tools, and discuss the moves management that underlies it all.
Charlotte Field
Partner & Head of Client Delivery
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique et jugement
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Good intentions lead to bad outcomes when donors make poorly-drafted gifts in their wills or set up charitable trusts that become cumbersome to administer. The time and money that charities spend to fix or deal with these gifts and trusts can outweigh the gifts’ benefits themselves. Two leading trust lawyers will share how charities can avoid being saddled with bad gifts and difficult trusts, and how they can fix existing ones. Participants will learn the most common planning/drafting mistakes, the steps to fix a bad gift or change charitable trust terms, and the best practices that charities can adopt today.
Elena Hoffstein
Senior Counsel
Stephen Hsia
Partner
TOPIC STREAM: Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire, General / Général
What is the bridge between data and legacy giving? Aside from giving behaviour, how do you identify, record and use important data elements within your legacy program? In this session, we’ll dive into the information specific to our gift planning program, explain how we’ve started collecting pullable details to help track our legacy leads and segment our communications, and look at some learnings along the way of what has proven useful and what challenges we’ve faced. Finally, we’ll showcase how we’ve purpose-built our new DRM to help our legacy program segment, tailor, and flourish.
SPONSOR: Community Foundations of Alberta
Christy Soholt
Director, Legacy & Strategic Philanthropy
Leslie Stuart
Director, Philanthropy Data & Systems
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Pas sur la planification des dons
LEVEL: General / Général
Join us in charting the future of non-profit leadership, where the values of the next generation propel organizations toward a new vision of impact and success.
Laura Champion
Senior Director, Fund Development
Megan Spurrell
Specialist, Campaign Fundraising
Join us in the main ballroom for an opportunity to mix and mingle while discussing themes presented throughout the ballroom.
SPONSOR: Myriad Canada
Topic Stream: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
Level: General / Général, Advanced / Avancé
Inspiring the next generation of giving as the Great Wealth Transfer is revving up will be key to your charities long-term success. Where do you start to bridge between your current programs and audiences and the next generation of legacy donors? Join this dynamic conversation and look at why the next generation is so open to legacy conversations, what you need to do to motivate and inspire them, why key conversations with advisors can truly open doors and how you can help your teams harness the opportunities. Grow revenue and lifetime value by investing in your younger donor groups now!
Adam Malcolm
Consultant
Kimberley Blease
EVP, Strategic Solutions & Consultancy
Julie Brown
Director of Major Gifts
Topic Stream: Not About Gift Planning / Pas sur la planification des dons
Level: General / Général
This presentation explores three key frameworks that transform leadership and enhance team dynamics: Michael Timms' principles of personal and relational accountability, Brene Brown's "Dare to Lead" concepts of vulnerability and curiosity, and the "You Matter" ethos focusing on kindness and mutual respect. By adopting these models, leaders can foster accountability and job satisfaction within their teams. Practical applications include annual strategy reviews, weekly check-ins, and continuous personal growth. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to shift from responsibility to accountability, cultivating a more engaged and effective workforce.
Mandy Parker
VP Philanthropy & Communications
Topic Stream: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
Level: General / Général
Will Power and the CAGP Foundation have just completed the latest study on estate planning and legacy giving in Canada, and we’re excited to reveal the results at the CAGP annual conference!
Curious about how Canadians are writing their Wills these days? Where they’re going for estate planning advice? Who’s interested or planning a charitable gift in their Will - what motivates them and what’s holding them back? And how about RRSPs or Life Insurance as a method for giving?
Join us for insights on all of this, plus fresh perspectives from Millennials as well as Asian communities, Black communities, Indigenous peoples and other racialized groups.
Laurie Fox
Campaign Director, Will Power
Peggy Killeen
Development Consultant
Topic Stream: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique et jugement, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
Level: Intermediate / Intermédiaire, Advanced / Avancé
CAGP’s Government Relations Committee is comprised of charity representatives, advisors, and consultants who volunteer their time to help CAGP identify issues and develop strategies for engaging government on key issues that affect registered charities and their donors. Please join members of our Committee for a discussion of three key issues in respect of which sector actors are actively engaging the Federal government: improving sector data, granting to non-qualified donees, and the sector’s desire to create a permanent “home in government” or “Secretariat” for the sector within the Federal government. The Committee will specifically address the ways in which these issues could impact charitable gift planning in Canada. Any government relations-related “hot topics” that arise from the 2025 Federal Budget may also be addressed.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Nicole D'Aoust
Partner
Terrance Carter
Managing Partner
Jo-Anne Ryan
Vice President, Philanthropic Advisory Services
Michael Blatchford
Partner
Topic Stream: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
Level: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Too often as gift planners we focus on individual donations that may be transactional in nature. The highest form of strategic charitable gift planning combines lifetime and estate planning. This session with a lawyer and a gift planner, will explore different ways of structuring these gifts and engaging donors for the long term.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Patricia Schmeichel
Lead, Legacy and Development
Stephanie Tsui
Estate and Trust Consultant
Topic Stream: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
Level: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
This session will focus on the power of inclusivity and how to have conversations in your own organization and with donors that lead to practical and actionable steps to create the equitable future we all want to see in philanthropy.
Huda Al-Saedy
Director of Philanthropy
Chantelle Ohrling
Philanthropy Officer
Topic Stream: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
Level: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Collaboration is the best way to achieve a successful and satisfying estate administration. Think of how much easier it would be if you understood the role and responsibility of the lawyer and accountant to help navigate an estate administration when you are a beneficiary. Consider the possibilities of a collaborative approach.
Patricia Ward
Senior Manager Estate Administration
Malkit Atwal
Partner
Topic Stream: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Know your Charity / Connaissance de son propre organisme de bienfaisance, Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
Level: Introductory / Introduction
How can we help encourage Canadians to develop a strategic approach to giving? Shakespeare wrote “what’s past is prologue”, so perhaps the answer lies in each individual’s past. Using my personal experience, I’ll share a “giving map” that documents all of the charities that have had a profound influence on my personal life, and show how that mapping exercise is critical to creating a strategic giving plan. As well, we will discuss how charities themselves can use these same ideas to build stronger relationships with their current, past, and future donors. Workshop participants will explore their own personal connection with charities to see how this exercise can be a powerful motivator for change.
SPONSOR: Community Foundations of Alberta
Craig Swistun
Portfolio Manager
Topic Stream: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique et jugement
Level: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Gift Planners typically like to avoid donations with strings attached, but besides the practical considerations that come with accepting such gifts there are legal considerations that speak both for, and against, accepting such gifts. Alexandra and Doris will discuss acceptable gift conditions, how they may be constructed and the consequences to both the charity and the donor when they arise. This will involve discussions of wills, and estate litigation, operating internationally and CRA concerns and is suitable for all levels of gift planners.
Alexandra Tzannidakis
Senior Associate, Charitable and Not-For-Profit Law
Doris Bonora
Lawyer
Topic Stream: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
Level: Introductory / Introduction
Fund Development strategies require toolkits that reflect organizational values, mission and vision. However, common concepts in donor communications and stewardship can contribute to transactional relationships and power imbalances. How can we thoughtfully integrate Indigenous-led values to decolonize the work and center relationships for impactful donor communications that propel our organizations forward? In this session you will hear from team members of First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation on how they’ve created a pathway for meaningful engagement through values-led communications resulting in a growing donor ecosystem.
Emily Cabrera
Director, Strategic Partnerships & Communications
Alix Goetzinger
Lead - Storytelling & Communications
Topic Stream: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
Level: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
With Canadians living longer, many people are having trouble finding comfort in their retirement, legacy and philanthropy plans. This issue significantly affects charitable giving, as donors may not have a clear picture of their donation capacity, now or in the future. Using recent statistics around longevity, care costs, and donation strategies, we believe that donors can become confident in their donation capacity through rigorous analysis. I hope to give planned gift professionals some ideas, tools and questions to help their donors consider what they could potential give now and through an estate.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Patrick Smith
Wealth Advisor
Topic Stream: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
Level: General / Général
While Donor Advised Funds continue to be the fastest growing charitable giving vehicle in Canada, the donor demographic is changing and “New” donors are challenging the status quo, which has implications for all gift planning professionals. Understanding donor motivations enhances relationships, solicitation and stewardship practices. This session will examine some of the emerging trends in DAFs with examples of fund holders who are thinking differently about their role in philanthropy and how they can have a greater impact.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Eric Saarvala
Executive Director
Arundel Gibson
Client Consultant
Sponsor: PearTree Canada
Danny Mah
Historically, when wealth-holders have used their wealth for public good, it was often through charity. Successive movements have advocated more effective approaches, including strategic philanthropy, trust-based philanthropy, and the movement for wealth-holders to take a more integrated approach to impact, as supported by Forward Global. During our hour together, we will unpack practical examples of these best practices as illustrated by Forward Global members.
SPONSOR: KMPG Family Office
Lisa Wolverton
President, Canada
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
You know legacy. You’re great at those one-on-one conversations, and you’ve even dipped your toe into mass marketing. But when someone talks about how you can use digital – things like email or social ads or SEO – to meet your goals, you freeze. Digital seems pretty daunting. This is a practical, hands-on workshop that will build your digital skill set. We’ll focus on giving you the tools (think how-tos like process and frameworks) to construct your own digital legacy toolbox. You’ll learn how to use your website, email, and Meta ads (Facebook primarily) to generate and cultivate a legacy audience. Then, you’ll actually get a chance to test out some of these new digital skills. This is a working workshop and some advance prep will be required.
SPONSOR: BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Holly Wagg
Partner and CEO
Melanie Scholz
Director Client Experience
Marwa El Morsi
Digital Fundraiser
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Join us to explore how fundraisers and wealth managers can collaborate to educate clients and boost charitable donations. April and Dan will share how the partnership between their organizations can lead to more informed donors who are confident in their giving decisions, resulting in increased contributions over their lifetimes and at the time of death. Discover practical techniques for integrating fundraising into financial planning using tax-efficient methods and personalized legacy planning. This session offers actionable insights to strengthen partnerships between wealth managers and fundraisers, ultimately driving greater support for the charitable sector and amplifying clients' philanthropic impact.
April Grindheim
Major Gift & Planned Giving Officer
Dan Hague
Executive Financial Consultant
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
The University of Ottawa Planned Giving Team will be presenting the inspiring journey they established with and for three (3) legacy donors illustrating the creation and implementation of personalized strategic gift planning, engagement and stewardship.
Sylvain Ladouceur
Manager, Planned Giving
Claude Drouin
Manager, Planned Giving
Donna Mathieu
Project Coordinator, Planned Giving
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: General / Général
CAGP's DAF Working Group is developing standards of practice for foundations with donor advised funds with a view of improving relationships with charitable organizations. Nicole and Malcolm, co-chairs of the Working Group, will be sharing the discussion about best practices through a panel and dialogue format.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Nicola Elkins
Founder and CEO, Benefaction Foundation
Malcolm Burrows
Benefaction Foundation
TOPIC STREAM: Not About Gift Planning / Pas sur la planification des dons
LEVEL: General / Général
Join Gordon Holley and Kathy Arney to explore how financial sustainability and fundraising strength work together to enable social purpose organizations to maximize their impact. Learn the challenges organizations face, how finance and fundraising teams can collaborate, and key finance and fundraising strategies for building more sustainable and impactful organizations.
Kathy Arney
Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer
Gordon Holley
Co-founder, President & CEO
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Not About Gift Planning / Pas sur la planification des dons
LEVEL: General / Général
Looking for more ways to be more inclusive and continue the conversation? Join me for a deeper discussion on 12 ways to be more inclusive (and more) in your life and work. We will discuss how to use these basic tools to build a more inclusive workplace and society. Bring your questions, concerns and let’s discuss why we need to be more inclusive. Bring your ideas and successes and tell us how your workplace has championed inclusion. Add to the list and let’s make philanthropy a better industry to work in.
Jaya Mootoo
Equity Seeker
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
You know legacy. You’re great at those one-on-one conversations, and you’ve even dipped your toe into mass marketing. But when someone talks about how you can use digital – things like email or social ads or SEO – to meet your goals, you freeze. Digital seems pretty daunting. This is a practical, hands-on workshop that will build your digital skill set. We’ll focus on giving you the tools (think how-tos like process and frameworks) to construct your own digital legacy toolbox. You’ll learn how to use your website, email, and Meta ads (Facebook primarily) to generate and cultivate a legacy audience. Then, you’ll actually get a chance to test out some of these new digital skills. This is a working workshop and some advance prep will be required.
SPONSOR: BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Holly Wagg
Partner and CEO
Melanie Scholz
Director Client Experience
Marwa El Morsi
Digital Fundraiser
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Not About Gift Planning / Pas sur la planification des dons
LEVEL: General / Général
How do you feel when the topic of death arises? Are you open to the conversation or do you shut down? This session will give attendees an opportunity to explore their relationship with death and build a game plan for when they are faced with mortality (their own or some one else's).
Liz Finney
Fund Development Director
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique et jugement
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Declining charitable gifts may seem antithetical to the role of gift planners. There are, however, a number of reasons why charities may wish to decline proposed gifts – and this is okay! Charities need not accept gifts just because they are offered, and this is particularly the case as conversations around gift planning move away from historical “donor-centric” trends. Among other things, charitable gifts must be consistent with the charity's purposes and compliant with regulatory rules. This session will explore potential pitfalls with proposed charitable gifts, and participants will learn how to identify risks, assess whether a charity wishes to accept the gift, and work with donors to alter the terms of potential gifts to manage identified risks – or else decline the gift altogether.
Kate Bake-Paterson
Lawyer
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Have you ever wanted to learn more about Donor Advised Funds (DAF) and the internal processes of a public foundation offering a DAF Program? If so, come and hear from the RBC Royal Trust Philanthropic Services team. The team does all of the administration on behalf of Charitable Gift Funds Canada Foundation and will talk about how Gift Funds Canada works with donors and investment professionals to establish a DAF, and how they manage the investments within DAF accounts and review and fulfill grant recommendations to qualified donees submitted by donors.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
Higher capital gains inclusion rates and changes to Alternative Minimum Tax rules that were introduced in the 2024 Federal Budget have created new challenges for charities but they have also provided opportunities that should be explored. This session will look at the impact of the new rules on charitable gifts by major donors including gifts of securities, flow through shares and life insurance.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Tina Tehranchian
Planned Giving Consultant
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
Legacy programs are not just for organizations with dozens of staff! In this entertaining session, Amber Stewart, Executive Director for the Legion Foundation BC/Yukon, will walk through her journey in establishing a legacy program within her one-person shop. Amber will discuss why she chose to focus on legacy giving and how she implemented the program. She will talk about some of the unique challenges she faced and how she worked (and continues to work) to overcome them.
Amber Stewart
Executive Director
Canadians are often stereotypically thought of as nice, but how can we become known for our generosity? In this 60 minute panel discussion, join a range of leaders in Canada’s charitable sector to explore how we encourage more generosity in our communities to improve outcomes and experiences for all.
SPONSOR: Miller Thomson LLP
Duke Chang
President and Chief Executive Officer
Marjorie Bencz
Executive Director
Bob Wyatt
Executive Director
An overview of generational giving & amplifying Impact for Charities using the tool of Life Insurance. What are the best ways to accept Life Insurance and receive dividends annually. Is it the best form of blended gifting and building a sustainable giving portfolio.
SPONSOR: Advisory Money Strategies Inc & Serenia Life
Sisi Chakrabarti
Managing Partner
Jay Morrow
AVP
For the first time, we’re introducing open free time on Thursday. While the educational content remains top-notch, we’ve built in this pause to let you catch your breath, recharge, or explore new activities.
Whether you choose to relax, join a yoga session, refine your speaking skills, or attend a sponsored session on Life Insurance with AMS Serenia Life, the choice is yours!
Stay tuned for more details on these optional offerings....
The demographics of Canada has continued to dramatically shift over the last several years, including this past year. In this session we will dive into the current demographics of Canada and where things stand today; talk about how immigration has impacted the landscape in Rural, Suburban and Urban geographies; and if migration patterns have cooled off since the pandemic. All with the viewpoint of how these macro trends may shift legacy giving and philanthropy moving forward.
SPONSOR: Environics Analytics
Allen Davidov
Mitchell Hillier
Dive into meaningful connections during our Networking Breakfast, sponsored by Raymond James.
This dedicated time is all about building relationships—whether it’s small group meetups or casual chats with peers.
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique et jugement
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
With an increasingly aging population comes new concerns regarding elder prospective donors’ legal capacity, autonomy, and financial vulnerability. How can we in the charitable community both promote charitable giving while also ensuring that prospective elder donors are giving willingly and according to their true wishes, both in life and on death? This session will highlight the growing legal and ethical concerns in this area and will offer practical tips and strategies for engaging in planned gifting discussions with elder donors.
SPONSOR: BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Paula Lester
AVP Estate and Trust Solutions
Liana Murphy
Manager, Estate Administration & Legal Services
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons, Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire, Advanced / Avancé
Successful organizations provide their donors with multiple opportunities to donate through multiple channels and multiple opportunities. Competing solicitations for the Donor’s consideration sometimes get confused and turned down because of a lack or coordination. One of the greatest challenges, and therefore opportunities is examining how to ‘blend’ the major gift and legacy asks. In this session we will examine the concept & history of blended gifts; a definition of blended giving; the current models that exist that combine major and legacy giving; the steps that can be taken to successfully integrate the two approaches; the competing perspectives defining giving; and solicitation role play.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Guy Mallabone
Senior Consultant
Claude Lestage
Senior Consultant
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
Spend time with Harvey McKinnon and Sam Laprade to find out why storytelling is not enough! Data is the missing link for so many legacy giving programs that are solely focussed on the storytelling side of the craft. Using data to speak to the right donors with the right message is just one way data can transform your results! If you are looking for ways to take your legacy fundraising to the next level, join us to see how data and storytelling is a match made in heaven. Like peanut butter and chocolate, they're better together!
Harvey McKinnon
President
Sam Laprade
Fundraising Strategist
TOPIC STREAM: Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Advanced / Avancé
In this presentation, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs). They will explore why financial advisors and or charities might recommend these gift plans, highlighting their potential benefits such as tax savings, income generation, and philanthropic impact. The discussion will also cover the complexities and potential drawbacks, including setup costs and management challenges. To illustrate these points, a detailed case study will be presented, offering insights from both the financial and charitable perspectives, providing a practical example of how CRTs can be strategically or perhaps poorly implemented. This presentation aims to empower individuals to determine whether they should run towards or away from CRTs based on their charities or clients’ financial goals and philanthropic aspirations.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Amanda Stacey
Partner
Holly Greatrex
Director, Personal and Planned Giving
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
Explore how Spiritual Intelligence (SQ), defined as the ability to behave with wisdom and compassion while maintaining peace, can revolutionize fundraising by fostering deeper donor relationships. SQ includes 21 faith-friendly, faith-neutral skills that can be learned. This session provides an introduction to a few skills such as understanding our worldview and values, understanding other worldviews, and employing deep listening and resonance to better connect with donors' values, spirit, and desires for legacy. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, attendees will be challenged to explore their own spiritual intelligence, learn to stay curious, ask better questions, and resonate with donors' purposes.
Kathy MacFarlane
Leadership Consultant and Spiritual Intelligence Advisor
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations, Not About Gift Planning / Pas sur la planification des dons
LEVEL: General / Général
A practical discussion on the pivotal role Advisors play in driving justice, equity, and inclusion within the philanthropic landscape.
Everyone has their role in the revolution - we must use our strengths and privileges to the advantage of a just transition for the benefit of all living beings.
Join us to move beyond fear and into visibility, empowering yourself to take action on truth and reconciliation as an Advisor, working toward a just transition. Gain insight into the current landscape of Indigenous perspectives within philanthropy, deconstruct colonial frameworks, and leave with actionable steps to enhance your role as an Advisor in wealth management, that shifts systems towards collective wealth.
Chantelle Ohrling
Philanthropy Officer
Lee Burton
Director, Philanthropic Services
Tim Fox
Vice President, Indigenous Relations & Equity Strategy
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique et jugement
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
With an increasingly aging population comes new concerns regarding elder prospective donors’ legal capacity, autonomy, and financial vulnerability. How can we in the charitable community both promote charitable giving while also ensuring that prospective elder donors are giving willingly and according to their true wishes, both in life and on death? This session will highlight the growing legal and ethical concerns in this area and will offer practical tips and strategies for engaging in planned gifting discussions with elder donors.
SPONSOR: BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Paula Lester
AVP Estate and Trust Solutions
Liana Murphy
Manager, Estate Administration & Legal Services
TOPIC STREAM: Marketing & Communications / Marketing et communications
LEVEL: General / Général
As donor demographics shift, how does Legacy marketing engage with newer donors to inspire a lifelong, high value connection? See the latest research on legacy engagement and age to uncover hidden opportunities to inspire deeper relationships with donors. There is no greater opportunity to connect people to your work than through targeted, values based legacy marketing. See how the Stephen Lewis Foundation is applying this new thinking to inspire both traditional and emerging audiences with offers and content that support giving based on an equity lens. And incorporate the practical actions presented to change strategy & outcomes for your own organization!
Kimberley Blease
EVP, Strategic Solutions & Consultancy
Niambi Martin-John
Director of Development
TOPIC STREAM: Legal Issues & Ethics/ Questions juridiques & Éthique et jugement, Gift Planning Vehicles / Véhicules de planification de dons
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
You hear your client or donor say, "I think I need a trust" or "My planning is all done because I have a trust". This session will look at how trusts are used, their purposes, and how they can be used in charitable giving.
SPONSOR: Canada Life
Jos Herman
CPA & Financial Advisor
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
Calgary Foundation has developed a multi-pronged approach to engaging with Professional Advisors to help foster philanthropic conversations with their clients. This approach aids in helping Charities receive funding both during a donor’s lifetime as well as through testamentary giving. We would like to shine a light on the tips and strategies for engaging local professional advisors, how you can help them feel comfortable when speaking with potential donors and how to boost your donors’ knowledge of their options with it comes to gifting.
Leah Johnson-Clark
Donor Relations Advisor
Riz Nathoo
Vice President Donor Engagement
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: Intermediate / Intermédiaire
How can we shift the structure of legacy giving events so that donors are grounded in impact, rather than tactics? How can we design events that result in deeper conversation and connection within different donor segments? Meaningful philanthropy is grounded in community; event offerings ought to reflect that. This session wil delve into the challenges and successes of hosting tailored events for diverse audiences, including business owners contemplating an exit, 2SLGBTQ+ donors and women.
Hilary Fabrizio
Development Associate, Planned Giving
TOPIC STREAM: Building Relationships / Établissement de relations
LEVEL: General / Général
At this workshop, the preliminary results of the study conducted by the Observatoire des communautés noires du Québec and the Foundation of Greater Montreal on the philanthropy of black communities in Quebec would be presented. The study will be completed in the spring of 2025, and aims to : - Highlight the specific nature of the philanthropic gestures made by Black community players, without essentializing them. - Highlight the diversity of philanthropic forms and paths within black communities. - Address the different identities and values of those who give.
Linda Tchombé
Directrice, développement philanthropique
After fifteen years in academic research (plus more than a decade in frontline planned and major gifts fundraising), Professor James brings together scientific results from economics, neuroscience, psychology, demographics, and other disciplines to present the ten most important and effective strategies for increasing fundraising success in planned gifts. Beyond just “war stories,” this presentation gives you a deep understanding of what works – and why – in effective legacy fundraising.
SPONSOR: Abundance Canada
Russell James
J.D., Ph.D., CFP®