This educational session equips development professionals with the tools and confidence to launch or grow a planned giving program at their organization. Whether starting from scratch or strengthening an existing effort, attendees will learn the core gift types (bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, beneficiary designations, and more) alongside the five building blocks of a successful program: policy and governance (gift acceptance policies, valuation practices, board buy-in), infrastructure (CRM systems, professional partners, staffing), marketing and outreach (case for support, donor-facing materials, sample bequest language), cultivation and solicitation (prospect identification, donor conversations, the ask, collaboration with major gift officers), and stewardship (legacy societies, recognition, ongoing communication).
The session also addresses common barriers small and mid-sized organizations face — limited capacity, board buy-in, and donor hesitancy — with practical, low-cost strategies to overcome them. Participants will leave with a clear framework for launching or growing their program.
Becky Thompson
Deputy Director of Planned Giving
UC Berkeley
Becky Thompson is a philanthropy leader with 30 years of progressive fundraising leadership across healthcare and higher education. She currently serves as Deputy Director of the Office of Gift Planning at UC Berkeley, where she oversees a team of five gift planning officers and leads strategy and pipeline development for the university's planned giving program.
Prior to joining Berkeley, Becky served as Philanthropy Executive, Gift Planning for Sutter Health Philanthropy, where she oversaw the gift planning program for nine hospitals, two medical groups, and Sutter Care at Home. Her career also includes leadership roles as Chief Philanthropy Officer at Mercy Foundation, Associate Vice President for Development at California State University, Sacramento and development positions at Northern Arizona University and San Francisco State University.
Becky has completed coursework toward her Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG) designation and is a member and Past President of the Planned Giving Forum of Greater Sacramento, a board member of the Sacramento Estate Planning Council, and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Member Registration – $35.00
Non-Member Registration – $50.00
Lunch is included
