SAVE THE DATES!

September 18, 2008 and October 30, 2008

The Maine Planned Giving Council (MPGC) will be hosting two sessions designed to help nonprofit professionals who want to start a planned giving program and who want to learn the basics needed to talk to donors about gift planning.
September 18, 2008

Starting a Planned Giving Program: It's Easier Than You Think

What is holding you back from getting your organization's planned giving program up and running? Not enough time in your day? No budget? Lack of planned giving experience? Not enough staff? Not sure where to begin?

If this sounds familiar, then plan on attending the Maine Planned Giving Council's panel discussion on September 18, 2008 at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care from 2:30 - 4:00 pm.

A panel of Development professionals, who have successfully built planned giving programs for their nonprofits, will share with you specific steps that you can take to create your own planned giving program. You will come away from this session with action steps to get your program started and ideas for low-cost, easy marketing efforts. A question and answer session will follow the panel discussion.

Background on Presenters:

Michael Todd

Michael Todd has been Director of Development for Mid Coast Hospital and its affiliates in Brunswick since 1999. As a "One Man Shop" he coordinates all fundraising activities for the organization including annual giving, golf tournaments and other special events, grants, tribute giving, donor cultivation/recognition and stewardship, and much more…most notably planned giving.

Overcoming a fair amount of fear and intimidation regarding the complexities of jumping into planned giving, Michael launched a full-fledged planned giving program at Mid Coast in late 2003 with great support from consultant Phillip McKean. He also gathered an informal professional advisory panel to call upon as needed. This includes estate attorneys, financial advisors, accountants and other related resources.

He created the Heritage Circle society to honor planned giving donors and deepen their relationship with the hospital. Mid Coast has marketed gift planning to prospective donors on its website, in newsletters and at special events such as a "Planned Giving Primer" at the Thornton Oaks Retirement Community, and a "Women of Vision" planned giving seminar just for women.

The planned giving program promotes the benefits to donors of establishing endowment funds, charitable gift annuities, trusts and other forms of estate planning. The hospital has received several multi-million dollar bequests and has seen its endowment grow significantly in recent years.

Michael encourages you to overcome your fears…take a deep breath…and jump into planned giving. It's easier than you think!

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist

Sarah Ruef-Lindquist received her B.A. from Southern Methodist University and J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center. A member of the Iota Class of the Institute for Civic Leadership in Portland, Maine, she also completed the American Bankers Association National Trust School and National Graduate Trust School Programs, and attained her certification as a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor ("CTFA") in 2005 from the American Bankers Association Institute of Certified Bankers.

Ms. Ruef-Lindquist practiced law for 11 years prior to becoming Vice President for Southern Maine at the Maine Community Foundation, then Vice President and Sr. Administrative Trust Officer at Union Trust Company. In her roles within wealth management she worked extensively with non profit organizations and donors in the creation, management and administration of endowment funds, charitable trusts, private foundations, pooled income funds, gift annuities and has facilitated eight-figure and other complex gifts. She has extensive experience in educating board members and staff in the area of planned giving, and developing the policies and procedures necessary for the solicitation of planned gifts, as well as the policies for their investment and endowment spending. While at Union Trust, she oversaw the development of services tailored for the needs of non profit organizations, including specialized investment management and reporting, and planned giving support services.

Ms. Ruef-Lindquist, while not active in the practice of law, is licensed in Maine, New Hampshire and Federal Courts of both jurisdictions. She is a member of the New Hampshire, Maine State and American Bar Associations, as well as the Maine Estate Planning Council and the Maine Bankers Association. She served as president of the Maine Planned Giving Council in 2006 and 2007 and oversaw the production of the premier 2006/2007 Leave A Legacy ™ Magazine for the council.

Sarah will speak about her experience in helping Atlantic Challenge, a boat building school located in Rockland; get their planned giving program off the ground.

Cheryl Callnan

Cheryl Callnan has nearly 20 years of experience in philanthropy. She spent 17 years at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor and two years as the Director of Development at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital.

At The Jackson Laboratory, Cheryl managed the Laboratory's annual fund and planned giving program. In addition, she was responsible for such development functions as special events, alumni relations, prospect research, database management, science writing and stewardship.

At Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, Cheryl directed the philanthropy, marketing, community relations and government relations programs. In her two years at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, Cheryl grew the philanthropy goal by more than 50% and instituted the first Charitable Gift Annuity program.

Cheryl will talk about the steps that the Jackson Laboratory staff took to build a formal planned giving program.

---

Watch your mail in the coming weeks for additional information about this program.
To pre-register, send $10 (members) or $20 (non members) to MCPG, c/o Brian Dietz, Treasurer, Portland Financial Planning Group LLC, 477 Congress Street, Suite 814, Portland, ME 04101.

Directions to the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care

From the Interstate

Take I-95 to Exit 113 (Route 3). Travel on Route 3 for .75 miles to Route 104 (the first light). Turn right. Travel .5 miles to Old Belgrade Road, turn right (just after Kennebec Valley Federal Credit Union).
The center is 1.8 miles north on your right.

From MaineGeneral's Augusta Campus

Take Route 201 north to Route 3. Turn left, traveling over the Third Bridge. Turn left at the light onto Route 104.
After .5 miles turn right onto Old Belgrade Road (just after Kennebec Valley Federal Credit Union). The center is 1.8 miles north on your right.

October 30, 2008

Estate Planning Basics for Gift Planners

The Maine Planned Giving Council will host a webinar: “Estate Planning Basics for Gift Planners.” This webinar, presented by Frank Minton through PG Calc, will provide you with the basics of estate planning as it relates to gift planning, help you speak articulately to your donors about their estate planning goals, and explain common techniques that will help your donors achieve these goals while supporting your organization’s mission.

Time and location to be announced.