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Beyond Either/Or: The Power of Both

Beyond Either/Or: The Power of Both

by Eddie Thompson | Jun 10, 2025 | Charitable Estate Planning, Professional Development

In 1981, I earned my Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University. For my dissertation, I researched the thirteen best universities in the United States in regard to fundraising, as well as thirteen average universities. My goal was to uncover...
DYING INTESTATE: Procrastinators Who Should Have Known Better

DYING INTESTATE: Procrastinators Who Should Have Known Better

by Eddie Thompson | Dec 12, 2024 | Charitable Estate Planning, Donor Communications

When someone dies intestate (i.e. without a valid will), state laws determine how their assets are distributed. Intesta­­­­cy laws vary by state but generally prioritize spouses, children, and other close relatives. However, the process is far from straightforward....
ESTATE PLANNING PARALYSIS: Indecision, Procrastination, and Over-choice

ESTATE PLANNING PARALYSIS: Indecision, Procrastination, and Over-choice

by Eddie Thompson | Oct 23, 2024 | Charitable Estate Planning, Development Management, Donor Communications

State and federal tax laws regarding estate and gift planning are pretty straightforward—at least on the surface, but the efficacy of their applications differ between cases. For example, testamentary charitable lead trusts are a good option for some donors, but just...
FALSE ASSUMPTIONS: Even Long-time Pros Can, and Do, Make Consequential Mistakes

FALSE ASSUMPTIONS: Even Long-time Pros Can, and Do, Make Consequential Mistakes

by Eddie Thompson | Mar 11, 2024 | Charitable Estate Planning, Development Management, Donor Communications

Grant Whitney joined Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts & Sciences and served there for over 20 years, leading the university’s largest planned gift recognition effort—responsible for enrolling more than 1,000 alumni and friends as new members of the John...
January and February 2024 is the Best Time in Years to Fund a Traditional Charitable Gift Annuity

January and February 2024 is the Best Time in Years to Fund a Traditional Charitable Gift Annuity

by Laura Hansen Dean | Jan 29, 2024 | Charitable Estate Planning, Donor Communications

A note from Eddie: I am privileged to have known Laura Hansen Dean for almost 40 years and consider her one of the best gift planners around.  Even if you don’t know Laura personally, you have likely heard her speak or read something she wrote.  She currently serves...
TELL TO WIN: Finding the Right Story

TELL TO WIN: Finding the Right Story

by Eddie Thompson | Apr 4, 2023 | Charitable Estate Planning, Donor Communications

In his #1 New York Times Bestseller, Tell to Win, award-winning movie producer Peter Gruber explains how dozens of presentations succeeded or failed based on connecting the right story with his presentation. Whenever he relied on facts, charts, and PowerPoint...
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Top Posts

  • PERPETUAL NAMING RIGHTS: Three Cautionary Tales and One Essential Piece of Advice

  • Beyond Either/Or: The Power of Both

  • OPTIMISM: Ben Franklin and the 200-Year Endowments

  • HARD LESSONS LEARNED: My Ten Greatest Fundraising Mistakes

  • MONITORING SUCCESS: The Evolution of Benchmarking & Dashboarding

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