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...
by Eddie Thompson | Aug 30, 2024 | Development Management, Professional Development
While my last post referred to the “building blocks” of an integrated growth system, another useful metaphor could be the machinery of a system, a collection of different-sized gears that work together—like a clock. Large gears rotate slowly (the hour hand, for...
by Eddie Thompson | Jul 16, 2024 | Development Management, Professional Development
In the March-April 2024 issue of Harvard Business Review, Paul Blasé and Paul Leinwand published an article on the challenges of maintaining consistent growth utilizing their expertise as seasoned executives and successful advisors to other executives at...
by Eddie Thompson | Jun 17, 2024 | Development Management, Donor Communications
I’ll be the first to admit that I lean old school in many ways. Many of these classic principles have withstood the test of time: systematic donor cultivation that creates long-lasting relationships; discovering donor values and priorities rather than simply declaring...
by Eddie Thompson | Apr 22, 2024 | Development Management, Professional Development
“What were some of your greatest professional mistakes?” In every Thompson & Associates public engagement, online interview, or continuing education seminar, that is the most frequent question I am asked. Luckily, the most important lessons I’ve learned in my 40+...
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...
