Épisodes

  • Membership Has Its Privileges: The National Capital Gift Planning Council

    Membership Has Its Privileges: The National Capital Gift Planning Council
    Jan 20 2026
    Debra Kathman, senior director of gift planning at World Wildlife Fund, talks networking opportunities, the collegial community and the continuing education that are part of membership with Washington DC’s National Capital Gift Planning Council.    Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Debra Kathman is the senior director of gift planning at the World Wildlife Fund. Since 2016, she’s led WWF’s gift planning program, blending strategy, stewardship and storytelling to connect donors with the planet’s most urgent conservation efforts. Debra also serves as vice president of membership with the National Capital Gift Planning Council (NCGPC), which was honored as the 2025 Council of the Year by the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.
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    21 min
  • Socratic Fundraising Featuring Dr. Russell James

    Socratic Fundraising Featuring Dr. Russell James
    Jan 6 2026
    Socrates, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Gandalf the Grey walk into a donor meeting … In this mind-bending episode, Dr. Russell James reveals the power of using questions as a means of self-discovery to help guide donors into making their gift of a lifetime. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Dr. Russell James is a professor of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University and one of the nation’s leading experts on charitable giving. Dr. James has published more than 150 works on philanthropy and behavioral economics and is frequently cited by media outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
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    32 min
  • Mistletoe, Markets and the True Meaning of Year-End Giving

    Mistletoe, Markets and the True Meaning of Year-End Giving
    Dec 16 2025
    Taking a break from checking those lists (twice) we’ve got Barlow Mann in the Insights studio at the North Pole office for a lively Q&A with the Sharpe elves—host Grant Miller and special guest Teri Sullivan. They talk tax law changes, December giving strategies and the best-laid plans for 2026. Panelist info: Santa’s elf and podcast host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Barlow “Santa” Mann, JD. Sharpe Group’s General Counsel, attended National Planned Giving Institute Seminars, joining the faculty in the late 1970’s. He began his career at several university development offices and a healthcare center. In his decades at Sharpe Group, he has focused on consulting, seminar training and developing planned and major gift marketing efforts for small, medium and large nonprofit organizations. Santa’s elf #2, Teri Sullivan, is the vice president of marketing for Sharpe Group. She has been a marketing professional for more than three decades. Prior to joining Sharpe, she was led promotion strategies for a public broadcasting station and served on the board of a literacy organization.
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    23 min
  • Donor-Advised Funds: Unlocking Potential for Philanthropy

    Donor-Advised Funds: Unlocking Potential for Philanthropy
    Dec 2 2025
    In this episode of Sharpe Insights: Conversations with Your Planned Giving Experts, I, Grant Miller, delve into the world of donor-advised funds (DAFs) and their transformative potential for philanthropy. Joining me is Sarah Barba, an expert in philanthropy and tax policy, who shares her insights on why DAFs have surged in popularity among donors. We discuss the flexibility, tax advantages, and ease of use that make DAFs an attractive option for charitable giving. Sarah clarifies the mechanics of DAFs, including how they can streamline grant-making while providing donors with advisory privileges. We also explore the implications of recent legislative changes and how fundraisers can adapt to engage effectively with DAF donors. Tune in for expert tips and practical strategies to enhance your planned giving efforts.
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    33 min
  • No Need to Fear: How Do Digital Assets Factor into Planned Giving?

    No Need to Fear: How Do Digital Assets Factor into Planned Giving?
    Nov 18 2025
    Are digital assets the “unknown unknowns?” In a timely discussion with host Grant Miller, Sharpe Group technical consultant Chris Woehrle sheds some light on the role they can play in estate planning and planned giving. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Chris Woehrle, JD, LLM is a technical consultant for Sharpe Group, writing and editing our advisory communications. A magna cum laude graduate of Cornell University, Chris earned his JD and LLM (Taxation) from the Widger School of Law at Villanova University, where he is a member of the Graduate Tax Program Advisory Board. He also teaches charitable gift planning and principles of wealth management in the LLM taxation program.
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    20 min
  • The Donor Relationship Roadmap: The Road Less Taken

    The Donor Relationship Roadmap: The Road Less Taken
    Nov 11 2025
    Meaningful donor relationships don’t happen overnight—they happen over time. And sometimes you have to go off the beaten path. Join host Grant Miller as he talks to Sharpe Senior Consultant Joe Chickey who shares his own fundraising stories that will provide creative ideas for connecting with donors beyond the donor visit. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Joe Chickey, MBA, CFP®, Sharpe Group Senior Vice President and Senior Consultant, brings more than 30 years of experience to gift planning. He assesses planned giving programs for Sharpe clients and helps them create and enhance their planned giving strategic plans.
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    25 min
  • A Valuable Member of the Team: The Role of the Advisor in Planned Giving

    A Valuable Member of the Team: The Role of the Advisor in Planned Giving
    Oct 28 2025
    Though they may not be the starting quarterback, advisors do play an important role in helping the gift reach the “finish line.” Host Grant Miller and Chris Woehrle discuss how and why to make engagement with attorneys, accountants and financial advisors a part of your program strategy. Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Chris Woehrle, JD, LLM is a technical consultant for Sharpe Group, writing and editing our advisory communications. A magna cum laude graduate of Cornell University, Chris earned his JD and LLM (Taxation) from the Widger School of Law at Villanova University, where he is a member of the Graduate Tax Program Advisory Board. He also teaches charitable gift planning and principles of wealth management in the LLM taxation program.
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    19 min
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What It Means for Planned Giving

    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What It Means for Planned Giving
    Oct 7 2025
    Having a basic understanding of the OBBBA is essential when communicating with donors. Planned giving fundraising expert Phil Purcell explains what has changed, what hasn’t changed, the best gifts to promote this year and next and how, overall, the tax benefits for philanthropy are alive and well. Panelist info: Host Grant Miller is an award-winning creative writer and senior editor with Sharpe Group. Phil Purcell is currently the director of planned giving for the Salvation Army Central Territory and editor of Planned Giving Today. Phil has guided countless nonprofits through the complexities of tax law, charitable tools and fundraising strategy. Additionally, he is a 2025 National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Hall of Fame inductee.
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    28 min