Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2027
Time: 11:30am - 1pm
11:30 a.m. Networking
Noon Program and Lunch
Location: Brio Italian Grille - International Plaza
Address: 2223 N. Westshore Blvd in Tampa (here's a map)
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“21 Simple Planned Giving Marketing Steps That Make Your Phone Ring”
Most planned giving marketing does not fail because of budget. It fails because it is invisible, vague, inconsistent, or never gives the donor a reason to respond.
The good news is that many of the steps that generate donor inquiries, bequest notifications, and meaningful conversations are surprisingly simple. Some cost very little. Many cost nothing.
In this practical, example-driven session, Viken Mikaelian presents 21 steps organizations can begin using immediately, whether they are large national charities or one-person development offices with no dedicated planned giving budget.
Using real-world examples, Viken will show what nonprofits have tried, what worked, what failed, and why. Attendees will learn:
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How to put a planned giving message in front of the donors most likely to act
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Which free and low-cost tools can do much of the marketing work
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What language encourages donors to call, respond, or request information
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Which words and approaches quietly discourage donor engagement
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How to avoid the common mistakes that undermine results, even at well-funded organizations
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How professional advisors and nonprofits can work together so charitable intentions become completed gifts
Attendees will leave with a practical list of actions they can put to work right away, without waiting for a larger staff, a larger budget, or another strategic planning retreat.
Viken Mikaelian, CEO
PlannedGiving.com
Viken Mikaelian is the founder and CEO of PlannedGiving.com, a national planned giving marketing firm he has led since 1998. The firm has served more than 15,000 nonprofit organizations and today works with approximately 500 active nonprofit clients.
Viken is also the publisher of GIVING Magazine and the owner of Philanthropy.org, a growing platform for news, education, and thought leadership across the philanthropic sector.
Over nearly three decades in the field, Viken has spoken at more than 500 conferences and professional events and written more than 1,500 articles on planned giving, fundraising, and philanthropy. He is known for a plain-spoken, practical approach, focused on strategies that produce completed gifts rather than activities that merely look impressive in a report.
Viken is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and lives in the Tampa Bay area.
Advance reservations are required
CGP Tampa Bay Members - Free
Guests - $45.00
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ANNUAL SPONSORS:
Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Tampa General Hospital
SPCA Tampa Bay
TOP Jewish Foundation
USF Foundation, Office of Gift Planning
