Join us Friday, April 10 and Thursday, April 23 for two dynamic virtual programs designed to help nonprofits build sustainable gift planning capacity and deepen donor relationships.

Together, these two sessions provide both strategic vision and practical implementation guidance. SCAHD members and nonprofit leaders are encouraged to attend one or both programs to strengthen their organization’s long-term philanthropic impact.

Smart Strategies
for a Gift Planning Program in 2026
Friday, April 10
2:00 – 3:00 PM Pacific

As nonprofits look ahead, gift planning must evolve beyond simply marketing bequests and technical vehicles. In this forward-focused session, Dave Smith will outline what effective gift planning programs must look like in 2026 and beyond.

Drawing on decades of experience advising organizations nationwide, Dave will explore the critical distinction between planned gifts and gift planning, and why shifting from a transactional approach to a strategic, donor-centered process unlocks transformational results. Participants will gain insight into how to:

  • Integrate gift planning into overall fundraising strategy
  • Engage donors in values-based legacy conversations
  • Move from reactive bequest marketing to proactive planning engagement
  • Build a culture that supports long-term philanthropic partnerships

This session is ideal for executive leaders, development professionals, and board members seeking to future-proof their fundraising strategy and strengthen legacy giving outcomes.

REGISTRATION

April 10 Event Only
Member: $35.00
Non-member: $45.00

Gift Planning Bundle
April 10 Event and April 23 Event
Member: $50.00
Non-member: $70.00

Webinar Link Will Sent to Registrants

CLICK HERE TO LOGIN AND REGISTER

SPEAKER



Dave Smith, CAP
CEO & Founder, Heaton Smith

Dave Smith is the founder and principal of Heaton Smith Group, a national consulting firm specializing in charitable estate and planned giving strategies for nonprofit institutions. Under his leadership, the firm provides comprehensive gift planning services, program audits, and its signature Gift Planning Guide Desk®, helping organizations facilitate and celebrate transformational legacy gifts.

Heaton Smith Group has partnered with leading institutions including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and University of California, Riverside. The firm is recognized as a leader in blended and documented estate gifts, with an average gift of $518,000.

Dave is active in the philanthropic sector through leadership roles with The Giving Institute, the Giving USA Foundation, and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy.