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Below is the 2021 WRPGC Conference schedule with session descriptions.
Once the 2022 conference schedule is available, that content will replace this recap of 2021.
The 2021 conference included a series of "Wisdom Wednesdays" that began on April 21,
culminating in the Conference lineup May 25-27. All sessions were from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
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April 21 • Wisdom Wednesday #1
LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
PROFILES IN PHILANTHROPY
PRESENTED BY
Faye Washington
President & CEO, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles
DESCRIPTION
Fireside Chat with Faye Washington: Join the discussion to learn more about Faye’s personal and professional background and the secrets of her success in government service and at the YWCA. She will share her advice with planned giving professionals to learn more about and support Black-led and Black-serving non-profits, as well as advice for planned giving professionals and leaders to reach out to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) donors.
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April 28 • Wisdom Wednesday #2
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ACHIEVING IMPACT IN 2021 AND BEYOND
PRESENTED BY
Stephanie Buckley
Senior Vice President, Senior Regional Fiduciary Manager, Wells Fargo Private Bank
Juan Ros
Financial Advisor, Forum Financial Management, LP
Elizabeth Bawden
Partner, Trust, Estates & Charitable Planning, Withers Worldwide
William D. Strickland, JD, CSPG, CEPA
Planned Giving Officer, California Community Foundation
DESCRIPTION
This session will explore the ways donors identify and measure impact through their investing, gifting structures, and with a charity's perspective on best practices in demonstrating impact to donors. The discussion includes how clients are seeking to make an impact through their investments, with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) strategies and how ESG can be implemented in a portfolio while maintaining proper diversification and risk.
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May 5 • Wisdom Wednesday #3
LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
HEALING THE HARM:
LEVERAGING PLANNED GIVING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
PRESENTED BY
Kaci Y. Patterson
Owner and Principal, Social Good Solutions
DESCRIPTION
The "Great White Awakening" of 2020 was a turning point in America's historical denial of systemic racism. The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd activated our collective national consciousness around state violence and anti-Black racism, spurred long overdue changes in public policies, and unleashed a floodgate of unprecedented philanthropic giving to Black communities. Now that the heat of the moment has settled, how do we build long-term stamina for racial equity and use planned giving as a tool to heal the harm of social injustice? This session will discuss lessons learned from the Black Equity Initiative, launched in 2017, to inspire participants to integrate The Principles for Black Equity in their approach to planned giving.
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May 12 • Wisdom Wednesday #4
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BEYOND OUTRIGHT AND LEGACY GIFTS OF CASH AND PUBLICLY-TRADED STOCK: ENHANCING YOUR DONOR’S ABILITY TO SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION
PRESENTED BY
William D. Strickland, JD, CSPG, CEPA
Planned Giving Officer, California Community Foundation
Ryan Raffin
Partner, Charitable Solutions LLC
DESCRIPTION
Successful nonprofits understand the importance and benefits of diversifying their sources of revenue. Many of those organizations already maintain a gift planning program that promote bequests, life income gifts, and Retirement Plan/Life Insurance beneficiary designations. On an increasing basis, some of those organizations have also begun to actively cultivate relationships with Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Donors and partner with community foundations to accept gifts of complex assets (e.g., real estate, business interest, etc.) they cannot accept on their own. By gaining knowledge of these charitable vehicles, skilled fundraisers will be better able to help their donors leverage the scale and impact of their charitable gifts.
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May 19 • Wisdom Wednesday #5
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TRENDS IN PLANNED GIVING 2021
PRESENTED BY
Reynolds Cafferata
Partner, Rodriguez, Horii, Choi & Cafferata LLP
DESCRIPTION
This session will cover issues such as: legislative updates, Prop. 19 and who it affected, how it was implemented and how it might play out for charities, CARES Act update and a look Past/Forward – on tax policies – at how new policies are outlined under the Biden administration and the new congressional dynamics.
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VIRTUAL WESTERN REGIONAL PLANNED GIVING CONFERENCE
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Tuesday, May 25, 2021
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
DIGITAL, ONLINE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA:
BEST PRACTICES FOR FUNDRAISING SUCCESS
PRESENTED BY
Ken Miller, CFRE
President, Denali Fundraising Consultants
DESCRIPTION
Come join Ken Miller, CFRE as he shares on basic, advanced and best practices for digital, online and social media for nonprofit fundraising success. With an emphasis on best practices website design, effective email campaigns, Facebook marketing and all things Google this hands-on and interactive session will look at digital and social media from a strategic and tactical view with an emphasis on the "how" of implementing effective best practices for digital and social media fundraising.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PRIMER
PRIMER PRESENTED BY
Kimberley Valentine
Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Debbie Bills
Associate Vice President of Planned Giving, City of Hope
DESCRIPTION
A 2021 update for experienced charitable gift planners, and a back-to-basics overview for a newbie, this panel provides planners with the essential tools for crafting charitable gifts.
4:10 PM - 4:50 PM
LET'S GET TRIVIAL!
MODERATED BY
Ray Watts
DESCRIPTION
Brush up on your untapped and hithertofore useless bits of knowledge of the arts and sciences, entertainment, history and pop culture! You and your completely random team can win gifts and prizes during "Lets Get Trivial!" trivia contest! The most creative (Rated PG-13 only) team name will also get a prize, so everyone gets a chance to win!
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WELCOME RECEPTION
MEETING THE MOMENT: DECOLONIZING PHILANTHROPY
PRESENTED BY
Vu Le, Blog Writer, NonprofitAF
Founder and Former Executive Director of RVC (Rooted in Vibrant Communities)
DESCRIPTION
Interrogating how the colonial roots of wealth and power preserve privilege, prevent systemic change, and create impediments to true equity in philanthropy, particularly the imbalance of power between funders and recipients; and the steps we must take to decolonize philanthropy by listening and shifting power to communities.
6:15 PM - 7:00 PM
WRPGC Cocktail (and Mocktail) Competition!
MODERATED BY
Ray Watts
DESCRIPTION
Get your creative juices flowing and submit your custom cocktail recipe for the WRPGC contest! Send in your cocktail recipe by May 21, 2021 to join the fun. Your entry must be able to be made both with and without alcohol, and it must have a planned giving/philanthropy-themed name -- the more creative, the better (PG-13 please)! Have your favorite drink in hand and join us after the Opening Keynote for the big reveal of the top three finalists and the crowning of the prize winner!
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Wednesday, May 26, 2021
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
BREAKFAST FOR THE SPIRIT
PRESENTED BY
Alex Maizuss
Mindfulness Intervention Expert
DESCRIPTION
With the intent to cultivate self-awareness, self-reliance, and emotional intelligence, join us in a 15-minute mindfulness exercise to center attendees and prepare for a meaningful day of learning and connecting!
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
KEYNOTE
MADAM C.J. WALKER'S GOSPEL OF GIVING:
BLACK WOMEN'S PHILANTHROPY DURING JIM CROW
PRESENTED BY
Professor Tyrone McKinley Freeman
Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies; Director of Undergraduate Programs, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
DESCRIPTION
In this plenary session, the life and generosity of Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919), the early twentieth-century African American millionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, will be explored to inform the current professional practice of gift planners. Walker’s philanthropic giving began early in her life when she was a poor struggling widowed mother under Jim Crow segregation, not later in life after she became wealthy. Her approach to giving gradually grew over time, included many different types of gifts, and represents a deep history and culture of giving by African Americans active in the present. Her legacy lives on today through her estate plan, which included a range of gifts to family, friends, employees, and institutions. The session will yield important insights for gift planners and professional advisors working with diverse donors today.
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9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
Leadership and Culture: Awareness/Leadership/Action – CGP and DEI
PRESENTED BY
David Disend
Senior Director of Development, Planned Giving, CARE
Kelli Smith
Chief Development Officer, John Ball Zoo
Marion Yongue
Associate Vice President of Development, University of South Florida Foundation
DESCRIPTION
A discussion about the role to be played by the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners in meeting the opportunities and challenges of the DEI conversations.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Telling Our Story Now
PRESENTED BY
Andy Goodman
Director, The Goodman Center
DESCRIPTION
Since the beginning of speech, stories have connected us, and never more than today when we are all living in the same, life-altering narrative. As we have learned more about how our brains work, we have discovered that stories are intrinsic to decision-making and play a critical role in shaping our view of the world. They influence how we think and behave in ways both large and small. In this presentation, internationally recognized storytelling expert Andy Goodman will explain why stories remains your single most powerful communication tool, and he will offer specific ways you can use stories to engage your audience and motivate them to act, particularly now.
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11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
Building A Diverse Pipeline of Talent, Donors, and Leadership in Planned Giving and Philanthropy
PRESENTED BY
Cris Lutz, Assistant Vice President of Gift Planning, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Dien Yuen, Assistant Professor of Philanthropy, The American College of Financial Services
Crystal Thompkins, National Director, Gift Planning Services, BNY Mellon
Birgit Smith Burton, Executive Director of Foundation Relations at Georgia Institute of Technology and Founder of the African American Development Officers Network
Yolanda F. Johnson, Founder at Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)® and President at YFJ Consulting, LLC
DESCRIPTION
Wanting to leave a legacy and make an impact is universal. Securing planned gifts in a rapidly changing world requires a team of fundraisers of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. In other words, colleges, universities, organizations, and institutions cannot afford to miss out on diverse potential future leaders. Join us for a lively and candid conversation about best practices, recruitment, mentoring, and what we can all do to implement more inclusive strategies in planned giving and philanthropy.
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
Mind the Gap:
Closing the funding and equity gap for nonprofits focused on women and girls
PRESENTED BY
Jean Tatge, Chief Development Officer, Women's Sports Foundation
Iliana Tavera, Executive Director, Haven Hills
Kellie Todd Griffin
Blue Shield Promise Health Plan Sr. Director, Community and Provider Engagement
DESCRIPTION
Gather insights on planned giving and gender-based philanthropy and, more specifically, the importance of investing in women and girls, especially women and girls of color.
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12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
How a Pandemic Magnified the
‘Why’ in Planned Giving
PRESENTED BY
Nathan Stelter
The Stelter Company
DESCRIPTION
The natural experiment forced on the world by COVID-19 has pushed everyone to pivot and think differently about a multitude of things impacting their lives. The planned giving world was no exception! Whether it was the shift from a reflective to a reactive conversation, rethinking how we build connections and steward our donors or the evolving shifts in generations open to planned giving and the mediums they chose to engage with, we’ve all been forced to rethink how we market to donors. Through Stelter’s experience working with nonprofits from all subsectors, as well as data we’ve received from fundraisers like you, this presentation aims to provide clarity and ideas for tackling the ‘next normal’ of planned giving.
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
Capturing the Zeitgeist: How do we respond, pivot, and sync our intentions, take action, and still stay true to our core mission
PRESENTED BY
Diane Burbie
Managing Principal, The ASPIRE Group
Dana Goland
Consultant, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, The Aspire Group and Managing Director, Symbia Labs™
Kimberley Valentine
Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Chris Chan
Founder & CEO, 3C Strategies, LLC
DESCRIPTION
We have been here before so how do we embrace the zeitgeist and still stay true to our core mission, our core values, our driving vision? How do we pivot and adjust without compromising or having to undo or revise….yet again. How can the important work of instituting IDEA, responding to the pandemic, and avoiding running afoul of political issues while accomplishing the mission be incorporated? This panel provides a blueprint for senior nonprofit leaders, including practical steps for leadership to realize their vision within their organizations.
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2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
FUNDAMENTALS OF VOGUING
PRESENTED BY
Cesar Valentino (He, Him, His)
DESCRIPTION
"Voguing is a modern American dance style first created in the black and Latino LGBT community. Madonna's 1990 hit "Vogue" is the reference point that grounds most people's understanding. While her song and video helped catapult the art form - as well as the careers of some of Vogue's most accomplished dancers - in fact, it's a cultural movement rooted in the fight against oppression, racism, and homophobia." - The Standard
Come celebrate the culture and history of this iconic dance form by learning the fundamentals of Voguing with the legendary dancer, designer, director and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater teacher Cesar Valentino! Limited to 50 registrants.
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Thursday, May 27, 2021
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
HOT DRINKS AND HOT TAKES!
MODERATED BY
Ray Watts
DESCRIPTION
Bring your coffee, tea, matcha, hot chocolate, or your morning beverage of choice and your Hot Takes! Not a contest, we're just curious! What's your (PG-13) Hot Take on: Best cuisines of the world? Best pizza toppings? Best 80’s movies? And more!!
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
KEYNOTE
ATTITUDES ABOUT DEATH POST-COVID:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR DONOR CONVERSATIONS
PRESENTED BY
Amy Florian
CEO of Corgenius
DESCRIPTION
It's always been difficult for people to face their own mortality, yet development professionals introduce that concept all the time. Has COVID changed how your donors view death? Learn the key things you need to understand when talking with them.
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9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
Corporate Philanthropy:
Supporting Core Values at the
Intersection of Purpose and Profit
PRESENTED BY
Miki Woodard, Head of Social Impact, Diversity & Culture at BAD ROBOT PRODUCTIONS, INC
Nichol Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF)
Lizbeth Nevarez, Managing Director of Nonprofit Tax Services, Green Hasson Janks
Sid Espinosa, Director of Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at Microsoft
DESCRIPTION
How corporate philanthropy is responding and executing its social strategy — how it is engaging with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers — to demonstrate company values, improve society, and promote company success.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Planned Gift Donors Are Not Who You Think They Are
PRESENTED BY
Michael J. Rosen
President, ML Innovations
DESCRIPTION
If you look at a typical nonprofit website, flip through a charity newsletter, or read newspaper reports, you might come away thinking that it is wealthy white men who make planned gifts. You would not be wrong, but you would be missing the full picture. So, who does engage in planned giving? Researchers have begun to address the question. Together, we will explore the true diversity that exists among planned gift donors. We will also review the images and words that inspire people to make planned gift commitments. Following this session, you will have a better understanding of who gives as well as immediately actionable, easy to implement, low-cost steps you can take to enhance the results of your planned giving program.
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10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
Implementing DEI in all Aspects of the Community Foundation and in Grant Making
PRESENTED BY
Todd Hanson, Vice President, Center for Engaged Philanthropy at the Orange County Community Foundation
Cathleen Otero, Vice President Donor Relations & Programs, Donor Relations & Programs
DESCRIPTION
In June of 2020 OCCF formed a Racial Justice and Equity Board work group to explore how OCCF could leverage its resources to address issues of injustice and inequity in OC through our relationships with donors, nonprofit partners and the broader community. We have made a commitment to furthering racial justice, healing, and equity and that it is integrated seamlessly into every facet of our work, from internal operations (Board and staff recruitment, professional development and culture) to our donor- and community-facing work (donor education, discretionary grantmaking, scholarships, and community leadership). This workshop will share the lessons learned as we have embarked on this process, sharing successes and challenges. We will also highlight examples we are seeing our grantees take that are yielding positive outcomes.
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LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE
Unpacking Parity: Exploring the root causes of funding disparities to minority nonprofits
PRESENTED BY
Brian Williams, COO, Urban League of Los Angeles
Celina Santiago, Chief Development and Partnerships Officer, CASA of Los Angeles
Connie Chung Joe, (Asian Americans Advancing Justice)
Angela Johnson Peters, Associate Director of Programs and Development, Social Justice Learning Institute
DESCRIPTION
How are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) nonprofits dealing with the triple whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial reckoning triggered by the brutal murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and others, and the fractured political system that made 2020 a year to remember? Our expert panel of nonprofit leaders will address the issues arising out of the various controversies of 2020 and beyond, and will explain how their organizations are moving beyond 2020 "crisis funding" to promote long-term fiscal and program sustainability, program impact, and diversity, equity and inclusion for their organizations and the communities they serve.
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12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Pandemic and Philanthropy - What have we learned and where do we go from here?
PRESENTED BY
Robert F. Sharpe, Jr., CEO, Encore
DESCRIPTION
It has been over a year since the world began to grapple with the global COVID-19 pandemic, the extent of which had not been experienced in over a century. Now that widespread vaccination campaigns are underway and numbers of cases and deaths are declining, the nonprofit sector is beginning to look to the future. The consensus of commentators is that the Post-COVID world will present a new normal that may be different in many ways from the past. Charitable gift planning will be no exception. This session will explore five primary factors that taken together have proven the best barometers of funding success in the midst of COVID-19, and also help shed light on the nature of the recovery as the pandemic recedes. A summary of proposed tax legislation and an overview of the possible impact on popular charitable planning vehicles will also be included.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Charitable Giving:
The Donor’s Tax Considerations
PRESENTED BY
Elizabeth Glasgow, Partner, McDermott Will & Emery
Kristina Segesvary, Vice President, Goldman Sachs
DESCRIPTION
With income, gift, and estate tax rate increases on the horizon, charitable tax planning strategies continue to be critical components of a wealth management plan – and may be the opening to engage with a donor about moving to another level of contribution or even to discuss charitable giving with someone who is not charitably inclined. In this session, we will explore why charitable dollars may be worth more as income shifts into higher brackets and how charitable donation structures can be an essential element for families that may be more susceptible to both income and transfer taxes. We will look at the benefits to taxpayers today that may shift their charitable planning strategies from a testamentary strategy to one that also includes more robust lifetime gifting. In addition to covering the vehicles that are most commonly employed to achieve a donor’s charitable and tax objectives, this session will also address some of the hurdles individuals face when seeking to set up more comprehensive planning.
*The CFP Board has approved this session for 1.50 CE hours. CE Sponsor ID: 973. Program ID: 292015
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1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
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TRACKS 1 AND 2
CLOSING KEYNOTE
The Hill We Climb: Leading Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity
at Work, Society, and Philanthropy
PRESENTED BY
Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts, Ph.D., University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
DESCRIPTION
What are the implications of philanthropy's renewed focus this year on racial equity? How can nonprofit leaders engage proactively, responsively, and ethically in the work of promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, both internally and externally? These challenges may seem like an insurmountable hill to climb. However, when corporate leaders make racial equity a business imperative, committing to long-term plans with measurable metrics and authentic accountability, and inculcate this plan within the company's mission and values, they will meet the moment with clarity of purpose and strategies for success.
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Additional Details
The Los Angeles Council of Charitable Gift Planners is approved as a continuing education provider of MCLE credit by the State Bar of California; CPE continuing education credits for CPAs; CSPG continuing education credits for Planned Giving; CFRE continuing education credits for Fund Raising Executives. An application for continuing education credits for CFP® is submitted when the course content is within the CFP® Board guidelines.
Cancellation Policy:
LACGP regrets that refunds will not be given for no-shows. A refund of full registration is permitted prior to an event by submitting a written request to [email protected]
LACGP reserves the right to change speakers and/or cancel an event due to unforeseen circumstances without penalty. The total amount of any liability of LACGP will be limited to a refund of the attendee’s registration fee.
Additional Virtual Event Provisions:
If a technical failure at the attendee’s home or workplace prevents access to the virtual event, the attendee will not be given a refund. It is the responsibility of the attendee to confirm system requirements and test their computers prior to the start of the virtual event. However, if a technical failure is the fault of the service provider and the virtual event is cancelled, a full refund will be provided.
If you are unable to attend the virtual event, information on how to access program recordings, where available, materials and features of the virtual event will be provided to all registered persons. Registrants who fail to attend the event, in part or in whole, are not eligible for a refund or credit and will be billed for any balance due.
Consent Clause
Photo Release
Registration and attendance at, or participation in, LACGP meetings and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videos, electronic reproductions, and recordings of such events and activities by LACGP and other third parties (for example, sponsors). Your registration may include technology that monitors your activities throughout the meeting, such as session attendance.
Email/Mail Release
LACGP will provide attendee contact information and email addresses to program partners and exhibitors. LACGP does not sell attendee information. For those LACGP events with program partners/exhibitors you will have the option during registration to choose whether you wish to receive notifications and opportunities from the program partners/exhibitors via email or mail.
Mobile App Policy
As a knowledge-sharing community, the LACGP Mobile App has features that allow fellow meeting attendees to know and contact each other. By participating in certain LACGP events you grant LACGP the right to upload your name, company and company's primary address & phone number in your profile to the LACGP meeting App, which will be available to registered attendees only.
Continuing Education
The Los Angeles Council of Charitable Gift Planners is approved as a continuing education provider of MCLE credit by the State Bar of California and for CFRE continuing education credits for Fund Raising Executives. An application for continuing education credits for CFP® is submitted when the course content is within the CFP® Board guidelines.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for CPAs through the California Board of Accountancy are self-reported and it is the obligation of each licensee to select a course of study consistent with the CBA requirements.
Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG) continuing education credits for Planned Giving are self-reported and the appropriate attendance certificate will be provided after the event.
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