Pentera offers educational and marketing seminars—both advanced and comprehensive—for development professionals with various degrees of skill and experience. The seminars are designed for both newcomers and seasoned professionals who wish to learn about or refresh their knowledge of major gifts and planned giving and their tax consequences.
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Jump start your knowledge, confidence, and career Excellent in-depth course for beginners and a refresher for experienced PG professionals Gain an in-depth understanding of gift-planning vehicles Cover key issues, with an emphasis on case studies and ethics Empower yourself and your staff with the best practices of direct-mail strategies Discover key insights into donor cultivation and stewardship	Delve into the ins and outs of planned giving with two of the industry’s top gurus and take your PG knowledge to a new level. "… the quality and style of teaching remains first-rate. Your question and answer style of teaching is without parallel. No matter how far off target our answers to your queries might land, you lead us from our misguided point of view to the promised land." —Stephen K. Gauly, Director, Office of Planned Giving DePauw University

Who our comprehensive seminar is for

• People who are new to the planned giving field and want to gain an understanding of the basic concepts, the mechanisms of different vehicles, and the tax advantages of charitable giving.
• Planned giving and major gifts staffers who have worked in the field for some time and who wish to refresh or deepen their knowledge.
• Development office managers who want a better understanding of planned giving.
• Board members and other volunteers who want to gain insight into planned giving and the confidence to spread the word to friends and acquaintances.

In addition to taking part in an interactive discussion of basic and advanced planned giving techniques in a friendly and supportive environment, you will learn by doing. You will put those concepts into practice through assignments on your own and case studies with a small group of other participants. The case studies, particularly, are a fun, relaxed way to reinforce what you’ve learned and give you the chance to network with other planned giving professionals.

All participants will receive a certificate of completion, suitable for framing.

Indianapolis is a national center of philanthropy, with the headquarters of the National Committee on Planned Giving, the American Council on Gift Annuities, and The Fund-Raising School.

Who our advanced seminar is for

It's designed for gift planning and major gifts professionals with at least three to five years of experience and for senior development officers (VPs, DODs) who are actively involved in planned giving.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the speakers?
Our seminars are led by André R. Donikian, JD, president of Pentera, Inc. (bio) (speaking engagements), and one of the foremost professionals in the planned giving arena for more than 35 years. Donikian is an attorney, a member of the New York Bar, and a popular lecturer and tax expert. Frank Minton, PhD (bio), is president of Planned Giving Services, which provides guidance in establishing, administering, and marketing planned giving programs of nonprofit organizations. In addition, Nancy Maraldo (bio), Doug Weaver (bio), Claudine Donikian (bio), and guest speakers share their marketing expertise in sessions about current trends in marketing successful planned giving programs (via print and electronic media) and about donor relations (cultivation and stewardship).

How much experience in planned giving do I need to participate in the comprehensive seminar?
This intensive seminar—back to five days by popular demand—is designed for beginners all the way up to those with five years experience in planned giving. It's good for the seasoned professional who wants to hone his or her skills and those who have been out of the planned giving field and want to learn all the latest developments. Other participants have ranged from college presidents to committed and actively involved volunteers and board members. This seminar is a good place for networking. Groups of five participants each prepare actual case studies and present them to the group.

How much experience in planned giving do I need to attend the advanced seminar?
The advanced seminar is designed for those who have a good understanding of the concepts that will be discussed.

Is there a handbook for the seminars?
A three-ring binder outlining the presentation materials—more than 100 pages long—is distributed at each seminar, as well as Pentera's 36-page gift-planning handbook, A Guide to Creative Gift Planning Arrangements—an excellent primer for the concepts being discussed.

What should I bring to the seminar?
Your questions—and a calculator. We provide other materials. Dress is casual.

Do I need to send a check when I register?
You may, but Pentera sends invoices about a month before the seminars.

What is the cost of the seminars?
The fee to attend the Advanced 3-Day Planned Giving Seminar is $650. Additional participants from the same institution are $550 each. Please note: The special fee for Pentera's planned giving newsletter clients is $550. Each additional participant is $475.

The fee to attend the Comprehensive 5-Day Planned Giving School is $1,195.

Additional participants from the same institution are $995 each.

Please note: The special fee for Pentera's planned giving newsletter clients is $995. Each additional participant from the same institution is $895 each.