How to Build Critical Planned Giving Relationships with Rebecca Rothey
February 17 at 2 p.m. ET
As gift officers, building donor relationships is essential to securing philanthropic commitments. While donor connections are central, understanding the broader landscape of critical relationships—both external and internal— is key to success.
This session explores these relationships and offers strategies for managing them effectively. We begin with external relationships, including donors' families, advisors, and personal networks. Recognizing the influence of spouses, children, professional advisors, and other key figures helps shape meaningful gift discussions. Internally, gift officers must navigate organizational relationships, collaborating with leadership, finance, legal, and program teams to align priorities and ensure gift success. Strengthening interdepartmental communication and demonstrating the value of planned giving are essential. At the core of all relationships is the one we have with ourselves. Self-awareness, authenticity, and ethical decision-making foster trust and enhance our ability to engage meaningfully with donors and colleagues.
About Rebecca Rothey:
Rebecca Rothey, CFRE, CAP®, AEP®, IPA is an experienced speaker and trainer in philanthropic advising and charitable gift planning. She provides the technical information that advisors need to work with clients and fundraisers, and that development professionals need to work with donors and their advisors.
Her time as Director of Major and Planned Giving at the Baltimore Community Foundation from 2012 to 2015 ignited her passion for community foundations and their role in helping donors give back to their communities. From 2016 to 2022, she served as Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Greater Washington Community Foundation and now serves as Senior Advisor. Her Baltimore experience also includes serving as a Director of Gift Planning at The Johns Hopkins University and Medicine and Director of Planned and Principal Gifts at Catholic Charities of Baltimore. She began her career in gift planning at the American Red Cross of Central Maryland as Manager of Major and Planned Gifts.
Rebecca serves on the editorial advisory board of Planned Giving Today. She served on the board of the Baltimore Estate Planning Council, is a past president of the Chesapeake Planned Giving Council, and remains an active member of the Washington, DC and other local Estate Planning Councils.