Wednesday, December 31, 1969
Indianapolis, IN -- The National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) will induct Philip M. Purcell into the CGP Hall of Fame. Philip is recognized for his contributions to advancing the field of gift planning through his strategic knowledge sharing, educational leadership and advocacy. He has been instrumental in the progress of philanthropy, elevating professional standards across the industry.
The Hall of Fame Award, CGP’s highest honor, recognizes those whose life's work has impacted charitable gift planning. Their work advances the mission of CGP and brings credit to all the professions engaged in charitable planning.
Phil has enjoyed a 40-year career in planned giving and as counsel to nonprofits. He currently serves as the Director of Planned Giving for the Central Territory of The Salvation Army. In this role, he is the directional leader of over thirty planned giving officers in eleven states who close $80-90 million in planned gifts each year. He has held leadership planned giving roles in public and private higher education, a hospital foundation, an international Catholic ministry, and a leading community foundation.
Phil has been married to Beth (Dietzen) for 38 years. Beth is a retired special needs middle school teacher. They are the proud parents of two sons, Ben (Jenny) and Alex, who are both in education.
Phil has served as counsel on legal and fundraising matters to community foundations and all types of nonprofits throughout the U.S. for 40 years. He is a Senior Consultant for the Heaton Smith Group, a national legacy planning firm, for 15 years. He is Editor for Planned Giving Today, a monthly national publication, for six years, and is on the editorial board of Giving USA. Phil has written chapters and articles, and been interviewed for articles, appearing in the Planned Giving Design Center, The Journal of Gift Planning, CASE Currents, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, Charitable Gifts of Noncash Assets, and other publications. He has spoken at hundreds of national, local, and organizational conferences, seminars, and webinars over his career, including professional continuing education programs. Phil has served as counsel and expert witness in court cases involving nonprofit organizations and philanthropy.
Phil has designed and teaches separate courses on the law of nonprofit organizations and the law of philanthropy for 21 years at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He has taught the planned gift fundraising course for the Fundraising School (TFRS) of the Lilly School of Philanthropy for 26 years, including design and annual updates of the course. Phil created the first online planned giving course for TFRS. He has designed and teaches a course on the law of nonprofit organizations for 15 years for the master's degree program of the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy, and he created the first online version for this course. Phil teaches for the American Institute of Philanthropic Studies Certified Specialist in Planned Giving at California State University Long Beach for six years.
Phil is a licensed attorney and member of the American and Indiana State Bar Associations. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's Charitable Planning and Exempt Organizations Group (Real Property, Trust and Estate Section) and was a member of the Tax-Exempt Organization Advisory Council for the Internal Revenue Service (Great Lakes states). Phil is the current president of the board of directors of the American Council on Gift Annuities. Formerly he served on the board of directors of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (past secretary), Planned Giving Council of Indiana (past president), and Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana (past president). He is a member and past chair of the Leadership Institute of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.
Phil received the 2021 Gift Leader Award by Crescendo and 2011 Fundraiser of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Indiana.
Education. Phil received his B.A. degree from Wabash College, M.P.A. degree from Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and J.D. degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He was a Truman Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Alpha Alpha.
Phil has been instrumental in the progress of philanthropy, elevating professional standards through mentorship, advocacy, and knowledge sharing across the gift planning community. He will be inducted into the CGP Hall of Fame at CGP Conference 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
About CGP:
The National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) is the leading organization setting standards for charitable gift planners. We bring members together to learn, connect and advocate. We provide education and resources that enrich and advance careers. We connect colleagues at all levels through our national network—including those who defined the field. We exist to serve our distinguished profession and bring to life the art and science of charitable gift planning.
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