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Committees

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Volunteer Opportunities

Communications Committee

Contact:
Helene Benitez     
University of Minnesota Foundation     
hbenitez@umn.edu 

Charge:

  • Provide consistent, effective communication of association activities and mission to internal and external community.
  • Conduct communication audit and develop and recommend long-term plan for the association.
  • Promote ethical practices and compliance with the Model Standards of Practice 

Description:

  • Conduct communications audit and develop and recommend long-term communication plan for association.
  • Develop and implement the association's Web site and continually monitor for content and maintenance.
  • Develop, write, and distribute a member e-newsletter.
  • Promote the Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner.
  • Develop expense and income budgets for these programs and manage the programs within the approved budget.

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Conference Committee

Contact:

Co-Chair Trisha Taylor
University of Minnesota
taylort@umn.edu

Co-Chair Jennifer White
University of Minnesota Foundation
whit0559@umn.edu  

Charge:

  • Coordinate the Minnesota Gift Planning Association Annual Conference
  • Promote ethical practices and compliance with the Model Standards of Practice   

Description:

  • Plan and carry out the Minnesota Gift Planning Association Annual Conference
  • Incorporate ethical practices and compliance with the Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning into programming.
  • Plan and carry out balanced programming at the conference to meet the needs of the association's membership.
  • Develop expense and income budgets for the conference and manage the conference within the approved budget.

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Finance Committee and Fund Development Subcommittee

Contact:
Chair (Development) Sheryl Morrison, JD, FCEP
Lathrop GPM
(612) 632-3376

Finance Subcommittee
Chair Kyle Wesely 
Invesco     

Charge:

  • Adequately preserve and protect the financial interest of the Minnesota Gift Planning association.
  • Prepare an annual budget for the association.
  • Provide other advice and services concerning the financial affairs of the association 

Description:

  • Prepare and manage the budget of the association.
  • Develop and implement a program to establish and manage long term investments for the association.
  • Coordinate and manage the sponsorship and fund-raising efforts of the association.
    Develop a long-term fund-raising and development program for the association.

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IDEA Committee

Contact:
Jane Townsend
janepjt@gmail.com

Dana Holt
dana.holt@holtgiftplanning.com

Charge:

  • The IDEA Committee is a volunteer advisory committee to MGPA and its mission. Its purpose is to foster an environment of inclusion to promote diversity in membership and to incorporate diversity in issues, ideas and information shared in educational programming and events.

  • Through its work, the IDEA Committee embraces the values of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility and promotes the following core principles:
    • MGPA demonstrates respect and empathy for all.
    • MGPA demonstrates trust and openness to different viewpoints and opinions.
    • MGPA facilitates dialogue.
  • The IDEA Committee works toward eliminating all forms of oppression within our organization and the field of philanthropy. MGPA acknowledges that along our journey, we will inevitably make mistakes, and when we do we will begin again.


Description:

  • Work with all MGPA committees to integrate the principles above thereby creating a culture of diversity and inclusion.
  •  Improve understanding of how diversity and inclusion affect mission accomplishment.
  • Work to achieve broad representation of ideas, cultures and experiences to achieve the best outcomes.
  • Work to create an environment that is open and welcoming to all.

Definitions:

Inclusion

  • Inclusion means an intentional, thoughtful, continuous effort to ensure that all members are welcome, respected and valued in all aspects of the work and within the organization. Moreover, inclusion allows for all diverse people to contribute and participate fully according to their talents and interests. 
Diversity
  • At its broadest, diversity encompasses all aspects of human difference, which comprise individual and group identities. These include, but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, creed, religion/spirituality, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, language, national origin, culture, age, marital status, (dis)ability, military/veteran status, political perspective and lived experiences.  Organizational diversity refers to the extent to which differences are represented amongst members and leadership in a group.
Equity
  • Equity means fair and just practices and policies that ensure all members have the opportunity to thrive. Equity differs from equality by recognizing the presence of systemic and structural inequalities that advantage some and disadvantage others and seeks to reduce and remove such barriers.
Access
  • Access refers to fostering attitudes, behaviors and procedures that allow for equitable opportunities of participation by all diverse members. Access focuses on fair rights and entry for all, regardless of ability and experience. When access meets social justice, the result is inclusion (see above)

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LEAVE A LEGACY® and Regional Involvement Committee

Contact:
Scott Nelson
Retired
scottanelson3616@gmail.com

Charge:

  • Adequately preserve and protect the financial interest of the Minnesota Gift Planning association.
  • Coordinate Programming with Regional Leave A Legacy Chapters Pursuant to Guidance from Partnership for Philanthropic Planning.

Description:

  • Provide resources for donors, legal and financial advisors, donors and nonprofit organizations to promote planned gifts to support charitable missions across Minnesota.
  • Coordinate Programming with regional Leave A Legacy Chapters.
  • The committee promotes, produces and records six webinars each year with content to assist emerging nonprofit organizations to pursue planned gifts.
  • The committee builds and maintains a robust website.
  • The committee actively works with partner organizations and Leave A Legacy Chapters to strengthen their efforts to gain charitable support.
  • Promote the Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner.
  • Develop expense and income budgets for these programs and manage the programs within the approved budget.

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Membership Development, Involvement, and Ethical Practices Committee

Contact:
Martha West
MWest01@covliving.org

Co-Chair: OPEN

Charge:

  • Promote and encourage new and renewal membership.
  • Be responsible for member services and liaison.
  • Promote ethical practices and compliance with the Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning.
  • Promote and encourage active participation of association members.

Description:

  • Promote and encourage new and renewal membership in the association, including recruitment of new members from areas that are underrepresented.
  • Develop and implement a plan to regularly survey the membership to ascertain their needs and evaluate the success of the association in meeting those needs.
  • Promote the Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner and require a pledge of compliance by members.
  • Develop expense and income budgets for these programs and manage the programs within the approved budget.

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Program Committee

Contact:
Dena DeGroat 
Financial Advisor
Journey Financial Consultants
dena.degroat@thrivent.com

Co-Chair OPEN 

Charge:

  • To deliver quality educational programs that promote learning in the philanthropic and planned giving sector for MGPA members and guests.
  • Promote ethical practices and compliance with the Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning.

Description:

  • Plan and carry out five programs for the association ensuring they provide substantive educational opportunities for current and prospective members, professional advisors and other philanthropic leaders.
  • Plan and carry out balanced programming to meet the needs of the new and the advanced gift planner.
  • Develop expense and income budgets for these programs and manage the programs within the approved budget

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Brisk Walk Committee

Contact:
Bill Hickey
Attorney at law
William M. Hansen & Associates, PLLC
763-398-5800

Charge:

  • Coordinate "Brisk Walk through the Basics" course offerings.
  • Establish an eLearning series of the "Brisk Walk through the Basics" course for on-demand purchase.
  • Develop advanced planned giving educational resources.

Description:

  • Lead the promotion and execution of "Brisk Walk through the Basics" courses in-person throughout the year, online, and at the Annual Conference.
  • Plan and carry out educational initiatives of the association to provide special educational opportunities for the members of the association.
  • Develop expense and income budgets for these initiatives and manage them within the approved budget.

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