Session 4D - Making Gift Documentation Feasible and Friendly


Monday, September 30th, 2013
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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Description:
In a perfect world, gift agreements should serve two functions: recognition and documentation. But in the real world, we express our gratitude to the donor then get into the housekeeping of when they’re going to pay and what happens if, and we stray into the Legal Land of herewith and forthwith. In combining recognition -- “we gratefully acknowledge the generosity of DONOR” -- with documentation -- “if unforeseen circumstances in the future should make said fund impractical or illegal” -- we end up with surf-and-turf or sleeper sofas. You know – the worst of both, the best of neither. But it doesn’t have to be that way! This session will focus on merging the ideal with the practical, the art with the science, the numbers with the warm and fuzzy.

Expertise Level: Midlevel (2-5 years)
Shop Size: Suitable for any size shop
Subject Focus:


Speaker Bio:
Debbie Meyers
Debbie Meyers recently became senior director of donor relations and stewardship at the University of Maryland. Previously she was director of donor services at Carnegie Mellon University for eight years, where she oversaw donor relations, stewardship and gift documentation, and director of stewardship and donor relations at the University of Florida Foundation for nine years, serving as a central resource to 45 development officers at 20 colleges and units. Her development career began in 1986 as publications director for UF’s health center development office. She also was development and alumni director at Bishop Moore High School (her alma mater), and development director at the Orlando Museum of Art. A founding board member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals, she has a bachelor's degree in English from Loyola University in New Orleans and a master's degree in journalism from UF. She is grateful that she can repurpose her Pittsburgh/BMHS black and gold clothes in Maryland.