Luncheon Program
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 • 12:00 to 1:30 PM PT via Zoom
Title: Unleashing the Power of Planned Giving Fundraising Success
Presented by:
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Claire Grezemkovsky PhD
Major Gifts Officer Brown University |
Carl A. Wayne, JD
Executive Director, Office of Gift Planning University of California, Berkeley |
Program Description:
Engaging donors around planned giving opportunities is a powerful fundraising approach. Gift officers are often aware of planned giving vehicles but are challenged to find organic ways to guide donors to understand these opportunities and create more planned gifts. Bequest giving is different than current giving. There is a large behavioral gap between the percentage of current outright giving and planned bequest giving. Planned giving training often focuses on the giving vehicles themselves, which can generate curiosity but leaves unanswered questions such as, what really is planned giving, what are some of the psychological barriers to planned giving and strategies to overcome the barriers? This session follows a different approach. Through story-telling to understand the psychology of planned giving and applying a framework to create deeper conversations and relationships, this session will provide a path forward to closing more planned gifts.
About the Presenters:
Carl A. Wayne joined the UC Berkeley Office of Gift Planning in January 2024. Prior to his current role he served as assistant vice president for planned giving at the University of Washington. His other advancement roles have included UCLA, American Heart Association and CSU Long Beach. He currently serves on the national board of the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA), and previouly served on the national boards of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and Advisors in Philanthropy (AiP). When not working, Carl enjoys spending time with family, biking, long walks, movies, cooking, reading and perusuing vintage bookstores.
Claire Grezmekovisy has served the Brown University community on the West Coast for the past four years. As an alumna and Major Gifts Officer, she is passionate about developing philanthropic partnerships with alumni, parents, and friends to help Brown advance its mission. Prior to her work in Major Gifts fundraising, Claire was a Corporate and Foundation Relations professional at a range of public and private institutions including the Salk Institute, Scripps Research, and UC San Diego. Claire transitioned to institutional fundraising following completion of her PhD at the University of California Berkeley. Planned Giving is a personal interest area for Claire as she finds it extremely rewarding to assist philanthropists as they establish impactful legacies.
Engaging donors around planned giving opportunities is a powerful fundraising approach. Gift officers are often aware of planned giving vehicles but are challenged to find organic ways to guide donors to understand these opportunities and create more planned gifts. Bequest giving is different than current giving. There is a large behavioral gap between the percentage of current outright giving and planned bequest giving. Planned giving training often focuses on the giving vehicles themselves, which can generate curiosity but leaves unanswered questions such as, what really is planned giving, what are some of the psychological barriers to planned giving and strategies to overcome the barriers? This session follows a different approach. Through story-telling to understand the psychology of planned giving and applying a framework to create deeper conversations and relationships, this session will provide a path forward to closing more planned gifts.
About the Presenters:
Carl A. Wayne joined the UC Berkeley Office of Gift Planning in January 2024. Prior to his current role he served as assistant vice president for planned giving at the University of Washington. His other advancement roles have included UCLA, American Heart Association and CSU Long Beach. He currently serves on the national board of the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA), and previouly served on the national boards of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and Advisors in Philanthropy (AiP). When not working, Carl enjoys spending time with family, biking, long walks, movies, cooking, reading and perusuing vintage bookstores.
Claire Grezmekovisy has served the Brown University community on the West Coast for the past four years. As an alumna and Major Gifts Officer, she is passionate about developing philanthropic partnerships with alumni, parents, and friends to help Brown advance its mission. Prior to her work in Major Gifts fundraising, Claire was a Corporate and Foundation Relations professional at a range of public and private institutions including the Salk Institute, Scripps Research, and UC San Diego. Claire transitioned to institutional fundraising following completion of her PhD at the University of California Berkeley. Planned Giving is a personal interest area for Claire as she finds it extremely rewarding to assist philanthropists as they establish impactful legacies.
Program Fees:
$30 - Member Fees
$45 - Non Member Fees |
Continuing Education Credit:
N/A |