The Doorway to Donors: Arlene Cogen’s Tips on Attracting Donor Advised Funds and Creating One Yourself

Arlene Cogen shares her guidance getting the largest contributions from donor-advised funds.

Arlene is a financial planner with more than 20 years of experience in the trust and investment services industry but also a considerable background in nonprofit fundraising and administration. She guided the nation’s 9th largest community foundation for over a decade and authored her book, Give to Live, Make a Charitable Gift that you Never Imagined.

 

*****Timestamped Highlights*****

(1:55) Arlene explains how her daughters inspired her to leave Wall Street and transition to a career in the nonprofit sector.

(5:40) How people transition from a “gain as much money as I can” mentality to a philanthropic one.

(6:40) How donor-advised funds make philanthropy easier, more fun, and provide anonymity.

(10:10) The three ways to get access to donors advised funds without knowing who the donors are.

(13:10) The importance of connecting to your local community foundation’s donor relationship team and respecting boundaries.

(15:15) Out of the box ways to cultivate and approach donor-advised funds.

(16:30) Things you should NEVER do while approaching a donor-advised fund.

(20:05) Arlene explains who your board members should be introducing you to.

(22:20) How someone making a moderate income, maybe even working in the nonprofit sector, can create a fund that will live beyond them.

(25:00) The joy that comes with creating a donor-advised fund.