Strategic Panning Implementation Update

"How to anchor the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council (GCPGC) Board of Directors in on-going strategies of the council? How to improve the board's ability to govern the council from a more strategic position?"

These were the guiding questions used during a strategic planning workshop with GCPGC board members held in September, 2007 and facilitated by Tanya Howe Johnson, President and CEO of the National Committee on Planned Giving.

The goal of the planning session was to reach a shared vision for the council, and build consensus on manageable priorities for the council to pursue through 2010. A strategic analysis of council operations was completed, which focused on four key areas of activity: Membership, Programs, Administration, and LEAVE A LEGACY^®.

GCPGC board members Steve Hegge and Karen Zerhusen Kruer have taken the lead in working with President Margaret Gaither on the implementation of the strategic plan. Beginning with the key area of Programs, Steve and Karen are meeting with each of the Program Chairpersons to review the recommendations from Tanya's strategic analysis and determine together which objectives and activities will strengthen the Council's ability to achieve its mission to increase the quantity and quality of planned giving in our community by providing a forum for education, training, and networking among various professional disciplines involved in gift planning, in accordance with the Model Standards of Practice for Charitable Gift Planners.

Some of the strategic decisions to date include 1) a decision to discontinue the Advanced Seminar as a formal program of GCPGC, while focusing on the need for a fresh and more effective approach to professional advisor outreach, and 2) expanding the successful "Voices of Giving" event as the best opportunity to provide a public face for the council and to promote and its work.

After all of the programs have been reviewed, Steve and Karen will turn their attention to the key area of Membership. For more information, contact Steve at shegge@clbh.org or Karen at zerhusenkk1@nku.edu