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• Bi-Monthly Program - November 18, 2025

  • When
    11/18/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    The Chicago Community Trust, 33 S. State St, Chicago, IL or Virtual
  • Registered
    67 registrants

  Register

  CCPG members receive discounted rates on programs. Not a CCPG member? Join or renew today!
  

  Program Schedule
  10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
  Blended Gifts, Bigger Impact
  Speaker: Mary Petersen, Founder, Databasey and the Hey Fundraiser Podcast, Strategic Partner, Alford Group

  11:15 AM – 12:15 PM - Lunch break (Complimentary lunch will be provided to in-person attendees)

  12:15 PM – 1:30 PM 
  From Launch to Legacy: Practical strategies for creating a SustainablePlanned Giving Program
  Speakers: Mary Petersen, Founder, Databasey and the Hey Fundraiser Podcast, Strategic Partner, Alford Group and Karen Bippus, Director, Endowment Gifts and Planned Giving, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association 

  1:30 PM – 2:30 PM 
  After Hours Discussion
  We invite those who attend in-person to stay for an After Hours informal discussion and networking time with your colleagues. More information will be included in your email confirmation.
  

  Presentation & Speaker Details
  
  Blended Gifts, Bigger Impact
  Join fellow Major Gift and Planned Giving Officers in Chicago for a dynamic, hands-on session designed to unlock the transformative power of blended gifts and elevate your organization’s fundraising impact. Led by seasoned fundraising coach Mary Petersen, who brings over 25 years of experience securing complex, high-impact gifts, this session will equip you with the confidence and tools you need to navigate donor conversations that seamlessly integrate current and planned giving while honoring donor intent, strengthening relationships, and maximizing lifetime value.

  Whether you’re new to blended giving or just looking to sharpen your approach, you’ll walk away with:
  

  • Proven strategies to initiate and guide donor conversations around major and planned giving
  • Language that resonates with donors, even in uncertain times
  • Opportunities for meaningful discussion and collaboration between MGOs and PGOs in the Chicago area
  • Real-world donor scenarios you can share with colleagues
  • Renewed clarity, confidence, and inspiration to elevate your fundraising efforts

  To get the most from this experience, MGOs and PGOs are encouraged to attend this session together to strengthen cross-functional collaboration. Don’t have a partner? No problem — this session is still designed with you in mind! If you have any questions or topics you'd like covered during the session, please feel free to reach out to Mary Petersen directly at mary@heyfundraiser.com. CFRE: Full participation in Blended Gifts, Bigger Impact, is applicable for 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

  From Launch to Legacy: Practical Strategies for Creating a Sustainable Planned Giving Program
  Whether your organization is new to planned giving, or has a program with a long history of planned giving, this dynamic session will help you supercharge your efforts and elevate your impact.  Join Mary & Karen as they share real-world strategies, creative ideas, and insider insights to help you build momentum and confidence in your planned giving program.

  Together, we’ll dive into:
  

  • Finding and engaging with the right prospects--and how to have conversations that inspire generosity
  • Strengthening internal collaboration so everyone in your organization becomes a champion for planned giving
  • Crafting a marketing strategy that sparks curiosity and builds trust with your audience
  • Building a culture of planned giving that lasts--so it’s not just a program, but a part of your organization’s DNA.
    

  CFRE: Full participation in From Launch to Legacy: Practical Strategies for Creating a Sustainable Planned Giving Program, is applicable for 1.25 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
  
  

  Mary Petersen, Founder, Databasey and the Hey Fundraiser Podcast, Strategic Partner, Alford Group
  Mary Petersen is a fundraising strategist, coach, and host of the Hey Fundraiser! podcast. She helps nonprofit leaders and major and planned gift officers build confidence, strengthen donor relationships, and raise more money through authentic, trust-based conversations. Known for her humor and practical wisdom, Mary empowers fundraisers to overcome fear and take bold action toward transformational gifts. She lives in Oregon with her husband, Tim, and two golden retrievers, Todd and Kevin.

  Karen Bippus, Director, Endowment Gifts and Planned Giving, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association 
  With over 14 years of fundraising experience at cultural institutions, 7 of them with a focus on planned giving, Karen believes in using collaboration and culture building to drive planned giving success. She recently spoke at the League of American Orchestras annual conference on transforming your orchestras future through planned giving. Prior to joining the CSO earlier this year, Karen led the planned giving programs at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Architecture Center and recently completed a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Northeastern University. A graduate of Northwestern University, Karen bleeds purple and places value on always learning and growing. She believes nonprofit organizations are essential to our society and is proud to support the future of the field. Outside of work she enjoys latin dance, cheering on her favorite sports teams and spending time with her husband. Connect with Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenbippus/

  
  

  Early Bird Registration Fees -- Ends October 29
  $55 Member 
  $85 Non-member 
  Registration Fees -- Starting October 30
  $65 Member
  $95 Non-member 

  
  

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• Bi-Monthly Program - January 13, 2026

  • When
    01/13/2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
  • Location
    The Chicago Community Trust, 33 S. State St, Chicago, IL or Virtual

  CCPG members receive discounted rates on programs. Not a CCPG member? Join or renew today!

  More information coming soon! 

  Show details
• CCPG Nuts & Bolts Webinar - February 10, 2026

  • When
    02/10/2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Location
    Teams Virtual Meeting

  CCPG members receive discounted rates on programs. Not a CCPG member? Join or renew today!
  
  More information coming soon! 

  Show details
• Bi-Monthly Program: Roundtables - March 10, 2026

  • When
    03/10/2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    The Chicago Community Trust, 33 S. State Street, Chicago, IL
  • Spaces left
    60

  CCPG's Roundtable Discussions!

  (in-person only)

  Program Schedule
  10:00 AM – 10:05 AM  Brief Welcome
  10:05 AM – 10:30 AM  1st Round
  10:35 AM – 11:00 AM  2nd Round
  11:05 AM – 11:30 AM  3rd Round
  11:35 AM – 12:00 PM  4th Round
  12:00 PM – 1:00 PM    Lunch and CCPG Annual Meeting*

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

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