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July 31, 2008

Online Discussion Next Week: Dealing With Unexpected Gifts

Join us for an online discussion Tuesday, August 5, at noon U.S. Eastern time about the ways nonprofit groups handle unexpected windfalls.

For small to midsize organizations that struggle to raise enough money to reach their annual goals, the prospect of receiving an unexpected bequest of $100-million or more seems like hitting the lottery.

But as is often the case with lottery winners, failing to plan for how to use a massive payout can cause an array of new problems.

What should your organization be doing to be ready for such a gift? How have other groups handled such windfalls?

Join two nonprofit leaders who are managing major gifts to discuss these and other questions regarding windfall donations.

• Mike Batchelor is president of the Erie Community Foundation in Pennsylvania and is managing a surprise $100-million gift from an anonymous donor. The donor asked that $85-million be used to make unrestricted gifts for local nonprofit groups and that $15-million go to charities around the country.

• Joe Evans serves on the board of directors at the George School, a Quaker school in Newtown, Pa. Mr. Evans has played a key role in helping the school solicit and manage a $128.5-million pledge from Barbara Dodd Anderson, a 1950 alumna who will provide the school with $5-million a year.

The Chronicle’s online discussions are free and open to everyone. People who ask questions in advance have a better chance of getting answers.

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