Past Events
Past Event
General Session
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
8:30 AM — 11:00 AM
Ellen G. Estes, L.L.B. & Brian Sagrestano, J.D. CFRE
Keep it Simple: Bequest Intentions and Beneficiary Designations
by Ellen G. Estes, L.L.B., Estes Associates
Ellen G. Estes is a graduate of the Yale Law School, and practiced law as an estate planning and tax attorney with the law firm of Shearman & Sterling in New York City. She then became Legal Counsel to the Campaign for Yale, and later served as the first Director of Development of Connecticut’s acclaimed Long Wharf Theatre. There she planned, organized and implemented its successful development program. Ellen then founded Estes Associates to provide consulting services on major and planned gift matters to non-profit organizations nation-wide.
For seven years she wrote the Planned Giving column for Contributions, the bi-monthly newspaper for nonprofit professionals. Her articles have also appeared in many other national professional publications including the Journal of Gift Planning, and Planned Giving Today.
Ellen was awarded the prestigious David M. Donaldson Distinguished Service Award by the Planned Giving Group of New England in 2008, and the Elizabeth Keitel Award from the Planned Giving Group of Connecticut for outstanding service to the planned giving profession. Ellen and her husband, Frank, received the Outstanding Fundraising Professionals award from the Connecticut Chapters of AFP in 2012.
Creating your Comprehensive Gift Planning Marketing Plan
Brian Sagrestano, J.D., CFRE, Gift Planning Development, L.L.C.
Brian M. Sagrestano, JD, CFRE, serves as President and CEO of Gift Planning Development, LLC a full service gift planning consulting firm. He earned an A.B. cum laude from Cornell University and a J.D. cum laude from Notre Dame Law School. Brian’s service as a law clerk in the Hunterdon County, New Jersey Superior and Surrogate Courts cemented his interest in estate planning and probate. He spent several years practicing law with two New Jersey law firms, with an emphasis on tax and estate planning. Brian’s client-centered philosophy ultimately drew him into philanthropic planning full-time, where he led the gift planning efforts for the University of Pennsylvania, Middlebury College and Meridian Health Affiliated Foundations, following major gift and gift planning positions at Clarkson University and Hamilton College. After many years working directly for charities, Brian formed Gift Planning Development in 2007.
Brian is a past board member of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (PPP), the Gift Planning Council of New Jersey and PPP of Greater Philadelphia. He served on the editorial board of the Journal of Gift Planning, the flagship gift planning magazine published by PPP and is a past editorial board member for Planned Giving Mentor. In 2012 he released his first book, with co-author Robert Wahlers, The Philanthropic Planning Companion: The Fundraisers’ and Professional Advisors’ Guide to Charitable Gift Planning (Wiley 2012).
Springdale Golf Club
1895 Clubhouse Drive
Princeton, NJ 08540
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