The 2026 National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Conference brought gift planning professionals to New Orleans to explore emerging trends, challenges and opportunities. Lynn M. Gaumer, J.D., CAP®, Stelter’s senior gift planning consultant, a member of the CGP Board of Directors and the Chair of the 2026 Government Relations and Advocacy Committee, highlights several key themes from the conference.
From the lively streets of New Orleans amid the spirited sounds of jazz, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners brought together charitable giving professionals for a conference filled with rhythm, inspiration and plenty of reasons to celebrate.
Three interconnected opportunities resonated throughout the conference: the Great Wealth Transfer, the continued growth of DAFs and the expanding opportunity in asset-based philanthropy.
But before I dive into those key takeaways from this year’s CGP Conference, I wanted to share some thoughts.
We are fortunate to be part of an industry filled with smart, dedicated professionals who are passionate about helping donors make a difference. The great staff at the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, its volunteer board, its Leadership Institute members and all its national members form an awesome community that’s a pleasure to partner with.
We continued our longstanding commitment to the conference as a sponsor, exhibitor and presenter. Nathan Stelter led an engaging panel discussion with C-Suite leaders who shared their perspectives on the strategic role of planned giving. But don’t worry if you missed it as you can follow our new blog series The View from the C-Suite here. We were also excited to partner with TIAA Kaspick to present cutting-edge research in the CGA space that reveals a largely untapped opportunity for your CGA program.
The attendees were treated to three outstanding keynote speakers: Vicki Clark, Executive Coach, Co-Owner of Clark & Sanchez Consulting; Sandra Swirski, Founder and CEO of Integer, LLC; and Russell James, J.D., Ph.D., CFP®. We also watched some incredible industry leaders receive Hall of Fame awards: Dr. Eddie Thompson, Founder and CEO of Thompson & Associates; Margaret Holman, philanthropy coach, speaker, trainer, author and retired consultant; and Bryan Clontz, Ph.D., CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®, RICP®, CBP, ChSNC®, CEPA®, AEP®, and Founder and President of Charitable Solutions, LLC. And, as always, there was a terrific lineup of thought-provoking sessions.
I don’t know about you, but I’m already looking forward to seeing everyone again next year in Washington, D.C.! The conference will kick off with a dedicated Hill Day, giving us an opportunity to advocate for our profession and the charitable sector on Capitol Hill.
My biggest takeaway from this year’s conference is that the future of philanthropy depends on understanding not just how much wealth donors have, but where that wealth is held and how we can help them use it to support the causes they care about.
And now let’s dive into my three takeaways.
1. The Great Wealth Transfer: Opportunity but Not a Guarantee
A few presenters stated that the numbers associated with the Great Wealth Transfer are staggering. Cerulli Associates, for example, projects that approximately $124 trillion will transfer through 2048, with about $105 trillion going to heirs and $18 trillion directed to charitable organizations. However, these projections deserve a closer look.
Dr. James emphasized during his closing keynote that data from actual transfers from the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances shows $600 billion was transferred in 2021. (You can view his complete presentation here.) When you consider the projected death rate, inflation and economy growth, Dr. James believes the transfer is closer to $26 trillion, not $124 trillion.
That’s a big difference.
Regardless of the number, Dr. James and other presenters pointed out that much of this wealth will pass first to surviving spouses and eventually to children and other heirs, who will have their own financial needs and philanthropic interests.
For fundraisers, the lesson is clear: Don’t wait for the inheritance. Build relationships before the wealth transfers. Engaging donors and their families now can help ensure charitable giving remains part of their legacy.
Action step: Review your organization’s planned giving strategy. Are you engaging spouses and adult children, encouraging legacy conversations and making it easy for donors to include your organization in their estate plans? Build those relationships before wealth changes hands.
2. DAFs: A Growing Source of Philanthropic Support
Donor advised funds (DAFs) continue to represent a significant and growing part of the philanthropic landscape. The latest figures demonstrate why fundraisers should treat DAFs as a bucket for wealth, just like appreciated stock or retirement plan assets.
Several speakers referenced Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative’s revised 2025 Annual DAF Report, which analyzes fiscal year 2024 data. DAFs held approximately $327.9 billion in assets across 3.59 million accounts. Contributions totaled $90.6 billion, while grants to charities reached $64.6 billion and now represent 17% of total individual giving in the U.S.
For fundraisers, a DAF should not be viewed as a competing alternative to direct giving. It is another way donors organize and carry out their philanthropy. Donors may use DAFs for annual gifts, special campaigns, pledge fulfillment, multi-year commitments and support for organizations they wish to include in their legacy plans.
Organizations that do not mention DAFs may be missing an opportunity. Donors simply may not realize that giving through an existing DAF is an option.
Action step: Review your website, gift acceptance materials and fundraising communications. Explain how donors can recommend a grant (or recurring grants) from a DAF, provide clear instructions for making a gift and naming your organization as a beneficiary, and train frontline fundraisers to ask whether a donor uses a DAF when discussing charitable support.
3. Asset-Based Philanthropy: Follow the Wealth, Not Just the Cash
Perhaps the most important takeaway from CGP was that asset-based philanthropy must become a core part of your organization’s fundraising strategy. Speaker Jackie Franey, CSPG, CAP®, Founder of JW Franey Consulting, LLC, said it best during her presentation with Lynn Ierardi, J.D., Philanthropic Advisor, Gift Planning Advisor, LLC: Think of noncash assets as the “great opportunity transfer.”
For generations, many fundraising programs have concentrated on cash, checks, credit cards and bequests. But donors’ wealth is often held in assets that are not immediately liquid. If we focus exclusively on cash, we overlook some of the most meaningful ways to support our missions.
Consider the scale of household wealth. Franey and Ierardi’s presentation highlighted the following numbers:
- 90%+ of wealth is held in noncash assets
- Less than 3% household wealth is held in cash
- $15.8 trillion is held in private business equity
- $100.3 trillion is held in U.S. real estate.
The connection to DAFs is significant. At some of the largest DAF sponsors, more than 60% of contributions are made with noncash assets.
Action step: Evaluate your organization’s readiness to accept noncash gifts. Start with publicly traded stock, then assess whether real estate, closely held business interests and other assets are appropriate for your organization. Establish clear gift acceptance policies and train fundraisers to ask donors and their advisors about assets, not just the amount they might contribute in cash.
Looking Ahead: Turning Opportunity into Action
The common thread throughout this year’s conference was clear: Successful fundraising requires looking beyond cash and understanding the full picture of a donor’s wealth.
Whether that means engaging the next generation before wealth transfers, recognizing the role of DAFs and/or helping donors give appreciated and noncash assets, the mission is clear: Meet donors where their wealth is held, not simply where their checkbook is.
The organizations that prepare today will be better positioned to turn tomorrow’s wealth into lasting philanthropic impact.