Sponsor Spotlight
National Capital Gift Planning Council is so grateful for the support of our generous sponsors. Our Sponsor Spotlight series highlights their valuable contributions to the planned giving industry and the numerous ways they may be of service to our members and those in their professional networks.
Helping Nonprofits Raise Large Gifts
A conversation with Tom Grimm, Senior Consultant, Sharpe Group and Debbie Eliason, NCGPC
NCGPC: Tell us a little bit about Sharpe Group. What are your company's values? Have your company's values shifted, adapted or shone brighter in the face of COVID-19?
Tom Grimm (TG): Sharpe Group was founded in 1963 by Bob Sharpe Sr., a pioneer in our field who coined the phrase “Planned Giving.” Sharpe Group has helped ensure the financial longevity of thousands of American educational, healthcare, religious, social service and cultural institutions. In 1967 Sharpe Group began its seminar programs, teaching thousands of gift planning professionals how to plan, market, implement and support major and planned gift development programs and translating that knowledge into turnkey programs for small and mid-sized charities to get the most value from their investment in major and planned gift programs. Since 1967, many of the leaders in our field were first introduced to and trained by Sharpe Group.
NCGPC: How has COVID-19 affected your business operations and how have you adapted?
TG: COVID-19 caused us to evaluate how we would best continue to serve our clients while also putting a high value on protecting our staff. Most of Sharpe’s consultants operate remotely, and we don’t believe customer service and client care have suffered. Our management team continues to monitor health department recommendations, always making sure the health and safety of our employees and our connections with our clients are top priorities.
NCGPC: Share a success story or a creative solution that was prompted by the challenges of the pandemic. How did your team resolve the challenge to best support your charitable clients?
TG: A significant part of Sharpe’s consulting work is in-person trainings and on-site planned giving evaluations and analysis. Due to COVID-19, we suspended our 2020 schedule of in-person training. Staff quickly pivoted to virtual client meetings, and we now provide our in-person seminars through a virtual platform — Sharpe Online Academy.
NCGPC: What do you value most about your relationship with NCGPC that made you decide to continue supporting us during a challenging and uncertain year?
TG: In 1963, many of today’s well-known industry associations, such as the NCGPC and the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP) did not exist, so there were few resources available for organizations trying to expand beyond the traditional fundraising. As the oldest fundraising and consulting organization, we understand the need to continue sponsorship of NCGPC as partners in supporting the continued growth and development of DC philanthropic efforts. What NCGPC provides for the DC community is indispensable, and Sharpe Group plans to continue our support for years to come.
NCGPC: Will COVID-19 change the way your company conducts business in the future? If so, how? What does the future of your business look like post-COVID?
TG: We are looking forward to a time when we can safely resume our in-person training. The necessity of virtual platforms has confirmed our desire to enhance our services with technological advancements. We will continue to provide traditional services while offering new ways to reach and steward donors using technology, such as integrating Artificial Intelligence into the analysis of our clients’ donor databases that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of donor outreach and provide a more secure future for our client organizations.