In 2010, PG Calc celebrates its 25th anniversary with pride in what we’ve accomplished as a company, enthusiasm for the landscape of planned giving and all that’s to come in the next 25 years, and gratitude – in particular to our employees and clients.

We got a special present from our employees, who completed an anonymous survey conducted by the Boston Business Journal that resulted in our placing among the top 20 “Best Places to Work in Boston” in the small business category. This recognition and honor is very meaningful to us.

We invited our clients to participate in our celebration as well, asking each of them to consider contributing a story that highlights PG Calc’s ongoing commitment to the organizations it serves. We’re excited to have published those stories below, and we thank all of our clients for the opportunities we’ve had to serve them, support their planned giving programs, and invest in their missions over the last 25 years.

Tell your PG Calc story and receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

High Museum of Art
Catholic Charities
The Academy of the New Church
Summa Foundation
Blue Mountain Community Foundation
Cedar Community Foundation
Woodland Park Zoo
THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Inc.
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Seattle Pacific Foundation
Eastern Mennonite University
Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health
Food for the Poor, Inc.
Colorado State University Foundation
Southwest Community Health Foundation
American Missionary Fellowship
In Touch Foundation

High Museum of Art
Atlanta, GA

Like many nonprofit organizations, the High Museum has mastered the art of raising “today” dollars. When I joined the Museum 5 years ago, we were putting the finishing touches on a $130 million capital campaign that would double the Museum’s exhibition space but also significantly increase the size of the operating budget.  The expansion heralded “a New High for Atlanta” and seemed to be the perfect time to launch a planned giving program. 

A few consultant seminars helped me learn the gift planning basics and the National NCPG (now PPP) Conference was a great place to get advice and information as well. However, most helpful of all, have been the classes, Webinars and personal assistance offered by the folks at PG Calc. What a fount of expertise and knowledge! Whether during an introductory class, in an email, or on the phone, no question has been too naïve, uninformed, or stupid. The PG Calc team has always shown the greatest professionalism, and is highly responsive and willing to take the time to help me through my latest confusion.

The big Universities and Healthcare organizations appear to have it all figured out. There’s no gift planning challenge they can’t handle.  However, this is not the case for many smaller non-profits, and those of us new to the gift planning game. PG Calc plays an important and much-needed role for us. Without you by my side, I’d still be wondering whether I calculated the life income on Dr. Long’s charitable gift annuity correctly. Many thanks for your support, encouragement and confidence building.

Congratulations on your 25th anniversary. Here’s to many more.  Cheers!

Tamara McClelland
Manager of Planned Giving
Learn more about the High Museum of Art

Catholic Charities
Baltimore, MD

I cut my teeth in planned giving 10 years ago by learning how to use PG Calc. It was by doing the illustrations that I learned how gift annuities work.

That understanding of planned gifts was taken to the next level by attending Jeff Lydenberg’s training. What I thought would be a training in the more advanced use of the software turned out to be an exercise in gaining a deeper understanding of gift options for donors. Over the past five and a half years, the knowledge I have gained of what gift annuities can do – with PG Calc’s help - has enabled me to quadruple Catholic Charities’ gift annuity reserve.

Rebecca Rothey, CFRE
Director of Planned and Principal Gifts
Learn more about the Catholic Charities

The Academy of the New Church
Bryn Athyn, PA

I am new to PG Calc, only having connected with you about 18 months ago.  But you have impacted our organization significantly in education.  We love your Webinars and have subscribed to many over the past year.  This is something new for the Academy and the Church (the development office supports two organizations, the Academy of the New Church, and the General Church of the New Jerusalem).  When I subscribe to a Webinar, I put a meeting request out to members of both organizations.  Most recently I signed up for Planned Giving in Capital Campaigns and in one day our VP for Finance, our Controller, and a number of members from the development office have signed on.

We have a large constituency in Canada and we use PG Calc for Canadians.  And currently, we are using your BatchCalcs program to mail to 800 members of our alumni, friends, and church members for charitable gift annuities.  I hope to get back to you later in the year to let you know what the results of that mailing will be.  I am excited about this project.

I have had excellent communication from your staff, there when I need them, but not too much.

Thanks for the great services you provide to help us achieve our mission!

Judith A. Lopacki
Director of Planned Giving
Learn more about The Academy of the New Church

Summa Foundation
Akron, Ohio

Although this great hospital system has been around serving our community for 100 years, a formal development program has only existed for the previous 10 years and a formal planned giving program for only the past three years.

PG Calc has been instrumental in providing us the tools we need to garner support from grateful patients, volunteers, physicians, nurses, and community members to support our four pillars of support:  Innovation and Research, Medical Education, Community Investment and Civic Responsibility.  Summa Health System is the health care “safety net” to our community contributing over $53,000,000 last year in charity care to those in need.
Since its inception in 2007, the Summa Legacy Circle, a recognition group honoring those who have Summa Foundation in their estate plan has grown by 31%.  It is with the help of PG Calc that we have been able to communicate with donors in a simple, clear manner about ways in which they can make a gift of significance to the Summa Foundation.  Our partnership with PG Calc will again be instrumental as we are on the precipice of launching our new Planned Giving website, of which PG Calc is a key component of that initiative as well.

We are grateful to PG Calc in helping us to provide the best healthcare possible to our community in Northeast Ohio.

Diane M. Strachan, CFRE
Director of Principal Giving
Learn more about the Summa Foundation

Blue Mountain Community Foundation
Walla Walla, WA

PG Calc’s Planned Giving Manager is well over the million dollar mark in “assists” for the Blue Mountain Community Foundation.  From the easy to the complex, PG Calc’s PGM has handled the heavy lifting in every deferred gift plan that I have worked on and plays a significant role in closing gifts.

One donor in particular has come to depend on the Foundation and its capability through PG Calc.  He enjoys having me tinker with scenarios using various payout rates, principal amounts, differential gain amounts, beneficiaries and just about every other variable.  He has granted in excess of $1M to Charitable Remainder Trusts, including a Flip Charitable Remainder Unitrust funded with a piece of real property.

Beyond our donors, our donors’ advisors appreciate the quality of the calculations and the information PGM allows us to provide after a gift.  In my view, it is the most “tax-wise” gift planning software on the market.

Lawson F. Knight
Executive Director
Learn more about the Blue Mountain Community Foundation

Cedar Community Foundation
West Bend, WI 

We recently had a donor who is a member of our planned giving society, Legacy League, per a gift annuity decide to include Cedar Community in his will.  This is very exciting as our members are typically through a bequest or a gift annuity not both.  PG Calc has given us the tools to really strengthen our planned giving activities.  We currently have 90 living members in our Legacy League but our goal is 200.  Through your webinars, tools, and of course the strength of our organization, I'm confident of reaching that goal in the future. 

Amy Johnson
Director of Philanthropy
Learn more about the Cedar Community Foundation

Woodland Park Zoo
Seattle, WA

First of all, congratulations on your 25th anniversary! 

I think that a recent story that reflects the efficacy of PG Calc's Planned Giving software in visually explaining complex instruments like the Flip Unitrust, comes to mind.  Woodland Park Zoo has a donor who was interested in ensuring that both the zoo and her alma mater would definitely benefit from her estate.  With a family history of long lived lives, she was concerned that she might use all her resources during her lifetime.  After many conversations, she agreed that placing her home in a Flip Unitrust would accomplish all her personal and philanthropic desires.  She would receive lifetime income once the house is sold. By choosing a low enough payout rate, there would likely also ultimately be a significant gift to both institutions. Your software helped present all the various aspects of a Flip Unitrust with very simple, easy to understand visuals, so that she felt she totally understood the process and was thrilled to be able to meet her goals.

Thank you.

Anne S. Knapp
Manager, Major Gifts, Foundations, and Planned Giving
Learn more about the Woodland Park Zoo

THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Inc.
Baltimore, MD

Anyone can leave a legacy.  And many can do a charitable gift annuity.  But our clever marketing catch-phrases weren’t catching fire with our prospects.  The general point seemed clear enough:  Make a gift and get an income in return – what everyone refers to as “doing good while doing well.”

What a difference a personalized letter using BatchCalcs made!  The theoretical became concrete.  But we never could have (or would have) prepared 2,000 or more personalized letters illustrating the deduction, annuity rate, and tax-free income available for each CGA prospect – not without BatchCalcs.

The payoff?  Nearly all respondents to our personalized mailings have completed CGA gifts – and virtually none of the respondents would otherwise have left a legacy for our community’s future.  A dozen or so gifts and more than $300,000 later, we are building our endowment for the future.

Older contributors have typically been giving to THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore for decades – many for 50 years or more.  Showing them how to make a real difference with a CGA and make a permanent connection for the benefit of future generations was all the extra incentive our donors needed to make a special CGA gift.  As we mark 90 years of promises made and promises kept for those in need in Baltimore, Israel and around the world, our CGA donors are keeping the promise through their generous legacies.

Michael I. Friedman, J.D.
Senior Vice President, Planned Giving & Endowment
Learn more about the THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Inc.

Shriners Hospitals for Children
Tampa, FL

Shriners Hospitals for Children became a Planned Giving Manager client of PG Calc in 1998 and a GiftWrap client approximately two years later.  Both have become invaluable tools when working with donors on establishing life income agreements. The calculations and illustrations I can produce in Planned Giving Manager make my job so much easier and the prospective donors love them. Once they have become a donor to our charity I can transfer their calculations right into the GiftWrap program which helps me to keep track of their distributions, do the monthly payment summaries and the annual 1099’s plus many other amazing features.  When I have questions the staff is fantastic and has never failed to resolve an issue for me.

PG Calc has definitely made my job easier for the past 14 years and for that I am extremely grateful and wish them a very Happy Anniversary.

Deborah Moser
Planned Giving Coordinator
Learn more about the Shriners Hospitals for Children

Seattle Pacific Foundation
Seattle, WA 

I have been a client of PG Calc for many years, through my service for three different nonprofit organizations in Washington.  A few key memories include outstanding training sessions PG Calc staff have led for our development officers, helping me “make the case” with our Board for why our organization should serve as trustee for charitable remainder trusts, the wise counsel PG Calc has offered as I’ve encountered particularly challenging and unusual gift scenarios with donors, and a recent donor focus group PG Calc led for me on the subject of charitable gift annuities, followed by their excellent analysis of the data.  And of course, there have been countless phone calls over the years where I just needed to speak to someone “right away” with a “quick” question, that have always been graciously and skillfully handled.  Everyone at our local PG Calc office in Seattle knows me by name, has a good grasp of our organization’s mission, and when they answer my calls, I feel like they are truly delighted to help me. 

There is an advertisement for a jewelry store in Seattle with a tagline that says “now you have a friend in the diamond business.”  Well, I feel like I have a friend in the gift planning business, and that friend is PG Calc! 

Gabrielle Dudley
Assistant Director
Learn more about the Seattle Pacific Foundation

Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA

I use the CGA Manual by Frank Minton: Charitable Gift Annuities: A Resource Manual, all the time.  It is an extraordinary resource that I not only refer to myself with regularity but I recommend frequently.

Art Borden
Associate Director of Development
Learn more about the Eastern Mennonite University

Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health
Palo Alto, CA

PG Calc is special because it has one single ingredient for success: its people. I am always confident that their knowledge and expertise, as well as their understanding of what is most important to our donors and our mission, will be demonstrated when I contact their offices for help.  Whenever I call for assistance with a gift proposal question, or just for technical support, I am greeted with professionalism.

I would like to commend the work of one of your phone support and technical training employees: Jeffrey Frye. When I transitioned from the for profit sector to be the Gift Planning Director for Lucile Packard, Jeff Frye was the first person who offered training assistance even before I started my new job. He was at the Western Regional Planned Giving Conference. I explained that I would be joining Packard and that they were using PG Calc for planned giving technical support. He welcomed me to my new role and he offered his time and expertise.

Jeff stayed after the conference was through to give me a basic overview. We spent over an hour together. He was kind, professional, and completely supportive. I began my role at LPCH with complete confidence that PG Calc was a great planned giving partner.  Jeffrey has always come through with help for my team, even in short notice. When I hear him answer the phone, I take a deep breath knowing he is there to help me and direct me to the right information.   

I have also known and worked with Frank Minton over the last 15 years in my work and again, I can’t say enough about his professionalism, deep knowledge of gift vehicles and law, and commitment to planned giving excellence. He is also kind and extremely compassionate.

I would like to conclude by sending my warmest wishes to PG Calc and to the fantastic people that make your organization so special. Best wishes for continued success!
Congratulations on this 25th year Milestone!

Donna M. Bandelloni
Director of Gift Planning
Learn more about the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health

Food for the Poor, Inc.
Coconut Creek, FL

For the past 10 years, Food for the Poor has and continues to enjoy the PG Calc family as part of our Planned Giving family. We have found them to be an invaluable part of our department. We have built, implemented and administered our charitable gift annuity program with PG Calc serving as an integral component. PG Calc has enabled us to process our gift annuity illustrations immediately, no matter how simple or sophisticated the case. Gary Pforzheimer personally assisted in the initial setup of our administrative structure and procedures. The training seminars which are offered in various locations provide accessibility and facilitate valuable initial and advanced training for both new and experienced advisors. PG Calc’s support staff is always available when we call upon them with specific needs generated by an individual case. Their expertise in delivering information has made it possible for us to provide quality responses to donors and management. We have found that we can depend on PG Calc to keep our program and staff professionally current in an ever changing environment.

As a service provider, PG Calc has exceptional levels of concern for the client, rapid response time, and competent assistance until the question or situation in question is resolved.

Nan Levy
Planned Giving Manager
Learn more about the Food for the Poor, Inc.

Colorado State University Foundation
Fort Collins, Co

Perhaps 15 years ago, I met Jeff Lydenberg (before he was with PG Calc).  I’ve been using PG Calc for 17 years and it’s the best.  Having access to these wonderful resources and knowing that you hire people like Jeff to train and conduct Webinars is priceless.  Thanks for all you do.

Karen L. Dunbar, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Learn more about the Colorado State University Foundation

Southwest Community Health Foundation
Middleburg Heights, OH

I would like to express my thanks to your support staff. 

 I spoke with a member of your support team just a few weeks ago who helped guide me through an illustration for a Successor CGA.  I was not aware of an option where there could be more than one beneficiary where donor #1 receives income and upon death donor #2 receives income.  I was only aware of a joint payment CGA which in the case of a father and daughter could cause several unattractive tax implications.  I met with the donor who will probably establish 2 successor annuities—one for each daughter.  This gift will probably be in the area of $500,000 to $1 million.  This is a huge gift for our community hospital.  The donor is a loyal supporter of the hospital and still volunteers at age 89. 

I also need to thank Jeff Lydenberg for walking me through many scenarios in my 8-year career in fundraising.  Thank you for your support.

Maureen O'Neill-Laszlo
Director of Major and Planned Gifts
Learn more about the Southwest Community Health Foundation

American Missionary Fellowship
Villanova, PA  

For over 50 years, American Missionary Fellowship has managed planned giving in house.  As state laws have gotten more complex, we needed a firm who could help us navigate all the different regulations.  Everyone at PG Calc is so friendly and willing to answer any question.  We now use their software to manage our planned gifts and write proposals.  It saves us time and gives us confidence that we are presenting the fairest proposal to our donors.  Thank you, PG Calc!

Linda Leinbach Mays
Development Officer
Learn more about the American Missionary Fellowship

In Touch Foundation
Atlanta, GA

When I first got involved with planned giving in 2006, I was totally unfamiliar with GiftWrap, PG Calc’s software for gift administration.  Fortunately,  PG Calc customer service is so excellent they can take you wherever you are in the knowledge category and get you up to speed.   

My first call to PG Calc was to Nancy Cioto in the customer service area.  Nancy was so patient and helpful to me, walking me through essential gift annuity administration on GiftWrap until I was able to do it myself.  Whenever I had questions, which initially was very often (I memorized the PG Calc phone number very quickly), the PG Calc team has been there to assist me with the right information.  Even today, the PG Calc  team regularly assists us with helpful information to help us better serve our donors. 

Thank you PG Calc for your outstanding service.

Wayne  Jones
Planned Giving Manager
Learn more about the In Touch Foundation