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  • 1.  Seeking recommendations for lawyers familiar with our work

    Posted 08-08-2022 01:37 PM
    Can anyone recommend one or more lawyers familiar with our work and particularly with crafting gift agreements?  I have a client (advancement team) who is unhappy with the way their org's counsel is crafting gift agreements, overly protecting the organization and forgetting these agreements are for donors, not adversaries. They'd like to speak to a lawyer who is experienced in pledge and gift agreements that do what they need to do but with an eye on donor relations.  Thanks!

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    Bill Connors, CFRE
    Independent Consultant on Raiser's Edge
    bill@billconnors.com
    https://billconnors.com
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  • 2.  RE: Seeking recommendations for lawyers familiar with our work

    Posted 08-08-2022 02:02 PM
    When I encounter something similar with a client, I first share redacted agreements from other clients (or have been shared on FundSvcs). That usually does the trick!

    I also do a quick Google search.  Many institutions share their draft agreements online (that's where I found a good one from UVA).

    But, if that's not good enough, I ask my contact for a short list of peer and aspirational institutions. I then call on colleagues at a few institutions and ask about their internal Counsel experience. Finally, I connect my client with those institutions after finding a couple of good possibilities and reviewing their gift and pledge agreements.

    The process does not necessarily assure changes will be made. However, when their Counsel hears from similar institutions with "better" products, combined with examples I have from other institutions, that normally does the trick.

    John

    John H. Taylor
    Principal
    John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC
    2604 Sevier St.
    Durham, NC   27705
    919.816.5903 (cell/text)

    Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Seeking recommendations for lawyers familiar with our work

    Posted 08-09-2022 10:27 AM
    Hi Bill,
    I have not worked with this firm and cannot speak as to their qualifications, however, I did read a published article by one of their partners in the Journal of Gift Planning and was impressed by it.   rhcclaw.com

    -Eric

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    Eric Valdescaro
    Senior Director, Advancement Services
    University of Memphis
    eric.valdescaro@memphis.edu
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    Original Message


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