PGgrowth - Planned Giving podcast

Ed Sluga, CFRE
  • 4.5 (2)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Strategies, wisdom and insights into creating, operating and benefiting from a Planned Giving program at your charitable organization.

  1. 11/11/2025

    No 96: Introducing The PGcommons

    In this week’s podcast, Ed Sluga is joined by Julia Magnuson-Ford and Erika Ewacha to share some exciting news! As many planned giving professionals know, the industry is changing rapidly and facing new challenges as a result. The digital age has made it harder for fundraisers to connect with each other, and smaller charities are finding it difficult to access necessary services. In response to these issues, PGgrowth is launching The Planned Giving Commons, an online community for fundraisers, by fundraisers. In this episode, Ed, Julia, and Erika talk about the motivation behind PGcommons, what to expect from this new community, and why it is set to become an important resource in this age of planned giving.

    34 min

  2. 09/15/2025

    No 95: SPECIAL EPISODE All About Tracey Church

    In a continuation of PGgrowth’s 15th anniversary, this week’s podcast is all about Tracey Church. Tracey is a Senior Research Consultant at PGgrowth and one of the preeminent prospect researchers in Canada. In addition to her work with over 400 organizations, Tracey was a part-time faculty member at Western University for 15 years and also co-edited and co-authored “Prospect Research in Canada: An Essential Guide for Researchers and Fundraisers” (Civil Sector Press, 2016).  Join us as Ed and Tracey discuss how she started her career, how she first got involved with PGgrowth, and the importance of prospect research in the world of fundraising.

    33 min

  3. 09/08/2025

    No 94: SPECIAL EPISODE All About Suzanne Bone

    In this special episode, we shine a spotlight on Suzanne Bone, Senior Consultant at PGgrowth and a trailblazer in hospital foundation fundraising. With over three decades of leadership as the inaugural—and for 31 years, the only—CEO of the Foundation of Guelph General Hospital, Suzanne has built a legacy of progressive impact and fundraising success. Join us as we sit down with Suzanne to reflect on her extraordinary career, the lessons she's learned along the way, and her invaluable insights into the evolving world of Planned Giving.

    23 min

  4. 09/02/2025

    No 93: Sharing a Community in Common to Advance Planned Giving

    In this episode of The Planned Giving Pod, Ed Sluga continues the conversation sparked by last week's discussion with Ken Ramsay, diving deeper into the realities of working in planned giving. Planned giving can often feel like a solitary pursuit, but it doesn’t have to be. Ed reminds us that the heart of this work is community, a shared space where fundraisers can lean on one another, exchange ideas, and find encouragement. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, this episode is a meaningful reflection on the importance of building and belonging to a community that truly understands the unique challenges and rewards of planned giving.

    35 min

  5. 08/25/2025

    No 92: Review Your Program for Future Success

    In this thought-provoking episode, PGgrowth President and Co-Founder Ed Sluga revisits a critical question: Why are so many charities still struggling to embrace planned giving? Back in 2017, PGgrowth launched an in-depth research initiative to understand how charities across the country were engaging with planned giving—an often-overlooked yet powerful source of revenue. Now, in 2024 and into 2025, we've gone back to the roots of that original survey, updating it and gathering fresh responses to see how things have evolved. The findings? While planned giving remains a deeply untapped opportunity for sustainable funding, many organizations are actually stepping back from it. Tune in as Ed reflects on what this means for the sector, why this revenue stream continues to be under utilized, and what your organization can do to avoid becoming a part of the trend—and instead, lead the way forward.

    1h 1m

  6. 04/11/2025

    NO 91: Stress and the Fundraiser

    Navigating the professional pressure of raising funds for great causes is difficult. Yes, we feel a great sense of well being by working to advance a mission that helps our community. But with that comes great stress and pressure. There is help! Fundraisers are coming together and meeting to support each other. Building a community of support that understands - and does not increase - the stress a fundraiser is under is important. It can be a path to succeeding at being a professional fundraiser and being able to truly enjoy its benefits to your community and to you!

    32 min

  7. 04/07/2025

    NO 90: SPECIAL EPISODE About Theresa Butler-Porter

    Enthusiastic promoter of planned giving and all around friend to everyone, Theresa Butler-Porter feels like she has always been a planned giving professional - she just didn't know it. Now, an expert in the field and much sought after mentor and speaker, Theresa takes some time to talk about her journey working in the field, what she has learned about herself and what others can do to 'lean in' and make it happen!

    24 min

  8. 03/31/2025

    NO 89: Updating Ideas Around the Messages of Planned Giving

    Peggy Killeen and I sit down and discuss the messages of planned giving - there are the old standards AND the NEW thinking around how to speak to donors. The most important additions are simple: not everyone is the same so your messages need to relate to known types of donors who make a gift (one size does not fit all!), and, remember, at the core of giving is the fact that it makes people happy. Add a little happy to your day today and have a listen!

    27 min
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Strategies, wisdom and insights into creating, operating and benefiting from a Planned Giving program at your charitable organization.

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