Sharpe Group (Firm)
administrative history
About the Sharpe Group
Today’s complex social and economic environment calls for informed, creative funding initiatives. The Sharpe Group translates economic, social, and financial trends into approaches that help committed donors make gifts most effectively at each stage of life. Increasing donors’ understanding of more efficient ways to make their gifts will result in greater funding for operations, capital, and endowment needs.
Since 1963, Sharpe has enjoyed wide recognition as the leading source of charitable gift planning support services for the nation’s nonprofit community. The Sharpe Group has played a vital role in securing a sound financial future for thousands of organizations and institutions, helping them help their donors as they plan current and deferred major gifts.
Charitable organizations and institutions benefit from Sharpe services in a variety of ways. Whether your gift planning efforts are handled as part of one person’s responsibilities or by a department of several, Sharpe’s unsurpassed team offers the support you need.
Who We Are
The Sharpe team is made up of specialists in a number of fields whose combined expertise contributes to successful gift planning efforts. Attorneys, marketing experts, writers, editors, designers, print and Web site production specialists, Web design experts, and management consultants work together as needed to provide you with the services you require.
Sharpe associates regularly address professional conferences, author articles in industry and professional publications, and publish analyses of trends that shape the field of charitable estate and gift planning. Click the “Resources” tab above for examples.
Integrated Support
The Sharpe Group offers a variety of services that can be integrated in ways that increase the effectiveness of internal capabilities.
Expert consultation for planning, implementing, and evaluating efforts to encourage effective current and deferred gift planning for endowment and other purposes.
Basic, intermediate, and advanced staff training that integrates marketing considerations with the latest gift planning techniques.
Creation of print and Web-based materials that inform and educate donors and their advisors. Extensive customization opportunities are available to meet your requirements.
Effective advertisements and articles on gift planning subjects for institutional newsletters, annual reports, and other uses.
Step-by-step assistance and training in designing a marketing plan to encourage gift planning among the proper segments of your constituency.
Thorough evaluation of marketing results and training for staff in effective follow-up and stewardship techniques.
Technical and editorial review of articles, advertisements, and other publications.
Gift planning Internet content creation and management.
On-site training for donors, your staff, and professionals.
Technical support to assist you in the structure of specific gifts.
Developing gift acceptance policies in cooperation with your board members, financial officers, and other professional staff.
Assessing the value of proposed gifts in light of model standards and applicable gift acceptance policies.
Presentations for your board of trustees or other groups on gift planning topics.
What Sets The Sharpe Group Apart?
Experience – Sharpe’s lead consultants each have more than 25 years of experience in planning and implementing effective gift planning programs. Prior to joining the firm, Sharpe consultants have been responsible for building a number of the nation’s leading planned giving programs, ranging from average size to a number of the largest programs. They also bring perspective gained from years as active volunteers in their communities.
Leadership – For decades Sharpe consultants have spoken at leading industry conferences. Sharpe has been one of only two firms present at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Conference for more than 25 years. Sharpe staff have been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Trusts & Estates, Kiplinger’s, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and many other leading publications.
Transparency and Integrity – Sharpe enumerates and discloses all fees prior to entering into a relationship, and the firm complies with all regulations that apply to its services. Sharpe fees are structured in light of the fact that the firm does not compensate its consulting staff or any affiliated entities based on whether or not a client makes use of ancillary services provided by Sharpe or other service providers. Sharpe does not accept additional undisclosed compensation in the form of commissions or finder’s fees from providers of Web, print, data enhancement, campaign counsel, or others. Sharpe also does not represent clients or their staff in executive placement or other services that may lead to conflicts of interest in the context of trusted interaction with a client and those it employs.