Meeting/Event Information
Membership Meeting
September 18, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
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Harbert Center
Harbert Center, 2019 4th Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35203
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Rosie Stafford Smith, Founder and CEO of Zadie & Co.
"The Person Behind the Portfolio: How Curiosity and Story Move Giving Forward"
In charitable gift planning, it is easy to focus on structures, strategies, and transactions while missing the human story driving the gift. Dollars in donor advised funds (DAFs) now exceed $250 billion, with payout rates stagnant near 24%. That means significant potential is sitting idle instead of making an impact.
This interactive session will show how to move beyond surface-level client conversations to uncover the values, motivations, and life experiences that shape giving decisions and inspire action. Drawing on social work principles, behavioral science, and more than a decade of philanthropic advisory experience, Rosie Stafford Smith will demonstrate how curiosity and story can deepen trust, reveal authentic motivations, and create momentum in client relationships.
Participants will leave with practical tools to transform client discussions from transactional checklists into conversations that unstick decision-making, strengthen relationships, and unlock funds for social good.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the emotional and developmental drivers of generosity and how early experiences shape giving decisions.
- Identify the three levels of client conversation and guide clients toward deeper insights without feeling intrusive.
- Activate conversations that spur philanthropic action, deepening client–advisor relationships while boosting real-world impact.
Tickets
$0.00 Member Ticket
$0.00 Non-Member Ticket
