Building Tomorrow's Foundation: Launching a Transformative Legacy Giving Program from Scratch
Starting a planned giving program can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already juggling annual campaigns, scholarships, and board meetings. In this session Allison Gilbert (BrightDot), and Molly Nicholson (Mitchell Community College) share how Mitchell and BrightDot joined forces to build an active legacy giving program from the ground up. We will dive straight into what works: spotting hidden bequest prospects among your loyal donors, getting your board on board, rolling out a meaningful legacy society, and structuring simple, donor-friendly gift options. Whether you're starting with zero planned gifts or trying to refresh an old initiative, you'll walk away with practical takeaways, realistic next steps, and the confidence to secure long-term gifts for your college.
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Speaker Details
Allison Crouch Gilbert
Senior Vice President / PartnerBrightDot
Bio
With over 30 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, Allison has dedicated her career to helping nonprofit organizations grow and flourish.
Allison began her fundraising career at Meredith College, leading major gift cultivation and capital campaign planning. She went on to serve in fundraising roles at nonprofits across North Carolina, eventually joining NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine, where she became Executive Director of the Foundation and secured its largest major gift to date. In 2018, she transitioned to consulting, supporting organizations like United Way of the Lowcountry and Bluffton Self Help.
In 2020, Allison joined the BrightDot team as Senior Vice President and Partner to work alongside her father, BrightDot CEO Bill Crouch in transforming nonprofit organizations through The Art of Fundraising. Allison helps teach and train nonprofit leaders and their teams through mentorship, donor cultivation, and organizational assessments. Allison is passionate about sharing her knowledge and using the power of creative thinking and storytelling to strengthen nonprofit organizations, motivate clients, and build lifelong relationships with donors.
During her spare time, Allison and her husband, Walter, can be found fishing and exploring the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry waterways with their beloved golden retriever, Oliver.
Molly Nicholson
Executive Director for Advancement and College RelationsMitchell Community College
Bio
Molly Nicholson serves as Executive Director for Advancement at Mitchell Community College, combining a deep passion for the community college mission with over a decade of higher education experience. A proud community college graduate, she earned her associate degree from Mitchell before completing her bachelor's at UNC-Chapel Hill and master's at Appalachian State University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Community College Leadership at NC State. As a past president of NC CORD, Molly loves building connections and fostering meaningful collaboration across North Carolina's Great 58.
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185 Freedlander Dr.
Clyde, NC 28721
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