Speakers

Each year, NCGPC invites top planned giving professionals from across the country to headline its Planned Giving Day Conference, bringing together nonprofit leaders and fundraising experts for a day of insight, strategy, and professional connection. We are delighted to present this year’s speakers below.

Margaret Battey | Marketing & Program Manager, Planned Giving, The George Washington University

With 10+ years in public relations and the nonprofit sector, Margaret Battey excels at strategic communication and mission-led philanthropy. Her expertise lies in developing data-driven marketing campaigns that engage and educate donor audiences. Margaret is the Marketing & Program Manager in the Office of Planned Giving at the George Washington University, where she earned an MBA with concentrations in Strategic Management and Marketing & Brand Management.

Geoffrey Close, CIMA, CPWA, CAP | Founder and Philanthropic Advisor IMPACT Philanthropy Partners

Geoffrey S. Close, CIMA®, CPWA®, Cap™, founder of IMPACT Philanthropy Partners  brings over 47 years of financial services experience, including 40 as a Morgan Stanley Wealth Advisor, where he leveraged philanthropic planning to build deeper client trust and deliver stronger financial results.  He has served on multiple nonprofit boards and development committees giving him a dual perspective on charitable strategy from both the advisor’s and the organizations’ perspective and now shares his experience through pro-bono legacy planning consulting.

Kristen Hatcher | Senior Fundraising Storyteller, the george washington university

A storyteller since she could form sentences, Kristen Steele Hatcher has spent her professional life using words to inform, influence, and make a difference. From eye-catching headlines to fundraising campaigns to newspaper profiles of local students, she leverages the power of words to create content that resonates with its intended audience. Kristen is the Senior Fundraising Storyteller in University Advancement at the George Washington University, where she is also pursuing an M.A. in Global Communication with a specialization in Global Gender Policy.

Jonathan haybok | director of data management and analytics, national parks conservation association

Jonathan Haybok is the Director of Data Management and Analytics at NPCA, where he has served since 2021. He leads efforts to modernize how data enables fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational strategy, developing infrastructure that drives more effective decision-making across development teams.

Prior to joining NPCA, Jonathan spent ten years as a Database Administrator at the International Spy Museum, where he managed and optimized critical data systems. He focuses on turning complex data platforms into practical tools for frontline fundraising teams, building and managing cloud-based data solutions in Snowflake. His work includes improving donor data architecture, streamlining reporting, and applying emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to areas such as planned giving and prospect development.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is particularly interested in how nonprofits can adopt data and AI in ways that directly improve fundraising outcomes and organizational decision-making.

West Honeycutt | Senior Managing Director of Development & Advancement, National Parks Conservation Association

As Senior Managing Director of Development and Advancement at NPCA, West oversees a robust direct marketing machine, external stakeholder communications, and a team of frontline fundraisers to generate eight-figure revenue and fundraising each year. He also plays a critical role in NPCA's org-wide artificial intelligence strategy, collaborating with a cross-cutting swath of NPCA department leaders and executives to train staff on how to use and think about AI applications while also creating and procuring AI tools that support and align with NPCA's mission.
 
West joined NPCA in 2018 as Director of Planned Giving, merging his love of national parks with his expertise as a trusted advisor in philanthropy. Over his career, he has assisted donors in investing tens of millions of dollars in philanthropic causes and thrives when given the opportunity to show a donor the impact they can make.
 
West earned his Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences. He loves spending time outdoors, cheering on the Crimson Tide, and traveling to new destinations both at home and abroad. West lives with his husband in Jersey City, NJ.

Kim Ledger | SVP, Complex assets, Ren, Inc

Kim Ledger is the Senior Vice President of Complex Assets for Ren, North America’s largest independent philanthropic solutions provider. In this role, she advises donors on the charitable opportunities presented by non-cash assets such as business interests, IPO stock, private equity, and artwork. Since she launched the firm’s complex asset practice in 2018, Kim has worked with donors seeking to distribute more than $5 billion in assets, leveraging relationships with the nation’s leading financial institutions, elite nonprofit organizations and community foundations to ensure that donors make informed and strategic gifts that deliver the greatest possible value for charities, donors, and their families.

Chris McGurn | SVP, Director, pnc iam planned giving solutions

Chris serves as the Director of PNC’s Planned Giving Solutions group. His responsibilities include oversight of a team of Planned Giving relationship managers and Investment professionals and ensuring that there is a consistent delivery of investment advice, administration, and education to PNC’s Institutional clients. His team provides insight in the areas of life-income gift administration and investments for charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and pooled income funds. 

Chris obtained the CAP ® designation in 2024.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in finance, marketing, and management from Towson University. He currently serves on the board of the Northeast Florida Planned Giving Council and on the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (NACGP) as chair of the Board Management Committee.  Chris also served on the board of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (NACGP) from 2015 to 2018, and as its chair in 2018. He is a frequent presenter at CGP Council conferences including local, regional and National events.

Chris started his planned giving career with Mercantile Bank & Trust in 1992. In 2000, he became the director of gift planning at Catholic Charities of Baltimore where he was responsible for securing a significant number of gift annuities and memberships in the planned gift recognition society. In 2003, Chris returned to Mercantile and became part of PNC Bank following the acquisition of Mercantile in 2007.

christian mctarnaghan, esq. | Attorney at law, Partner, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick

Christian is a partner at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick. His law practice focuses on bequest management, representing national charities and non-profit organizations in fulfilling the wishes of their charitable donors while maximizing gifts and minimizing any administrative burden. Christian is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP).

Toronda W. Sindler | Director of Estate Administration, world Wildlife Fund

Toronda (Tee) Sindler serves as Director of Estate Administration at World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a leading international conservation organization. She joined WWF in 2019 as a Trusts and Estates Administrator, bringing more than 20 years of experience as a trusts and estates paralegal. In her current role, she oversees the administration of charitable bequests received through estates, trusts, and beneficiary designations. Tee is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.

Lauren Winther-Hansen | Nonprofit Training Lead, FreeWill

Lauren Winther-Hansen is a nonprofit training leader, strategist, and speaker who helps mission-driven organizations grow fundraising results through innovative tools, clear education, and donor-centered strategy. As Nonprofit Training Lead at FreeWill, she designs and delivers high-impact learning experiences that help hundreds of nonprofit partners strengthen planned giving programs, increase adoption of fundraising technology, and unlock opportunities in areas such as planned and non-cash giving. She is known for translating complex charitable giving concepts into practical guidance that teams can implement immediately.

Lauren collaborates across marketing, sales, product, and leadership teams to advance sector education. Prior to FreeWill, she held fundraising and operations roles with organizations including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A frequent presenter and trainer, Lauren is passionate about helping nonprofits build stronger donor relationships, embrace innovation, and create lasting impact through philanthropy. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her husband Kris and her rescue dog (Holly) and cat (Felix).

Austin S. Wrubel, JD, LLM, CAP® | Director, planned giving, robin hood

Austin Wrubel, JD, LLM, CAP® serves as the Director of Planned Giving at Robin Hood, New York City's largest anti-poverty organization. 

He has been involved in fundraising for over two decades and prior to joining Robin Hood, Austin served as the Associate Director of Planned Giving at American Jewish World Service. Previously he was the Director of Donor Relations at New York-Presbyterian. Earlier in his career, Austin managed opera singers for IMG Artists before moving into artistic administration at both Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

Austin is a past President of the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY), where he also served as Treasurer. 

A lawyer by training, he holds a J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law, an LL.M. in International Law from King's College, University of London, and the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation.

Paul Yeghiayan, cfre, cspg | senior consultant, benefactor group

Paul Yeghiayan is a Senior Consultant at Benefactor Group. He supports nonprofit clients in preparing for and running successful fundraising initiatives, and he leads the firm’s Endowment Product Line. His work includes planned giving and endowment building, campaign readiness, donor engagement, and strong execution.

With more than 25 years of nonprofit management, fundraising, and consulting experience, Paul brings both consultant expertise and front-line leadership perspective. His prior roles include Vice President of Development for the American University of Armenia, President and CEO of The Foundation for the Public’s Health (the fundraising arm of the National Association of County and City Health Officials), and Associate Director of Philanthropy for Heifer International.

Paul earned an A.L.M. from Harvard University and a B.A. from The Evergreen State College. He is active in the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where he is a past president of the Washington, DC chapter, serves on several AFP Global committees, is a CFRE Ambassador, and is an AFP Certified Facilitator. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving (CSPG), holds the BoardSource Certificate in Nonprofit Board Consulting, and is completing the M.S. in Financial Planning and the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) program through The American College of Financial Services.