VIRTUAL EVENT: Planned Giving Nuts & Bolts: Ask the Experts

“A person has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when they plant shade trees under which they know full well they will never sit.” – D. Elton Trueblood, Former chaplain to both Harvard and Stanford Universities

Our esteemed Panelists includes:

Wendy Chou, Director of Planned Giving, Stanford Medical Center Development at Stanford University

Wendy Chou joined the Office of Planned Giving in 2019 after helping donors create funds at the Oregon Community Foundation and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Prior to working in the community foundation field for eight years, she was a relationship manager at TIAA Kaspick and also held positions at the gift planning offices of Boston College and Santa Clara University. Wendy earned her bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and her JD from Santa Clara University.

Jeanine Crider, Director of Planned Giving, Peninsula Open Space Trust

Jeanine Crider (she/her) is Director of Planned Giving at Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), a regional land trust. She has more than 15 years of experience in planned giving, including work on a national gift planning team at Earthjustice, prior to joining POST. Jeanine serves on the Northern California Planned Giving Council's Board of Directors and the Planned Giving Initiative's Advisory Council. She also volunteers with the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and her childrens' school. She loves baking, crafting cocktails, exploring big cities, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Darren Penny, Senior Vice President, Thompson & Associates

Darren has worked in philanthropy for more than 20 years and his experiences range from higher- education, an international NGO, healthcare, and numerous volunteer boards and committees. As a seasoned development professional who appreciates the multi-faceted work of his profession, Darren is passionate about making an impact through philanthropy. When he is not serving nonprofits or their supporters, Darren enjoys exploring the West in any way he can. From backpacking, piloting, mountain biking, or running – the landscape of California and beyond is an irresistible invitation to explore. He is a 6-year US Navy veteran who was assigned to an F/A-18 squadron on the West coast.  Darren’s dedication to charitable estate planning and striving for excellence in the development profession is only eclipsed by his love of good food, devotion to his wife, and teenage children. He lives in Northern California.

Scott Ross, Partner, Rimon Law

Scott Ross is an estate planning partner in Rimon’s Private Client group. He is a Certified Specialist in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Law as determined by the California Board of Legal Specialization. This designation is held by fewer than 3% of California estate planning attorneys.  Scott specializes in estate planning for high net worth individuals, including entrepreneurs, executives, owners of closely-held businesses, real estate developers and physicians. His practice emphasizes wealth preservation and asset protection. Mr. Ross works with clients to prepare customized estate plans involving generation-skipping trusts, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, family limited partnerships, family limited liability companies, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), irrevocable insurance trusts, and private family foundations. He has extensive experience in legal issues involving federal estate, gift and generation-skipping taxation. 

Scott uses a values-based planning approach, working with clients to structure plans that focus on inherited wealth having a positive effect on their heirs, and on leaving a legacy in the broadest sense of the word. Scott also assists surviving spouses, children, successor trustees, and executors in the administration of trusts and estates following a death. He has been recognized for his accomplishments by Best Lawyers in America in trusts and estates from 2006 to 2021.  Scott is a graduate of Stanford Law School.

Our Moderator for this event is DER's Programs Co-Chair

Ryan Helton, Director of Development and Communications at the Peninsula School and DER Board Member

Ryan Helton has over 20 years experience working in nonprofits, with over a decade and half of experience working directly in nonprofit development. He is currently the Director of Development and Communications at the Peninsula School in Menlo Park, a progressive independent school. Prior to his work at Peninsula, Ryan served in various development roles in other independent schools and nonprofit educational organizations. Ryan currently serves as the Program Co-Chair for the DER Board, and has served on various boards for a number of nonprofits for over the past two decades. Ryan holds a BA in Communications from the University of Charleston, and an MA in Administrative Leadership from Marshall University.
 

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Registration for this event is required.  The cost of the event is $20 for DER members and $40 for non-members.   (NOTE: To receive the discounted members' rate, you must sign in to your account before registering.)  Click here to join DER or renew your membership!!  Registration deadline is Thursday, October 7th at 5 PM!

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Cancellation Policy: If you contact us to cancel your registration before the deadline (10/07 at 5pm), you may receive credit towards a future event. If you cancel your registration after the deadline, the payment will be considered a tax-deductible donation to DER. Thank you for your support!

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Venue:  This social event will be held on a virtual Zoom.  Final details will be sent to all registrants the evening before the event, 10/07 by 8 PM from DER's Administrative Director. A reminder will be sent to each registrant the morning of  our panel to each registrant's email address from administrator@dersf.org.  Please be sure to check your SPAM or Junk folder for the Zoom information or contact administrator@dersf.org if you have NOT received an email with your event details and information the morning of our social event.