Inspire your audience to think bigger about philanthropy.
The Heaton Smith team brings decades of gift planning expertise to your charitable gift planning counsel, conference, board retreat, or training event. Our engaging, practical presentations move beyond theory to provide actionable strategies for fundraisers, donors, and professional advisors alike.
Trusted Perspectives
“Dave can train staff, board members, and allied professionals—he teaches them to think about things in a way they’ve never thought about before.”
Presentations that educate, inspire, and lead to lasting change.
Real-world expertise
Dave and the Heaton Smith team bring 150+ collective years of hands-on experience, having facilitated meaningful gifts for hundreds of clients since 2009.
Practical, actionable content
Presentations provide immediately implementable strategies, not just theory. Attendees leave with tools and techniques they can use the next day.
Highly rated sessions
Consistently receives top ratings at national conferences for making complex gift planning concepts accessible, engaging, and relevant to diverse audiences.
Bring data-driven inspiration to your next event
Speaking topics that resonate
For non-profit leaders and boards
From Planned Giving to Gift Planning: The Shift That Changes Everything
Making the Data-Driven Case for Gift Planning Investment
Building a Collaborative Gift Planning Culture
Why Most Organizations Capture Less Than 20% of Their Potential
For development professionals
Complex Gifts Made Simple
The Art of the Gift Planning Conversation
Breaking Down Silos: Creating Collaborative Gift Planning Teams
Facilitating Blended Gifts That Support Today and Tomorrow
For donors and professional advisors
Maximizing Your Philanthropic Impact Through Values-based Planning
Beyond the Checkbook: Making Gifts of Non-cash Assets
Tax-Smart Strategies for Charitable Giving
For professional associations
The Future of Philanthropic Planning
Elevating Gift Planning Standards Sector-Wide
Research and Trends in Legacy Giving
Building Gift Planning Expertise in Your Organization
Flexible formats for any event
Keynotes (45-60 minutes) — Inspire and energize large audiences
Workshops (Half or full day) — Deep dive into practical application
Board Presentations (30-90 minutes) — Build the case for gift planning and get buy-in
Multi-Day Intensives — Comprehensive training for teams
Virtual Options — Engaging online presentations for remote audiences
Hybrid Delivery — Reach both in-person and remote participants
Continuing education — Presentations can be structured to qualify for CFRE credits and other professional certifications, with all necessary documentation provided.
Questions about gift planning speaking and workshops
We recommend booking three to six months in advance for major conferences and two to three months for smaller events, though we can sometimes accommodate shorter timelines. Dave Smith’s calendar fills quickly during peak conference seasons (spring and fall). Contact us with your dates for availability.
Attendees receive comprehensive resources, including presentation handouts, template documents they can adapt, and follow-up materials specific to topics covered. All materials are practical tools attendees can implement immediately, not just theoretical concepts. Digital resources are provided for easy sharing within organizations.
Yes. Dave Smith is known for tackling hard truths about what’s broken in traditional planned giving—why organizations capture less than 20% of potential, and why planned giving doesn’t meet the needs of most donors and silos fundraising success. He addresses these topics with professionalism and respect while challenging conventional wisdom with data-driven insights.
Our presenters are practitioners who’ve actually built successful gift planning programs, not just consultants teaching theory. Dave Smith has personally facilitated hundreds of millions in gifts. This real-world experience makes presentations uniquely practical, authentic, and immediately applicable. Attendees leave with strategies they can implement the next day.