"David & Goliath" Program & Annual Meeting

David & Goliath: Facing Financial Giants in Applying for IRA Death Claims

Do you feel like your organization is a David fighting the financial Goliaths to obtain beneficiary IRA proceeds? Many charities experience delays of months or even years while attempting to collect proceeds after a donor has died. What was once a simple transaction has turned into mountains of paperwork and intrusive questioning; so much so that some charities are completely giving up on getting their rightful share. Do you want to know how to avoid all this? This session informs attendees on why this is happening and how to fight back. Tools, tips, and proven techniques will help you simplify the process immediately when you get back to your office. Share these details with your colleagues, especially those who process matured planned gifts. Join us to learn which IRA custodians are problematic and which aren’t and the latest federal and state regulations affecting charities collecting IRA proceeds. 

This webinar from the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners will be followed by a special live Q&A with presenter Johni Hays exclusively for our chapter!

Note: This will serve as our chapter’s annual meeting.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025
11:30 – 12:00 –  Networking & Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 – Webinar + Live Q&A

Free for Members
$15 for Non-Members

Location:
Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Sarasota Philanthropy Center
1549 State Street, Sarasota, FL 34236

Parking – State Street Parking Garage 

• Please refrain from parking in the Gulf Coast parking lot adjacent to the building, which is reserved for Gulf Coast Board members, donor appointments and staff only.
• The City of Sarasota has installed a new gateless system at all three City parking garages (Palm Avenue, State Street, St. Armands) to make parking more technologically efficient for citizens and visitors.
• The new system will require cars to pay within 15 minutes of entering the garage. Vehicles that do not pay within that time frame will receive a citation. Cameras will be installed at each entrance and exit to monitor license plates later this year.
• There are multiple payment options for garage parking, ParkMobile will also continue to be available for both garage and on-street parking. For those who wish to pay via a pay station, standalone machines, which accept coins and credit cards only, are available.
• The fee structure will remain the same. The first hour of parking is free. The second hour is $2, and each additional hour is $1 per hour. A flat rate of $5 is offered during special events. Parking is free in City garages on Sundays and holidays.
• Limited, free, two-hour street parking is available on the north and south sides of State Street. Be sure to pay close attention to the signage. There are a few “no parking zones.” The city strictly enforces on-street parking rules.

Meet Johni Hays:

With 32+ years as an attorney in charitable gift planning, Johni Hays is a recognized leader in this field. She is the founder and leader of the RIFT volunteer project (Release IRA Funds Timely). She served as the president of the Charitable Estate Planning Institute and authored the book, Essentials of Annuities and co-authored The Tools and Techniques of Charitable Planning and Message From the Masters—our Best Donor Stories that Made a Difference. Johni serves on the Smithsonian’s Professional Advisors Network in Washington, DC. Johni served on CGP's national board, is a member of its Leadership Institute, was inducted into the CGP Hall of Fame in 2021 and received its Distinguished Service Award in 2020.

Meet Karen Smedley:

Karen Smedley is Principal Auditor in Duke’s Office of Audit Risk & Compliance and the former Assistant Director of Trust and Estate Administration for Duke University and Duke Health. She has extensive expertise in managing all classes of death claims including estates, trusts, IRA beneficiary claims, and brokerage accounts. Smedley is the founder and facilitator of RIFT Advocates and is on the board of The RIFT Project. She earned her Master of Studies in Law from Wake Forest University School of Law with an emphasis on business law and compliance and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Special Thanks to Our November Program Sponsors: