Episode Details

After decades in fundraising, Joe Bull has seen nearly everything—from million-dollar surprises to the conversations that quietly define a donor’s legacy. In this episode, he joins Tom Dauber to share the stories, near-misses, and timeless lessons that shaped his approach to planned giving and donor relationships that last a lifetime.

In this conversation, Joe and Tom discuss:

• How one sponsorship pitch turned into an eight-figure gift—and a career-defining lesson in silence
• The stewardship visit that safeguarded an $11 million estate gift
• Why fundraisers lose legacy donors simply by forgetting about them
• How to spot hidden wealth and reframe your assumptions about “who gives”
• The emotional power of connecting donors directly to the impact they’ve created
• What awkward mistakes (including a very ill-timed voicemail) can teach you about accountability
• How patience and gratitude form the foundation of every successful planned giving relationship

For anyone serious about legacy fundraising, this episode distills forty years of experience into stories that remind us why planned giving is both an art and a calling.

Website: philanthropyadvisorycouncil.com • Email: joebull@philanthropyadvisorycouncil.com
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