Welcome to the SoCalCGP Newsletter. The newsletter provides links to this page. Please see below for the items that appeared in the August 2026 issue.

• A Letter from President Heidi Simpson-Sandoval
  
  
• Rethinking Traditional Estate Planning: A Planned Giving Perspective
  
  
• Advocacy Update: The National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Supports the Charity Parity Act
  
  
• Member Profile - Keely Daximillion

A Letter from President Heidi Simpson-Sandoval

As we begin a new fiscal year, it is both an honor and a privilege to serve as President of the Southern California Council of Charitable Gift Planners (SoCalCGP).

When I reflect on the value of this organization and the impact it has had on my own professional journey, three things immediately come to mind: connection, education, and growth.

Through my involvement with SoCalCGP, I have built meaningful relationships, expanded my knowledge, and developed as a charitable gift planning professional. Over the years, I have heard many longtime members share similar experiences.

If you are new to SoCalCGP or new to the field of gift planning, welcome. You are joining an extraordinary community of professionals who are committed to advancing philanthropy and supporting one another along the way. I encourage you to build connections with colleagues, exchange ideas freely, seek out new perspectives, and embrace opportunities to learn. Most importantly, look for ways to contribute and serve. Some of the most rewarding experiences in this organization come from becoming actively involved.

Click here to read more.

Rethinking Traditional Estate Planning: A Planned Giving Perspective

This article was provided by Lagerlof, LLP, a SoCalCGP Sponsor.

As families enter what many experts describe as the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history, estate planning is evolving beyond the traditional focus on documents, taxes, and asset distribution. Today, effective planning requires a more holistic approach, one that prepares not only assets for transfer, but also heirs and charitable legacies for long-term success. 

For decades, estate planning often followed a familiar pattern: parents made decisions, advisors drafted documents, and beneficiaries learned the details after a death occurred. Yet experience has shown that even the most technically sound estate plans can fail to achieve a family’s goals if communication and education are absent. Many heirs express frustration after a wealth transfer, saying, “What my parents wanted didn’t happen,” or “Why did they do that?” These concerns highlight a critical reality: legal documents alone cannot preserve family values, relationships, or stewardship.

For families interested in philanthropy, this shift presents an important opportunity. Planned giving strategies can help donors align charitable goals with tax-efficient wealth transfer while engaging the next generation in meaningful conversations about legacy and purpose. Three charitable planning “buckets” deserve particular attention: retirement accounts, charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), and donor-advised funds (DAFs).

Retirement assets often represent one of the most tax-sensitive portions of an estate. Recent legislative changes under SECURE Act 2.0 expanded opportunities for qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), allowing eligible individuals to direct IRA assets to charity while satisfying required minimum distribution obligations. For philanthropically minded donors, these strategies can reduce taxable income and create a lasting charitable impact.

Charitable remainder trusts offer another valuable planning tool. A CRT allows donors to transfer appreciated assets into a trust, receive an income stream during life, and ultimately benefit a charitable organization at death. This structure can help diversify concentrated assets, reduce immediate capital gains exposure, and fulfill charitable objectives.

Donor-advised funds continue to grow in popularity because of their flexibility and simplicity. Donors receive an immediate charitable deduction when contributing cash, securities, or certain non-public assets, while retaining the ability to recommend grants to charitable organizations over time. As a result, DAFs can serve as an effective bridge between current tax planning and future charitable giving. 

Beyond the technical strategies, however, successful estate and charitable planning depends on family engagement. Advisors increasingly encourage clients to involve beneficiaries earlier in discussions, introduce them to potential trustees, and hold family meetings focused on financial education and philanthropic values. Some families even record personal messages explaining the purpose behind their estate plans and charitable commitments. These conversations often prove far more valuable than any legal provision.

Ultimately, the goal of estate planning is balance: preparing assets for an efficient transfer while preparing heirs to become responsible stewards of wealth and values. Planned giving can play a powerful role in that process, helping families create legacies that extend beyond financial inheritance. When families combine sound technical planning with thoughtful communication and charitable purpose, they increase the likelihood that both their wealth and their values will endure for generations.

Advocacy Update

The National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Supports the Charity Parity Act

Reposted from the Office of Congressman Don Beyer, (D-VA), CGP is proud to support the Charity Parity Act introduced on May 13 by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA), Senator Cramer (R-ND), and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). This bipartisan legislation would eliminate tax penalties on charitable donations from employer sponsored retirement plans.

Click here to read more. 

Member Profile - Keely Daximillion

Keely Daximillion is the Director of Philanthropy at the La Jolla Playhouse where she focuses on Individual Giving through Trustees and Major Donors focused on funding theatre and the arts in San Diego. She grew up in Dallas.

How has charitable gift planning fit into your career path? 

Charitable gift planning fits naturally into my career as Director of Philanthropy at La Jolla Playhouse. It represents the intersection of relationship-based fundraising and donor legacy. I have seen throughout my career that gift planning is one of the most meaningful ways to connect donors’ personal values with the arts. I have worked to create deep lasting relationships and it has been rewarding to see the pride a donor takes when they make a decision to put an organization in their will as a thank you.

What are highlights/benefits of your experience as a SoCalCGP scholarship recipient?

A highlight was attending the Western Regional Planned Giving Conference and having dedicated time to focus on Planned Giving and coming up with a strategic plan for the future of La Jolla Playhouse. I met great colleagues that I hope to keep in touch with and I really learned some good take-aways from the key note speakers that I have already put in place with my team.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy playing tennis, dancing with Culture Shock and making dips! I host an annual Dip Party where friends bring dips to compete in the Best Dip in Show contest and next year marks the 20th Anniversary!