The Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan (PGRTSEM) is a professional community dedicated to advancing the practice of philanthropic planning. We bring together professionals who work at the intersection of charitable giving, financial strategy, and long-term donor relationships.
Our members include development professionals, planned and legacy giving officers, attorneys, financial advisors, and nonprofit leaders who share a commitment to helping donors make meaningful, lasting contributions to the causes they care about most.
At its core, PGRTSEM exists to create something that is increasingly rare in the philanthropic sector: a trusted community of peers who can exchange ideas, discuss complex gift strategies, and learn from one another’s real-world experience.
Our Purpose
The work of philanthropic planning is both technical and relational. While technical education is widely available, the opportunity for peer-level dialogue about real donor situations, strategic challenges, and evolving best practices is much harder to find.
We convene professionals who want to go beyond surface-level programming and engage in thoughtful conversations about how planned giving actually works in practice. Through our programming, mentoring, and professional network, members gain access to colleagues across disciplines who are navigating the same challenges and opportunities in charitable planning.
Our goal is simple: to strengthen the people who strengthen philanthropy.
What Makes PGRTSEM Different
PGRTSEM is built around professional community, not just programming.
Members benefit from:
- Peer-based learning through facilitated discussions and case-based conversations
- Cross-disciplinary insight from fundraisers, attorneys, financial planners, and other philanthropic advisors
- Development Day, our flagship educational conference featuring nationally recognized speakers
- A trusted professional network where members can share ideas, seek guidance, and build long-term relationships
These connections allow members to navigate complex gifts, donor relationships, and institutional strategy with greater confidence and perspective.
Who We Serve
PGRTSEM supports professionals across the philanthropic ecosystem, including:
- Planned giving and legacy giving officers
- Development directors and major gift fundraisers
- Nonprofit executives and advancement leaders
- Attorneys and financial advisors involved in charitable planning
Whether you represent a large institution or manage development as a one-person office, PGRTSEM provides a community of peers who understand the challenges and opportunities of philanthropic planning.
The Impact of Membership
Through their involvement in PGRTSEM, members gain:
- Stronger relationships with donors pursuing legacy gifts
- Greater confidence navigating complex gift strategies
- Access to a network of trusted professional colleagues
- Insights that strengthen their organization’s long-term philanthropic capacity
Ultimately, the impact extends far beyond our meetings. By supporting the professionals who facilitate charitable giving, PGRTSEM helps strengthen the nonprofit sector and the communities it serves.
Our Role in the Philanthropic Community
PGRTSEM complements broader professional associations by focusing specifically on philanthropic planning excellence. Rather than competing with national organizations, we provide a regional forum where professionals can deepen expertise, exchange ideas, and build lasting professional relationships.
For more than four decades, the Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeast Michigan has helped professionals grow in their practice and expand the impact of philanthropy across our region.