Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® Study Group
The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation demonstrates an advisor's commitment to providing a higher level of service and knowledge to help clients articulate and advance their highest aspirations for self, family and society.
What is the CAP® designation?
The CAP® designation provides professional advisors and fundraisers with a common body of knowledge and a shared credential, enabling them to collaborate effectively with clients on charitable giving. The cross-disciplinary curriculum spans and synthesizes the arts and sciences of philanthropic planning, including taxation, finance, fundraising, purposeful planning, family office dynamics, psychology, and strategic philanthropy. With the CAP® designation, you can integrate charitable planning with the donor or client’s wealth planning – positioning you as a trusted advisor and partner.
The American College of Financial Services awards the CAP® designation through a self-study program. GCF offers complimentary CAP® Study Groups each year to provide participants with a group learning experience, building a community of advisors committed to philanthropy throughout our region. Meetings take place at GCF in person from May through December, with the opportunity to participate in (re)CAP, the GCF CAP® Alumni Group.
GCF offers CAP® Study Groups each year to help advisors achieve this goal as part of an annual cohort that learns together during the year, meeting in person from May through December, with the opportunity to participate in (re)CAP, the GCF CAP® alumni group.
Applications for the next cohort will open in early 2026.
(re)CAP Alumni Group
GCF celebrates the graduates of its CAP® Study Group, who have made a commitment to philanthropic conversations with clients:
Jelena Aylor | Christopher Flores | William Montague |
Scott M. Barbee | Mark H. Gaudet | Suzanne Nelson |
Jenny Berg | Kip Heekin | Megan M. Okun |
Alexandra Berning | Michael A. Hirschfeld | Thanh Pham |
Marci J. Blachman | Andrew Hollenkamp | Melanie Prevost |
Leah Bobbey | Terence L. Horan | C. Carter Ruml |
David J. Bross | Krista Keehn | Jacob G. Samad |
Kit Brunner | Kate Kennedy | Melissa Spievak |
Andrea D. Costa | Kenny Kinman | Brian Stautberg |
Anna Coutts | V. Ruth Klette | Michelle Steed |
Staci Dennison | Kelli Kurtz | Andy Swallow |
Josh Diedrichs | Carey McGraw Kuznar | John P. Tafaro |
Traci Douglas | Don Lane | Courtney Weber |
Karen M. Ecker | Mary McFadden Lawson | Felicia Zakem |
R. Daniel Fales | Whitney Maxson | Clare Zlatic Blankemeyer |
Interested in applying?
Please contact Michele Carey, Vice President, Philanthropic Strategies, at michele.carey@gcfdn.org.