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.

 

More Information


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.