Jade Bristol is Chief Development Officer at Giving Docs, where she leads the creation and development of partnerships with planned giving leaders across the U.S.
An attorney who began her career with a focus on trusts and estates, Jade also has more than fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector, where she previously served as Director of Estate Planning at Human Rights Campaign, National Vice President of Individual Giving at Muscular Dystrophy Association, and as Founder/Executive Director of KidzCare USA.
In addition, Jade has served on the national Board of Directors for StandUp For Kids, and on board committees for the Children’s Inn at NIH and Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless.
Chip Giese is a Senior Relationship Manager in the Planned Giving Group of PNC Institutional Asset Management®, where he is responsible for coordinating the delivery of life-income gift servicing to endowment and foundation clients across PNC’s national footprint. He also provides product specialization and support to PNC regional leaders and business development teams. In his capacity as the relationship officer overseeing administration, Chip meets with clients to confirm that their needs are being met. He assumed his current position in 2005, after spending two years as the Director of Planned Gifts at The Gilman School in Baltimore. His industry experience extends back to 1994.
A graduate of Towson University, Chip is a current member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and the American Council on Gift Annuities and is a past board member of the Chesapeake Planned Giving Council.
Ann Kolakowski joined the University System of Maryland as Director of Gift Planning Services in February 2022. She works with the 12 member campuses to provide expertise on planned gifts, establish and lead a network of planned giving professionals across the System, and create programs to build planned giving skills among the System’s major gift fundraisers.
Prior to her current role, Ann served as Senior Director of Planned Gifts at the Humane Society of the United States, Director of Major and Planned Gifts at Towson University (her undergraduate alma mater), and Director of Gift Planning Marketing at The Johns Hopkins University (where she earned an MA in creative writing). Her previous experience includes alumni and communication positions at Johns Hopkins and Goucher College.
Ann has earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP) and Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credentials. She is a member of the American Council on Gift Annuities, the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, and the National Capital Gift Planning Council (which she currently serves as President).
Sarah Metzgar has worked at Towson University (TU) as the Director of Major Gifts since 2015. During her time at TU, Sarah has raised money specifically for the Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics.
Prior to her role at TU, she held various fundraising roles at The George Washington University (GW) including the Parents Campaign, GW Athletics, and Principal Gifts. Sarah holds an MBA from GW and a BA from Hollins University, a women’s college. She is proud to be a part of bringing the first women’s giving circle to TU.
Linda Roush joined Towson University three-and-a-half years ago as the Senior Director of Development and Major Gifts Officer for the College of Health Professions. She also manages the major gifts team.
Linda’s experience includes more than 20 years in fundraising, including positions in higher education at a state public institution and a small private college. She has worked on several major capital campaigns, and currently serves as a committee member of TU’s current, $100 million, RISE campaign. Women’s philanthropy is a special interest of Linda’s, and she has successfully launched three women’s giving circles.
Jennifer Stitely joined the Chautauqua Institution in 2019 as Director of Gift Planning and now, as Associate Vice President of Advancement, leads the individual fundraising and donor relations team to solicit and steward philanthropic support for Chautauqua’s 150 Forward strategic plan and upcoming comprehensive campaign.
Prior to joining Chautauqua, Jenny was the Divisional Director of Planned Giving for the National Capital and Virginia Division of the Salvation Army, where she successfully led a remote team of associates responsible for securing more than $20 million in planned gift commitments. Throughout her career, Jenny has held varying roles including leading annual and major giving programs and participating in multiple comprehensive campaigns.
Jenny attained her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in October 2010 and the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation in 2021. She is a proud member of several professional associations, including the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners and Advisors in Philanthropy, and is President-Elect of the National Capital Gift Planning Council and was the conference chair for the 2022 Planned Giving Days Conference. She received her Bachelor of Arts in music performance from Towson University.
Maya Weil transitioned to a second career, in planned giving, in 2005 when she discovered she could combine her thirteen years of experience as an investment banker (in London) with her love of the performing arts. After almost 12 years of managing the gift planning programs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington National Opera, and National Symphony Orchestra, Maya started her consulting practice, Easy Planned Giving. She realized that many smaller organizations could use some help with how to raise legacy funds but don’t have the money to hire staff specifically for planned gifts. She is also the Gift Planning Specialist at Arena Stage for the Performing Arts.
Maya serves as a Board Member of the Tony Award®–winning Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, the National Capital Gift Planning Council, Paragon Philhamonia, AlpenKammermusik and is Co-Chair of the Programming Committee of the Washington, DC Estate Planning Council. In her free time, she plays the violin in orchestras and chamber music groups and teaches violin.
