Our strength as the American Council on Gift Annuities lies in our commitment to responsible philanthropy and to the donors who make our member missions possible. That commitment is evident in the nationwide Charitable Gift Annuity Donor Survey now underway. It is an important opportunity to listen, learn, and lead together.

Developed in partnership with TIAA Kaspick, this survey will deepen our collective understanding of CGA donors; their motivations, preferences, and experiences and equip us all with insights to strengthen best practices and serve donors with greater clarity and care. For organizations that registered, please share the survey with your donors before distribution concludes on June 1.

The survey will close on July 15. Consider sending a follow up email to your CGA donors reminding them to complete the survey.

The ACGA continuously monitors and responds, when appropriate, to state gift annuity regulatory issues that arise. We are honored to keep members informed of important regulatory developments. Please note these updates recently shared through direct messages to our members:

• Maryland is no longer granting extensions to charities that cannot submit audited financial statements within 180 days after fiscal year end.
• New Jersey requires an actuarial verification as part of its annual reporting. This requirement may be waived only if industry-standard software is used—and only for immediate payment annuities and standard deferred gift annuities. The waiver does not apply to flexible deferred gift annuities. Additionally, if your organization uses a New York reserve filing for New Jersey, that calculation must also be actuarially verified.

I am looking forward to connecting with many of you at the ACGA booth in New Orleans during the 2026 CGP Conference, October 14–16. It will be a pleasure to engage with colleagues from across the country in a city rich with history and inspiration. 

Recently the Board of Directors approved updates to the membership structure. These changes reflect a strengthened, all-inclusive model designed to expand access to the education, resources, and addition of a professional certification program that will support successful charitable gift annuity programs nationwide. You'll find more details about the expanded benefits in this article.

We are proud to represent a community of members passionately united in advancing and promoting responsible philanthropy. Together, we are building a stronger future for charitable gift annuities, and for the donors who believe in their lasting impact.