Fundraising professionals regularly navigate complex legal and ethical considerations but don't always have access to legal counsel. This interactive workshop brings together seasoned fundraisers and a nonprofit legal expert to explore the most pressing legal challenges in fundraising today.

Together, they’ll discuss real-world scenarios related to:

• Gift agreements and donor restrictions
• Naming opportunities and donor recognition
• Vetting policies and ethical considerations
• DEI-related legal risks

The panel will feature two fundraising professionals and attorney Kirk Hoopingarner, a nationally recognized expert in nonprofit law, to provide insights from both fundraising and legal perspectives. Participants will walk away with a clearer understanding of when and how to engage legal counsel, how to manage donor expectations, and how to protect their organizations while building strong philanthropic relationships.

In-person registration for the April 11 event has closed. If you are interested in attending, please register virtually.

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CFRE learning objectives:

1. Identify common legal risks and considerations in fundraising, including donor restrictions, naming rights, and gift agreements.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical fundraising practices, including when to seek legal advice to ensure donor intent aligns with organizational mission and legal obligations.
3. Evaluate donor intent and implement best practices for documenting and stewarding major and planned gifts, including estate gifts and complex/blended gifts.
4. Develop strategies for engaging donors around restricted gifts while maintaining compliance with nonprofit regulations and institutional priorities.
5. Apply legal and ethical frameworks to real-world fundraising scenarios, improving decision-making and risk mitigation in donor relations and gift acceptance.

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Meet Our Presenters

Alisia (Ally) Eckert – Assistant Vice President, Advancement Services at DePaul University

Alisia (Ally) Eckert serves as the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Services, Corporate & Foundation Relations, and Donor Relations at DePaul University. In this role, she leads initiatives to strengthen the university's relationships with corporate and foundation partners, oversees donor relations strategies, and manages advancement services to support the institution's philanthropic goals. Her leadership contributes to fostering meaningful collaborations and enhancing DePaul University's mission through strategic fundraising and engagement efforts.

Kirk Hoopingarner, Partner, Quarles & Brady

With over 35 years of experience, Kirk Hoopingarner advises high-net-worth families and individuals on all aspects of wealth planning, trust and estate administration, and philanthropy. He specializes in sophisticated charitable planning for both donors and tax-exempt organizations and leads the firm’s Tax-Exempt Organizations group.

Kirk’s expertise includes charitable gifting techniques, trust structures for family wealth management, business succession planning, family limited partnerships, and estate and gift tax planning. He has guided multi-generational families in preserving and growing wealth while minimizing tax burdens, administrative costs, and litigation risks. Additionally, he helps clients maximize tax benefits through strategic charitable giving and supports nonprofits in strengthening their planned giving programs.

Sali Mahgoub, Director of Development, Obama Foundation

As the Director of Development at the Obama Foundation, Sali spearheads the strategic planning and execution of a comprehensive development program, driving philanthropic and business engagement to advance the foundation’s mission. With deep expertise in domestic and international advancement, business development, major and principal gifts fundraising, board management, and development services—including research, prospect management, marketing, and communications—she plays a vital role in strengthening the foundation’s long-term impact.

Prior to joining the Obama Foundation, Sali held key development roles at the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois-Chicago, and the Iowa State University Foundation, where she honed her expertise in fundraising, institutional advancement, and donor relations. Beyond her professional work, Sali is actively involved in civic and global affairs. She serves on the boards of the American Model United Nations and the Sudanese American Medical Association and is a Young Professional Ambassador at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Sali holds an MS in International Development and a BS in Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences from Iowa State University. She is a Civic Leadership Academy Fellow at the University of Chicago and has earned a certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School.

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