CATEGORY

Viken Mikaelian

Viken Mikaelian founded PlannedGiving.com in 1998 and has spent nearly three decades advising and training nonprofit professionals responsible for billions in charitable gifts. He has presented at over 500 fundraising conferences and is widely published on planned giving strategy. Viken is the publisher of GIVING Magazine and founder of Philanthropy.org.
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

Let’s Talk About Love

I’ve been in the planned giving marketing industry for 25 years, and for 25 years I’ve been saying that planned giving is a people business. If you love people, you will go far in planned giving (and in your career).

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Image of floating emails with finger pointing to one. Subject matter is email privacy.
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

Asking Your Prospects for Their Email Addresses

That popup demanding contact info for a generic eBrochure? It’s lazy. Your visitors know it. They’ll hand over their junk email and never think of you again. Want real engagement? Offer real value—exclusive content, branded swag, early access. No value, no ask. Simple. Respect the exchange or lose the donor.

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Elephant and a mule celebrating over beer. Political satire.
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

Next 4 Years: Thrive or Survive

The next four years are yours to shape, no matter who’s in office. Success isn’t luck — it’s mindset, action, and personal growth. Staying in your comfort zone, no matter how hard you work, won’t get you ahead. Growth requires discomfort, risk, and learning new skills. Every top performer faces fear but uses it to grow stronger. Will you survive and hope someone else fixes your life or thrive by taking charge? Life isn’t a ballot box—no one else can vote for your success.

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Colorful desk with open laptop, sticky notes, notebook, and pencils symbolizing productivity and organization
Self Improvement & Career
Viken Mikaelian

How to Get More Done in a Day

I didn’t invent these ideas. I stole them from Ben Franklin, Dan Kennedy, and a few dead Stoics. This isn’t a polished productivity manifesto—it’s a brain dump of what actually works: Sunday planning sessions, inbox discipline, ROI-filtered to-do lists, and saying no to everything that doesn’t move the needle. You can’t deposit LinkedIn likes into your checking account. Stop being busy. Start being effective. The secret? Fewer things, done better.

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Giving Magazine, Karen Alonso on Cover, United Way Las Vegas, AFP Chapter President

Giving Magazine

For those who drive change — not watch it. Join the top 1%.

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