Panel Discussion

Join us at Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln on Tuesday, April 21st for this extended session with four speakers.

About The Program

From Fundraiser to Philanthropic Advisor: Discover the Power of the Chartered Advisory in Philanthropy (CAP)

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Nebraska Chapter and the Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska are proud to co-host an engaging educational session designed for professionals who want to deepen their impact in the philanthropic space. This session will spotlight the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation—one of the most respected credentials for those working at the intersection of charitable giving, financial planning, and donor engagement.

The CAP designation equips fundraisers, advisors, and nonprofit professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the philanthropic landscape. It blends technical expertise—such as tax-efficient giving strategies, estate planning, and charitable vehicles—with a strong emphasis on donor psychology and values-based conversations. This unique combination enables professionals to guide donors in making more meaningful, strategic, and lasting contributions.

For fundraisers, CAP is especially valuable. It enhances credibility with high-capacity donors and professional advisors, fosters more productive and trust-based conversations, and provides tools to uncover deeper donor motivations. In an increasingly complex giving environment, having CAP-level knowledge allows fundraisers to move beyond transactional asks and instead build long-term philanthropic partnerships that align donor passions with organizational missions.

Philanthropy today requires more than passion—it demands insight, strategy, and collaboration. The CAP framework supports this by encouraging a holistic, donor-centered approach that benefits not only nonprofits, but also the communities they serve.

Attendees of this session will walk away with:

• A clear understanding of what the CAP designation is and how it supports professional growth
• Insight into how CAP training strengthens donor relationships and enhances fundraising effectiveness
• Practical examples of how CAP principles can be applied in real-world philanthropic conversations
• A better appreciation of the evolving role of fundraisers as strategic philanthropic Guidance on whether pursuing the CAP designation aligns with their career goals

Whether you are an experienced development professional or newer to the field, this session will provide valuable perspective on how advanced philanthropic education can elevate your work and expand your impact.

About Our Speakers

Mark Weber

Mark Weber has spent his professional career working with affluent individuals and successful business owners to help them maximize their wealth and pass it tax-efficiently to their heirs. Before founding the consulting firm of Legacy Planning Advisor, LLC, Mark was the leader of the wealth transfer department of one of the largest privately owned risk management consulting firms in the U.S. His first book The Legacy Spectrum, was published in 2017. 

Weber leads the Omaha Chartered Advisor In Philanthropy® Study Group—a group he founded with the support of the Omaha Community Foundation. Since 2012, Mark has guided over 150 professionals in the Omaha area (attorneys, accountants, financial planners, and planned giving officers) through the graduate level coursework necessary to attain the CAP® designation.

 In 2021 these advisors reported that, since completing the CAP® program, they have worked with their clients to commit a staggering $9 billion to charitable causes. With Mark’s leadership, the graduates of the Omaha CAP® Study Group program are helping their clients leave legacies that will impact their communities for years to come.

​In 2022, The American College of Financial Services inducted Mark into its Alumni Hall of Fame in recognition of the years he's dedicated to helping professional advisors and gift planners earn the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation.

Mark holds bachelor and law degrees from Creighton University and a Master of Science in financial services degree from The American College of Financial Services. He has also earned these designations: Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP).

Emily Sulzle

Emily Sulzle, CAP®, CFRE, is a Director of Gift Planning at the University of Nebraska Foundation. In her role, she partners with donors and advisors to structure charitable gifts that align philanthropic goals with long-term impact. Emily is an active leader in the gift planning profession and brings a practical, donor-centered perspective to her work.

Brett E. Ebert, Esq

Brett’s practice includes estate planning, probate, estate administration, intellectual property, business succession planning, entity formation, and planning for charitable giving.

Brett believes in presenting sophisticated legal solutions in an accessible, easy to understand manner. She is passionate about estate planning and the peace of mind a well thought out estate plan provides to clients. She has experience advising estate planning clients with a range of commercial matters, from simple real estate purchase agreements to contracts and intellectual property protections.

Brett grew up in Lexington, Nebraska. where she worked at the local Dairy Queen, which was owned and operated by her family for more than fifty years. 

Dan Waters

Dan Waters is a Partner at Lamson, Dugan & Murray and is Chair of the Firm’s Business Counseling and Estate Planning practice groups.  His practice focuses in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, corporate governance, and philanthropic planning.  He is licensed in Nebraska and Iowa.  Dan is an active member on the boards of several local charitable organizations.  He has been recognized by his peers in The Best Lawyers in America publication for excellence in the areas of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Trusts and Estates Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Tax Law.  Dan spends his time away from work with his wife and young kids.

Richard K. (Chip) DeBuse II

Chip recently retired from the Philanthropy Services team at Lincoln Community Foundation where he spent the last dozen years assisting charitable donors, advisors and nonprofits in fulfilling their charitable goals.  Born and raised in Omaha, NE, he received a B.S. in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law.  After a number of years of legal work, he started a 25-year career with the corporate trust departments of Norwest Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and the Bank of Oklahoma, all in Lincoln, NE.  Throughout his career, Chip held significant leadership positions with nonprofit organizations in the housing and arts and culture fields, and he continues in retirement working with:  Sheldon Art Association, Haymarket Housing Development Corp., Haymarket Revitalization, Inc., South of Downtown Community Development Organization, and Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation.  Chip is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Register Today

REGISTER ONLINE - or contact Chapter Administrators Erin Isenhart ([email protected]) or Stacie Sarasio ([email protected]). 

NOTE: 

Pending Approval: Full participation in this program is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B -Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.