As the U.S. population ages, cognitive impairment and dementia are becoming increasingly important considerations for philanthropy. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, an estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with clinical Alzheimer’s dementia—about one in nine older adults—and the number is projected to reach 13.8 million by 2060, absent breakthroughs in prevention or cure.
Yet many philanthropic organizations still lack consistent training, policies, and procedures for responding when a donor shows signs of cognitive change. The issue requires care and nuance: a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia does not, by itself, establish that a person lacks decisional capacity. Capacity is specific to the decision at hand and may vary by circumstance and over time. These realities create ethical and practical challenges involving donor autonomy, undue influence, communication, confidentiality, gift acceptance, and documentation of intent.
To address these concerns, this presentation introduces a practical framework featuring 10 keys for better communication. The framework is designed to help fundraising professionals recognize warning signs, prevent and resolve communication breakdowns, involve appropriate internal or professional resources, and protect both the donor and the charitable organization without stereotyping or prematurely excluding the donor from decision-making.
The session will also examine advance-planning tools—including philanthropic directives, estate-planning documents, contemporaneous gift-intent records, contact preferences, and clear organizational protocols—that can help preserve a donor’s values and charitable wishes if cognition later declines. These tools complement, but do not replace, advice from qualified legal, medical, or financial professionals.
Participants will leave with current facts, practical communication strategies, and policy considerations for ethical, transparent, person-centered donor engagement—balancing respect for autonomy with appropriate safeguards against confusion, coercion, exploitation, and misinterpretation of donor intent.
Speaker
Robert Hofmann, M.A., CFRE is a distinguished fundraising professional and thought leader who has dedicated his career to addressing the evolving challenges posed by dementia among donors. A proud native of the Twin Cities, he served as a Senior Development Officer at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) from 2007 to 2024, where he was instrumental in securing over $24 million to support student scholarships, programs, libraries, and museums. Mr. Hofmann currently consults with the Cloquet based Fond du Lac Tribal Community Foundation, serving as their Executive Director.
Through his coauthored research papers and peer-reviewed journal articles, Mr. Hofmann has become a prominent advocate for substantive policy reform and specialized training. His work underscores the critical need for the fundraising profession to evolve, ensuring that ethical standards are maintained and that professionals are equipped to meet the complex needs of donors affected by dementia.
Parking
Free visitor parking is available in the main parking lot - overflow street parking is available free of charge.
Venue
Attendees are asked to check in at the main entrance for an “approved visitor” sticker then take the elevator up to the 2nd floor Fellowship Center.