College has New Director of Development
We welcome to the College Phil Watson who joined the College of Arts & Sciences as Director of Development and Gift Planning on August 1, 2011 after serving as UMKC’s Director of Gift Planning for the past six (6) years. Before joining UMKC in 2005, Phil served as Vice President for Advancement at Avila University, as Director of the Olathe Medical Center Charitable Foundation, and as Associate Director of Planned Giving at the Kansas University Endowment Association. Phil also enjoyed fifteen years in trust & investment management sales and administration, holding senior-level positions with local and regional banks. Phil grew up in Lawrence and holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of Kansas. He is a former Certified Financial Planner. He has served on numerous local advisory boards and fundraising committees and is a past President of the Mid-America Planned Giving Council.
In his position with the College, Phil will be responsible for securing major and/or planned gifts to support various departments, programs and centers in the College of Arts & Sciences. Phil has specialized expertise in estate planning and gift planning, including counseling major gift donors on how to minimize the costs of a gift while maximizing the financial and tax benefits of a gift. He will utilize creative gift planning techniques to help our donors create meaningful gifts that will have an impact on the College and its students.
