Red Shield Symposium 2026
About the event
*Registration opens July 1*
Join us for the 2026 Red Shield Symposium -- our annual estate and charitable gift planning institute -- on Sept. 17!
The Red Shield Symposium is an in-person and digital webcast focusing on bringing together donor advisors to learn the latest on estate planning, the effects that legislation has on charitable donations and how The Salvation Army can meet your client's philanthropic goals.
We invite attendees of the following career and professions to attend: attorneys, certified financial planners, accountants, bank trust officers, and other planning officials.
The Symposium has six (6.0)+ hours of continuing. education credit, including one and a half (1.5) hours of ethics credit pending for the following certifications:
- CLE: Attorney
- CPE: Accountant
- CE: Applicable State Life Insurance
- CEP: Certified Real Estate Planner
- CLU: Chartered Life Underwriter
- CFP: Certified Financial Planner
- ChFC: Chartered Financial Consultant
- CFTA: Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor
- CAP: Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy
The Red Shield Symposium is available in person at locations across Indiana
- Evansville - 1040 N Fulton Ave, Evansville, IN 47710
- Fort Wayne - 2901 N Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
- Indianapolis - 6060 castleway west drive indianapolis in 46250
- Gary-Merrillville - 4800 Harrison St, Gary, IN 46408
- Michigan City - 1201 Franklin St, Michigan City, IN 46360
- Columbus - 2525 Illinois Ave, Columbus, IN 47201
The Red Shield Symposium will feature speakers with a wealth of knowledge in law, estate planning, charitable planning, and so much more.
Pamela Jones Davidson, JD, is president of Davidson Gift Design in Bloomington, Indiana, a consulting firm specializing in all aspects of gift planning and training, and excelling in motivational presentations. She is also emeritus for Thompson & Associates, offering estate planning services to nonprofits. She was with the Indiana University Foundation for 11½ years, leaving as its executive director of planned giving and associate counsel, quadrupling expectancies in only 2½ years.
Phil Purcell, JD/MPA Indiana University, BA Wabash College, has enjoyed a 30-year career in planned giving and counsel to nonprofits. He currently serves as the director of planned giving for the Central Territory of The Salvation Army. Phil is a member of the Indiana and American Bar Associations and serves as vice chair of the legislation committee of the American Bar Association charitable organizations and planning group. He also serves on the Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt organizations council.
Samuel Donaldson is a professor of law at Georgia State University. Prior to joining the Georgia State faculty in 2012, he was on the faculty at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle for 13 years. During his tenure at the University of Washington, he was a five-time recipient of the Philip A. Trautman Professor of the Year award from the School of Law’s Student Bar Association. Sam received his JD from the University of Arizona and LL.M (Taxation) from the University of Florida.
Charles Slamar, Jr., JD, LLM, is an attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, whose private practice includes advising individuals on tax, estate and charitable planning; charitable organizations on governance, gift planning and litigation; and corporate fiduciaries on tax exemption. He also is a Senior Vice President of Thompson & Associates.
The Red Shield Symposium will take place between 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST
