Crystal Thompkins (She/Her)

A Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and Certified Specialist in Planned Giving with over 20 years of experience in planned giving program management, Crystal brings a depth of expertise in nonprofit and family legacy planning. 

 

Crystal most recently served as Head of Philanthropic Solutions for BNY Mellon Wealth Management leading the national strategy and thought leadership for the firm’s philanthropic businesses. Crystal was the direct manager of the planned giving business responsible for the administration and organizational support of over 100 national nonprofit planned giving programs, leveraging her extensive experience in charitable tax preparation, operations, and fiduciary services. Crystal’s focus on prioritizing research to help nonprofits, funders, and advisors better understand the giving landscape led to the publication of one of the few studies of the charitable giving behavior of high- and ultra-high-net wealth investors and another study specifically on planned giving activity and trends. 

 

Crystal is also the Principal and Founder of TrueCrystal Consulting, a philanthropic consulting firm committed to helping Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) -led, BIPOC-serving organizations and allied funders create a legacy through endowment building utilizing gift planning, equity-focused governance practices, and inclusive succession planning.

 

Crystal is a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences across nonprofit sectors and affiliated professional organizations and also facilitates nonprofit and private foundation board meetings guiding DEI and impact-focused, trust-based governance and giving. She has published articles in several publications including Worth Magazine, ThinkAdvisor, and Planned Giving Today. She also serves on the advisory council of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WŌC); the editorial board of Planned Giving Today; and the board of the Winston-Salem State University Foundation, her alma mater.

 

Crystal and her husband, David, are permanent, life-long residents of North Carolina and are proud rescue fur baby parents and servants to DJ (dog) and Sinclair (cat).