About GPA

GPA brings senior fundraising experience to organizations in a highly customized way. Gift Planning Associates is a consulting firm specializing in fundraising for non-profit organizations, with an emphasis on hospitals, human service agencies, and religious organizations.

GPA’s President, Rick Kress, ACFRE, brings 25 years of fundraising experience to clients. He is one of 78 people world-wide to have achieved lifetime recognition as an Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive (ACFRE). This is the highest credential offered by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the world's largest organization of development executives.

He has served as:

Executive counsel for planned gifts, capital campaigns, feasibility studies, major gifts, development audits, strategic plans, and the entire spectrum of fundraising programs.
President, Providence Health Foundation, and Vice President of Development & Volunteer Services, Providence Hospital and Medical Centers, Southfield, MI – a Top 100 Hospital and Top 15 Major Teaching Hospital
Vice President of Development, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI – a Top 100 Hospital and Top 15 Major Teaching Hospital
Vice President of Development & Church Relations, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan, Detroit, MI – Crain’s Detroit Business’s Best Managed Non-profit Award winner
President, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Greater Detroit Chapter
President, Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement (APRA), Michigan Chapter
Speaker for the:

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Conference;
Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) International Conference;
National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC);
Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM), International Conference;
Association of Professional Researchers in Advancement (APRA), Michigan;
and dozens of local seminars and workshops.

Rick is also an ordained minister in the Church of God (Anderson, IN), and is a church development specialist.