The Journal of Gift Planning

Editorial Structure and Author Guidelines

Editorial Structure

The Journal of Gift Planning includes five sections or article types: Opinion; Program/Practice; Policy Analysis; Research; and Literature Review.

Author Guidelines

The Journal of Gift Planning accepts original submissions (i.e., new unpublished work) that highlight programs, policies, academic research, and any other topic that is relevant to CGP’s diverse nonprofit readership.

CGP’s readership includes charitable gift planning professionals from diverse backgrounds, both at the beginning of their careers as well as veterans in the field.

Authors should be prepared to identify their target audience and how the topic they’re addressing can contribute to the professional advancement of that audience.

Inquiries concerning the appropriateness of a certain topic, or any other questions/concerns, should be sent to journal@charitablegiftplanners.org. 

Below are the formatting requirements for all submissions as well as the requirements for each article type.

Articles that do not follow these requirements will be resent to the authors for corrections.

Authors Contact Statement: Authors may not contact editors to influence the outcome of their submission. Authors must submit their work through the form on the CGP website and may not send information directly to an editor. Author may not try to access the outcome of the review by contacting an editor.

Submit your article here

All submissions must include the following information:

  • Title and complete list of authors
  • Author affiliations
  • Executive Summary (250-300 words)
  • 3-6 keywords that describe the content of the article
  • Audience Level (Emerging or Experienced)

Sections (Article Types):

Opinion

Submission Requirements for Opinion Articles

Opinion Article Definition: An Opinion Article for The Journal of Gift Planning represents the views of an individual or organization within the field of gift planning concerning a specific topic, piece of legislation, program, issue, theory, or issue. These articles are solely the view/s of the individual submitting the article and do not represent the views of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, nor are they reviewed as fact. These articles consistently end with a call to action of the target audience.

Opinion Article Goals: The goal of submitting an opinion article is for readers to express their opinions on topics within the field of gift planning in order to promote conversation across the field.

Target Audience: A specific sector of Gift Planners or career stage, or sector environment.

Opinion Article Requirements

  • Length-max 1000-1500 words (approximately 5-6 double spaced pages). The title page does not count towards the word count.
  • Margins-1 inch
  • Spacing-Double Spaced
  • Font: Arial
  • Font Size: 12
  • Page numbers in top left corner

Application Paragraph
Before the final paragraph of your article, the authors must include a paragraph on how this piece can be applied to the field of gift planning. These statements can include policy recommendations, new models or ways of thinking. These statements should be actionable and be applicable to the target audience to use within the next six-months in the profession.

Conclusion Paragraph
The final paragraph of your article should include, the question you answered/opinion stated, what you found or your main thesis statement, why this piece matters to the target audience, and a final call to action.

Additional Considerations

  1. Opinion articles cannot be used to sell products or promote one’s personal business or brand.
  2. Opinion articles can contain up to two images. These images cannot be personal brands or sales images. The images must directly relate to the opinion being expressed through research, graphics, or pictorial abstracts.
  3. Opinion articles cannot be used to diminish the image of an individual or business within the field of Charitable Gift Planning.

Program or Practice

Submission Requirements for Program or Practice

Articles Program or Practice Article Definition: A Program or Practice Article for The Journal of Gift Planning is an article that shares a specific program or practice within the field of gift planning. These articles include how to implement, apply, and maintain the program or practice for the field. These pieces are in-depth, applied, articles that give the how-to of a program or practice. They can include any potential cost analysis associated with implementation of the program or practice, as well as the results of the program or practice within a gift planner setting.

Program or Practice Article Goals: The goal of submitting a Program or Practice Article is to provide our membership with a new program or practice to use within their own work. The aim of these articles is to share successful programs with the community for greater use across the field.

Target Audience: Program or Practice Articles should be targeted towards certain sectors of the gift planning community.

Program or Practice Article Requirements

  • Length-max 5,000 words (approximately 10 double spaced pages). The title page does not count towards the word count.
  • Margins-1 inch Spacing-Double Spaced
  • Font: Arial
  • Font Size: 12
  • Page numbers in top left corner
  • Cited primary research, policy, legislation, or articles if applicable. Citations should be either APA in-text citations or endnotes (depending on the number of citations) and must be included in a Reference List (references pages do not count towards the word count).
  • Figures and graphics can be included. If included, authors must acknowledge the original source in the caption(s). Authors are also responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and release forms from the appropriate rights‐holders.
  • The program or practice manual, and any documents that supports the implementation of the program or practice can be included. 
  • Optional: Include additional Resources that can be used or go deeper on the program or practice for advanced users.

Application Paragraph
Before the final paragraph of your article, the authors must include a paragraph on how this piece can be applied/why it is relevant to the field of gift planning. These statements can include policy recommendations, new models or ways of thinking. These statements should be actionable and be applicable to the target audience to use within the next six-months in the profession.

Policy Analysis

Submission Requirements for Policy Articles Policy

Article Definition: A Policy Article for The Journal of Gift Planning is an analysis of a particular policy/legislation that impacts the field of gift planning or a potential new policy or practice that could support the field of gift planning.

Policy Article Goals: The goal of submitting a Policy Article is to provide our membership with an analysis of a policy or piece of legislation. Policy Articles must include recommendations for improvement, impacts, or potential impacts of the policy, and potential solutions.

Target Audience: A specific area of gift planning or sector of gift planning

Policy Article Requirements

  • Length-max 5,000 words (approximately 10 double spaced pages). The title page does not count towards the word count.
  • Margins-1 inch Spacing-Double Spaced
  • Font: Arial
  • Font Size: 12
  • Page numbers in top left corner
  • Cited primary research, policy, legislation, or articles if applicable. Citations should be either APA in-text citations or endnotes (depending on the number of citations) and must be included in a Reference List (references pages do not count towards the word count).
  • Figures and graphics can be included. If included, authors must acknowledge the original source in the caption(s). Authors are also responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and release forms from the appropriate rights‐holders.

Policy Article Sections to Include (subsections and additional sections are allowed):

  1. Description of the Policy
  2. Laws and Legislation that relate to the policy
  3. How the policy impacts gift planning
  4. Authors conflict of interest
  5. Impacts of the policy
  6. Recommendations
  7. Application Paragraph
  8. References

Application Paragraph
Before the final paragraph of your article, the authors must include a paragraph on how this piece can be applied/why it is relevant to the field of gift planning. These statements can include policy recommendations, new models or ways of thinking. These statements should be actionable and be applicable to the target audience to use within the next six-months in the profession.

References
All references should be cited in APA style

Review
Policy Analysis articles that are accepted to be published in the journal will go to a Technical Editor for final review.

Research

Submission Requirements for Research Articles

Research Article Definition: A Research Article for The Journal of Charitable Gift Planning consists of original research that answers a question facing the field of gift planning. A research article consists of original hypotheses, data, and analysis.

Research Article Goals: The goal of submitting a Research Article is to share original research with the community.

Target Audience: A specific area of gift planning

Research Article Requirements

  • Length-max 10,000 words (approximately 20 double spaced pages). The title page does not count towards the word count.
  • Margins-1 inch Spacing-Double Spaced
  • Font: Arial
  • Font Size: 12
  • Page numbers in top left corner
  • Cited primary research, policy, legislation, or articles if applicable. Citations should be either APA in-text citations or endnotes (depending on the number of citations) and must be included in a Reference List (references pages do not count towards the word count).
  • Figures and graphics can be included. If included, authors must acknowledge the original source in the caption(s). Authors are also responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and release forms from the appropriate rights‐holders.

Research Article Sections: A research article can include subsections within each of these categories:

  1. Executive Summary (see title page)
  2. Literature Review
    1. Include hypotheses
  3. Methods
  4. Results
  5. Conclusion
  6. Application Paragraph (see below)
  7. References

Application Paragraph
Before the final paragraph of your article, the authors must include a paragraph on how this piece can be applied/why it is relevant to the field of gift planning. These statements can include policy recommendations, new models or ways of thinking. These statements should be actionable and be applicable to the target audience to use within the next six-months in the profession.

Review
Research articles that are accepted to be published in the journal will go to a Technical Editor for final review.

Literature Review

Submission Requirements for Literature Review Articles

Literature Review Article Definition: A Literature Review Article for The Journal of Gift Planning is a deep review of the literature surrounding a particular topic. A literature review relies on synthesizing primary articles and research to provide a comprehensive review.

Literature Review Articles are collected through invited/open submissions.

Literature Review Article Goals: The goal of submitting a Literature Review Article is to provide our membership with an advanced history on a topic. The aim of these articles is to provide an advanced historical education to the membership. These topics will allow the membership to have a complete synthesis of a topic pivotal to the field.

Target Audience: Literature Reviews should be targeted towards gift planners who are looking for an advanced deep-dive on a topic. If a specific area of gift planning is targeted, list them here.

Literature Review Article Requirements

  • Length-max 5,000 words (approximately 10 double spaced pages). The title page does not count towards the word count.
  • Margins-1 inch Spacing-Double Spaced
  • Font: Arial
  • Font Size: 12
  • Page numbers in top left corner
  • Cited primary research, policy, legislation, or articles if applicable. Citations should be either APA in-text citations or endnotes (depending on the number of citations) and must be included in a Reference List (references pages do not count towards the word count).
  • Figures and graphics can be included. If included, authors must acknowledge the original source in the caption(s). Authors are also responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and release forms from the appropriate rights‐holders.

Literature Review should be broken up by sections. There should also be a methods section that details how you gathered your literature used in the piece.

Application Paragraph
Before the final paragraph of your article, the authors must include a paragraph on how this piece can be applied/why it is relevant to the field of gift planning. These statements can include policy recommendations, new models or ways of thinking. These statements should be actionable and be applicable to the target audience to use within the next six-months in the profession.