American Council on Gift Annuities

What American Council on Gift Annuities does

The American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1927 as the Committee on Gift Annuities and incorporated in 1993, operating as the de facto industry-standard-setter for charitable gift annuity rates in the United States. Its core product is the published Suggested Maximum Gift Annuity Rates, which ACGA develops with a retained actuarial firm and which are followed by approximately 97% of U.S. charitable organizations issuing gift annuities and recognized as actuarially sound by state insurance departments and the IRS. The organization underwrites these rates with quadrennial Gift Annuity Surveys (since 1994) and an ongoing Gift Annuitant Mortality Study, together providing more than 30 years of longitudinal data on program policies, administration, and outcomes.

ACGA's product surface is grouped into four functional pillars: rate-setting (the maximum-rate tables, IRS discount rates, and historic rate reports), research (the quadrennial surveys and mortality studies), education (Gift Annuity University webinars qualifying for CFRE and CFP CE credits, conference proceedings dating to 1927, the Terry L. Simmons Scholarship Fund, and a forthcoming CGA Professional Program launching Spring 2027), and advocacy (state-by-state regulation monitoring plus the federal legislative protections ACGA helped author in 1995–1997 and the 2023 New York codification). The Certified Gift Annuity Issuer Seal provides a brand-level recognition mark that members can display contingent on adherence to ACGA Standards of Conduct.

The business model is membership-funded, not transactional. Nonprofit members pay $330 per year for the first associate and $150 per additional associate; for-profit members pay $600 and $250 respectively, on annual billing. Revenue is supplemented by a tiered partner ecosystem (Platinum: TIAA Kaspick; Gold: HighGround Advisors, The Stelter Company; Silver: Cornerstone, Crescendo Interactive, NGAF/Charitable Solutions, PNC Institutional Asset Management, State Street Global Advisors) plus in-kind partners (PG Today and the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners). Go-to-market is community-led and inbound: ACGA acquires and retains members through its website, e-newsletters with early rate notifications, six annual webinars, a biennial conference through 2027 (36th edition held April 2024 in Houston), the Simmons scholarship pipeline, and partner referral networks rather than through a sales force. With 11–50 employees, an effectively monopoly franchise in U.S. CGA rate-setting, and ~97% market penetration among U.S. charities, ACGA operates as a fee-light standards body whose revenue is bounded by membership density and partner sponsorship rather than by addressable market expansion.

Name

American Council on Gift Annuities

Legal name

American Council on Gift Annuities

Website

https://acga-web.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Council on Gift Annuities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1927 that publishes suggested maximum gift annuity rates followed by an estimated 97% of U.S. charitable organizations, supported by membership dues, an actuarial research program, educational webinars, and tiered industry partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ACGA is funded primarily through annual membership dues from nonprofit charitable organizations and for-profit partners. Nonprofit members pay $330/year for the first associate member (key contact) and $150/year for each additional associate member. For-profit members pay $600/year for the first associate member and $250/year for each additional associate.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ACGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that develops and publishes suggested maximum charitable gift annuity rates recognized by the IRS and state insurance departments as actuarially sound and followed by 97% of U.S. charitable organizations. It supplements this rate-setting authority with quadrennial industry surveys, mortality studies, Gift Annuity University educational webinars, the Certified Gift Annuity Issuer Seal, state regulation monitoring and advocacy, and conference proceedings for nonprofit charities and for-profit planned giving partners.

Product overview

The American Council on Gift Annuities operates as a nonprofit membership organization offering a coordinated suite of rate-setting, research, education, and advocacy services for charitable gift annuity programs. The core offering is the ACGA Suggested Maximum Gift Annuity Rates, which serve as the industry standard followed by 97% of charities nationwide. This rate-setting function is supported by quadrennial Gift Annuity Surveys and Mortality Studies that inform actuarial decisions. Education is delivered through Gift Annuity University webinars (with CE credits) and a forthcoming CGA Professional Program (launching 2027) offering certification. Additional offerings include the Certified Gift Annuity Issuer Seal for member recognition, state regulation monitoring and advocacy, conference proceedings, and the Terry L. Simmons Scholarship Fund for professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Suggested Maximum Gift Annuity Rates Suggested maximum charitable gift annuity rates published as the industry standard followed by 97% of charitable organizations nationwide. The rates are supported by actuarial analysis and recognized by state insurance departments and the IRS as actuarially sound.
• Gift Annuity Surveys Quadrennial research surveys providing the primary source of information about charitable gift annuity policies, practices, and trends, covering gifts, annuitants, administration, and investments. The 2025 survey included 106 charitable organizations.
• Gift Annuity Mortality Study Statistical analysis of gift annuitant mortality experience contributed by member organizations, used to inform rate-setting decisions and help charities evaluate their gift annuity programs.
• Gift Annuity University Educational programming including six annual continuing educational webinars for members, providing CFRE and CFP CE credits. Topics include funding CGAs, comparing CGAs to commercial annuities, assessing gift annuity program health, and testamentary CGAs.
• Certified Gift Annuity Issuer Seal Certification seal offered to ACGA members demonstrating high organizational issuing standards. Organizations must agree to follow ACGA Standards of Conduct to display this seal.
• State Regulation Monitoring ACGA monitors and responds to state gift annuity regulatory issues, working directly with state regulatory agencies to advocate for charities and ensure clarity around rate compliance across different states.
• Terry L. Simmons Scholarship Fund Endowment providing scholarships to young and aspiring professionals as well as development staff at organizations needing assistance to attend the ACGA Conference. Includes conference registration, one-year membership, and hotel stay.
• CGA Professional Program A structured educational program launching in Spring 2027 designed to support charitable gift annuity program success through foundational, intermediate, and advanced training. Associate members can earn the Certified Gift Annuity Specialist (CGAS) designation upon completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of charitable organizations nationwide follow ACGA's suggested maximum gift annuity rates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

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Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered platinum partner, gold partner, silver partner and in-kind partner.

• TIAA Kaspickplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerTIAA Kaspick is a premier provider of comprehensive planned giving services for charitable organizations nationwide. They provide investment management, gift administration, and policy and practice consulting. In 2026, TIAA Kaspick partnered with ACGA on a nationwide Charitable Gift Annuity Donor Survey to understand donor motivations and satisfaction.
• HighGround Advisorsgold partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerHighGround Advisors has been committed since 1930 to protecting, strengthening, and growing nonprofit client missions through comprehensive services in investment and asset management, charitable gift planning, and matters unique to tax-exempt organizations.
• The Stelter Companygold partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1962, Stelter has partnered with nonprofits to help donors give in meaningful, lasting ways. They focus on helping organizations capture high-value gifts of assets and work with more than 1,200 nonprofits across the country.
• Cornerstonesilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone provides outsourced chief investment officer and planned gift administration services, supporting client investment values and stewardship of investments and charitable gifts. They offer complete administration and compliance for Charitable Trusts, Gift Annuity Programs, Donor Advised and Endowment Funds.
• Crescendo Interactivesilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith 30+ years of experience, Crescendo Interactive offers integrated marketing systems including mobile-friendly websites, emails, print materials, donor proposal software, gift calculators, and training to help charities create leads, build donor relationships, and close more gifts.
• NGAF (National Gift Annuity Foundation) / Charitable Solutionssilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Gift Annuity Foundation, a subsidiary of the Dechomai Foundation, provides CGA outsourcing for gift acceptance, contract issue, gift management, and administration. Since inception in 2003, NGAF has accepted and managed over $1.4 billion in assets including real estate, limited partnerships, closely-held stock, and other unusual assets.
• PNC Institutional Asset Managementsilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNC Institutional Asset Management provides experienced Planned Giving professionals who manage gifts efficiently by investing assets and providing account oversight, payment execution, and tax reporting, enabling charities to focus on donor relationship building.
• State Street Global Advisorssilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Street Global Advisors' Charitable Asset Management team has been an industry leader since 1984 and manages over $3 billion in planned gift and endowment assets. State Street Corporation was founded over 225 years ago and is responsible for 10% of the world's assets.
• PG Today (Liebertpub)in-kind partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerPlanned Giving Today is the premier monthly resource serving the planned giving community since 1990. Read by more than 6,000 gift planners monthly, it delivers marketing ideas and insights from planned giving experts. ACGA members receive a 30% discount on new personal subscriptions.
• National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP)in-kind partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGP elevates the practice of charitable gift planning by driving awareness, defining excellence, and ensuring a strong community of professionals. ACGA and CGP jointly conducted the 2019 Survey of Charitable Gift Annuity Program Best Practices.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Independent Sector: National membership organization of nonprofits, foundations, and corporations advancing the charitable sector. Comparable as a high-level advocacy and research body for nonprofits, with policy influence and standards-setting analogous to ACGA's role.
• National Council of Nonprofits: Network of nonprofit advocacy and membership organizations serving the charitable sector. Comparable as a nonprofit-focused membership and advocacy organization, but at a broader sector level rather than gift annuity specific.
• Council on Foundations: National nonprofit membership organization serving a wide range of foundations and charities. Comparable as a membership-based standards and advocacy body for philanthropic institutions, though its scope is broader than ACGA's gift annuity focus.

Regional players

• HighGround Advisors: Provider of investment management, charitable gift planning, and consulting services for nonprofits; ACGA Gold Partner. Comparable as a serving-planned-giving service provider but operates as a commercial firm rather than a membership organization.
• Crescendo Interactive: Provider of planned giving marketing software, donor proposal tools, and gift calculators to nonprofits; ACGA Silver Partner. Operates in the same gift planning market as ACGA but is a commercial software/services provider.
• The Stelter Company: Provider of planned giving marketing and donor development services to over 1,200 nonprofits; ACGA Gold Partner. Sits in the same gift planning ecosystem as ACGA but is a commercial services firm rather than a standards-setting body.
• TIAA Kaspick: Premier planned giving services provider and ACGA Platinum Partner serving thousands of charitable organizations nationwide. Operates in the same charitable gift planning ecosystem but as a for-profit service provider rather than a membership/standards body.

Direct peers

• National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (CGP): National membership organization representing charitable gift planning professionals, with which ACGA has jointly conducted surveys and historically partnered. Both organizations serve the same planned giving community and frequently co-publish research and education.
• National Gift Annuity Foundation (NGAF): Nonprofit CGA outsourcing and administration provider, a subsidiary of the Dechomai Foundation and ACGA Silver Partner. Directly comparable as a charitable gift annuity specialist organization, complementary to ACGA's standards and advocacy focus.

Others

• Planned Giving Today (PG Today): Long-running monthly publication serving the planned giving community, with which ACGA has an in-kind partnership (30% member discount). Adjacent media/information provider for the same professional audience ACGA serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acga_web
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-council-on-gift-annuities
• Facebookfacebook.com/acgiftannuities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Council on Gift Annuities