LVCF’s Marueen Wendling Receives Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® Designation
Allentown, Pa., February 6, 2025— Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s Director of Donor Initiatives Maureen Connolley Wendling, recently obtained the designation of Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® from The American College of Financial Services.
As a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®), Maureen helps clients integrate philanthropy into their financial, estate, and legacy planning. She specializes in designing strategic giving plans using tools like donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, and private foundations while leveraging tax-efficient strategies to maximize impact. She focuses on aligning charitable giving with my client’s values and goals, creating meaningful legacies, and collaborating with other professionals to develop cohesive plans.
Maureen joined the staff at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation in 2023. She serves as Director of Donor Initiatives with primary responsibilities that include donor identification, cultivation and solicitation; relationship building with professional advisors; and strategy development for groups of donors such as planned giving donors.
An experienced leader in the Lehigh Valley’s nonprofit sector, Maureen has a background working in higher education, the arts and social services. She brings strategic insight and a hands-on approach to each donor/client relationship. Drawing upon her knowledge of best practices, she has helped many regional organizations develop and implement key strategies to advance their missions.
Maureen is a Lehigh Valley native and finds value in giving back to the community where she grew up. She has served on the Communications Committee of Resilient Lehigh Valley and the Northampton County Suicide Task Force and the serves on the Board of Associates of Muhlenberg College.
Maureen is a mindfulness mediation teacher; she completed her teaching training at the Mindfulness Institute at Thomas Jefferson University and the Center for Mindfulness at Lehigh Valley Health Network. Maureen graduated from DeSales University with a B.S. in Marketing and Sales.
The Community Foundation now has three staff members who have achieved the designation of Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®). LVCF’s Carrie Krug Nedick, Director of Donor Services, achieved her CAP® in 2024 and President and CEO Erika Riddle Petrozelli added the designation in 2023.
About The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®)
The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) is a professional designation that is designed for financial advisors, estate planning attorneys, and other professionals who work with individuals and families in the area of charitable giving. The process of becoming a CAP typically takes around one year to complete, depending on the individual’s schedule and pace. The American College of Financial Services and other approved providers offer various study materials and resources to help candidates prepare for the CAP exam.
Obtaining the CAP designation demonstrates a commitment to providing clients with the highest level of expertise and knowledge in the field of philanthropic planning, providing a comprehensive education in charitable giving strategies, tax law, and ethical issues.
The CAP credential is recognized as the premier credential for advisors in the philanthropic field, providing them with a competitive advantage and enhancing their credibility and reputation in the industry. The ongoing professional development requirements of the program can also help advisors stay current with the latest trends and regulations in philanthropy, ensuring that they can provide the best possible advice to their clients helping them achieve their philanthropic goals and make a positive impact on their communities. By providing guidance on charitable giving strategies, a CAP holder can help clients maximize the impact of their charitable contributions while also achieving their own financial and estate planning goals.