Client Testimonials

Alison Woods, Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

Dennis assisted us with the creation of a real estate gifts acceptance policy and due diligence process in anticipation of our first gift of real estate. In doing so, he not only paved the way for a smooth gift transaction but also, empowered our Board, volunteers and staff with clear and user-friendly information to serve us well in the future. Dennis’ expertise and solution-based approach, coupled with his interest in our mission and sensitivity to the needs of our donors and nonprofit partners, have been invaluable and we look forward to working with him in the years ahead.

David Disend, Senior Director of Philanthropic Planning, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Dennis was a great aid to us when we revitalized our real estate gift program. He’s deeply knowledgeable, easy to work with, and very capable counsel on both strategy and tactics.

Kristin DeBoer, Executive Director, Kestrel Land Trust

Last year, a group of land trusts associated with the Forever Farmland Initiative received a grant to hire Dennis Bidwell to help us expand each land trust’s capacity to advance planned giving for our organizations. He put together an excellent in-depth training that was catered to land conservation work. We all learned so much from his deep knowledge and practical advice for making these complicated fundraising techniques achievable.

Rick Peck, Director of Individual Giving and Gift Planning, Dartmouth-Hitchcock/Geisel School of Medicine

In relation to real estate gifts to Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Dennis has been a trusted resource for years. Whether he is explaining best practices regarding real estate policies and procedures, walking us through a gift strategy, or simply clarifying a definition, Dennis is always there to help by e-mail or phone, no matter what the complexity or dollar level of the real estate gift being presented. He is extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and always has both the donor’s and the institution’s best interests in mind.  His goal is to help create a win for all parties. Furthermore, he is great on phone calls with prospective donors, and he is right there to help craft a fine follow-up letter to reinforce any concept for the same prospective donors.  In short—you should hire Dennis, too!  He won’t let you down.

Catherine E. Baer, Former Vice President for Development, Vassar College

Dennis Bidwell has been tremendously helpful in educating us all about how to attract significant real estate gifts to Vassar. Our retainer relationship with Bidwell Advisors means Dennis is available for staff training, marketing assistance, meeting with prospects, and coaching our staff on the range of real estate gift structures we should be discussing with our prospects.

Ruth Constantine, former Vice President for Finance and Administration, Smith College

Dennis Bidwell combines an understanding of the legal, financial and operational complications of real estate with a sensitivity to the mission and organizational complexities of an institution like Smith College.

Al Griggs, A. L. Griggs Industries

Dennis Bidwell has been an enormous help to me and my siblings by clearly explaining the complex procedures and options for land management, conservation and family planning decisions we are considering for three properties that have been owned by our family for decades.

Richard Evans, Attorney

I recently brought Dennis in to help an aging client identify all his options regarding possible real estate gift structures. His depth of knowledge in this area was most helpful to my client and to me.

Scott Lumpkin, former Chancellor, University of Denver

Dennis has been a valuable partner in taking our real estate gifts program to a new level. He helped us build on a solid, but sporadic, history of real estate gifts and develop streamlined internal processes that will enable us to be more intentional and proactive in pursuing and closing a full range of real estate gifts.

Peter Mali on behalf of Adair Mali, Kate Mali Pingeon, and Taylor Mali

Dennis Bidwell was instrumental in helping my siblings and me donate a conservation easement on part of our family’s land in Connecticut. He was great to work with: he asked incisive questions and came up with creative solutions, all with good humor, clarity, and sensitivity. My siblings and I are all close, but finding common ground among the four of us on this project was not an easy task. Dennis’ demeanor and skills as a mediator were enormously helpful; he was calm and was a skilled listener who helped each of us articulate our individual needs and desires. Dennis got us to focus on the nuanced differences among our perspectives. Ultimately, he was able to craft a compromise that put a conservation easement on some of the property — which has been in the family for over 40 years — and he did so on schedule and on budget.

Leslie Harris, Executive Director, Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society

Dennis Bidwell brings a detailed and specialized knowledge of real estate transactions that most non-profits do not have in house. We were fortunate to have had Dennis walk us through potential land purchase scenarios, including complicated charitable giving approaches. The seller even expressed to me his delight in being able to work with someone as knowledgeable and professional as Dennis.