Joseph O. Bull, J.D.
Founder and Principal Counsel
With 40 years of experience in the philanthropic arena, Joe Bull is known as an effective leader of highly performing advancement teams and for his technical expertise as a charitable gift planner.
Over his career, he has helped facilitate 11 eight-figure gifts and 101 seven-figure gifts totaling $414.74 million, and his teams have been responsible for $811.5 million of philanthropic support. Throughout his career, Joe has embraced the challenge of rebuilding languishing programs and building new programs from the ground up.
He is a nationally recognized speaker and author on philanthropic issues. His comments and writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, Trusts & Estates, Planned Giving Today, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Joe received a BS in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University. He also earned both an MA and a JD from Ohio State. He is admitted to the Bar in Ohio and North Carolina.
He has served nationally recognized nonprofits:
- Carnegie Mellon University, Assistant Vice President of Development for Gift Planning
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Senior Vice President for Community Engagement
- Wilmington College, Vice President of Advancement
- The Nature Conservancy, Director of Philanthropy for Strategic Gifts and Senior Philanthropy Officer for Global Priorities
- The Ohio State University, Director of Planned Giving
- NC State University, Director of Gift Planning and Assistant University Counsel
- Duke University, Assistant Director of Planned Giving
Service to his profession has been an important activity of Joe’s:
- Inducted into the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Hall of Fame in 2025.
- American Council on Gift Annuities Board of Directors, President, 2021-24
- National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, Board Chair, 2005
- Only the second person to have held the top leadership position at both of charitable gift planning's professional organizations
- President of Central Ohio and North Carolina Planned Giving Councils
- Editorial Advisory Boards for The Journal of Gift Planning, Planned Giving Today and Planned Giving Design Center
- College of William and Mary’s National Planned Giving Institute, faculty member
In the photo: Joe at the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Hall of Fame induction with CGP CEO Michael Kenyon and Board Chair Trina Olidge.
Personal highlights include:
- Married for 40 years with two delightful adult daughters and two adorable granddaughters
- Conservation supporter – Guatemalan and Kenyan fieldwork
- Sports enthusiast - attended Super Bowl XLVI, 3 National Football Championships, and 2 Final Fours; made a hole in one
Congratulations, Joe!
In October 2025, Joe Bull was inducted into the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners Hall of Fame! CGP Board Chair Trina Olidge presented the award.