Contact Gift Planning Staff
Have you included Duke in your estate plans? Would you like to receive detailed gift illustrations that apply to your personal situation? Contact Duke's Office of Gift Planning, and let us help you and your financial advisors develop a gift plan that meets your financial and philanthropic goals.
Phillip H. Buchanan
Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning
(919) 681-0467
Phillip H. Buchanan has served as the Senior Philanthropic Advisor for Duke University and also as Director for Duke's Office of Gift Planning since September 2004. He initially joined Duke University in January 2002 as the Director of Planned Giving. Phil also serves as President of Duke University Philanthropies, Inc., having served as Vice President from 2004-2006. Prior to joining Duke, Phil worked nine years for Virginia Tech and held four different positions during that time, the most recent being Senior Director of Development. Phil is an attorney, and a primary focus of his work at Duke involves helping donors and their professional advisors understand and consider charitable gifts that require some measure of tax, legal, or financial planning. His work includes charitable gift and tax issues related to estates, trusts, life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, real estate, closely held companies, partnerships, IRD assets, and other complex gift arrangements. Show extended biography
Phil grew up on a farm near Blacksburg, Virginia. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech in 1983 and thereafter worked in sales, finance, and management positions with the Ralston-Purina Company of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1988, Phil graduated from Washington & Lee University's School of Law and practiced law with Willcox & Savage in Norfolk, Virginia prior to joining Virginia Tech's development program in 1992. He is a member of the Virginia bar and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Virginia and lower state courts, Federal District Court, U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Phil has served as a guest lecturer in undergraduate and graduate level courses at Virginia Tech and Radford University and has done numerous presentations and CLE courses for boards, attorneys, and professional groups during his years at Duke University. He has spoken on legal, accounting, and campaign issues and financial topics related to charitable giving at numerous state, regional, and national conferences. Phil has been quoted in numerous publications, BusinessWeek, Kiplinger's and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Phil and his wife, Katharine "Kate" Buchanan (Duke 1992, University of Virginia Law 2001), have three sons, Blake, Holden, and Graham. The family enjoys travel, skiing, fishing, all college sports (football and basketball in particular), reading, and spending time together. Kate is also an attorney and serves as the Assistant Dean for Development for Duke University's School of Law and is Of Counsel to Walker & Lamb in Durham, N.C. The Buchanans reside in Durham, North Carolina.
Sarah K. Fish T'82
Director of Trust
and Estate Administration
(919) 681-0462
Sarah was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is a third generation Duke graduate and is responsible for handling the day-to-day administration of Duke's trust and gift annuity accounts. Sarah also manages estates in probate and is available to help donors developing new gift plans. Sarah has worked in the Office of Gift Planning at Duke since 1995. Prior to joining the staff, she was employed as a trust officer at North Carolina Trust Company. Sarah enjoys attending Duke football and basketball games, and she is an active volunteer in the Durham community.
Leslie M. Trickey
Staff Specialist
(919) 681-0466
Leslie was born in Columbia, South Carolina, but has lived in Durham for over ten years. Currently, she is pursuing an undergraduate degree from Duke University and looks forward to being a Duke graduate. Leslie has been with the Office of Gift Planning since December 2002 and works closely with the Director of Trust and Estate Administration while providing general support for the office. Prior to joining the team, Leslie worked in payroll administration and as a bank teller. In her spare time, Leslie loves to travel, and she is always looking forward to her next big trip.
Donna M. Perry
Administrative Assistant
(919) 681-0464
Donna was born in suburban Atlanta and lived there until 2002 when she moved to Raleigh and married her husband, Fred. She has worked at a non-profit medical society and an investment banking firm specializing in municipal bond finance. Donna joined Duke's Office of Gift Planning in 2004. She serves as assistant to Phil Buchanan and works closely with Sarah Fish and Leslie Trickey on bequest gifts and Heritage Society membership. Donna enjoys travel, reading, cooking, working on home improvement projects, and spending time with her husband and four cats. She also spends time fund-raising for the Leukemia Society and volunteering for Marley's Cat Tails, a cat rescue organization.
Alyssa Alegre
Program Coordinator
(919) 681-8030
Alyssa grew up in Lewiston, New York. She received her undergraduate degree and Masters of Business Administration from Niagara University. Alyssa relocated from Buffalo, New York, in early 2007 and recently joined the Gift Planning team as the Program Coordinator. She oversees marketing and communications, gift tracking, Gift Planning events, and special projects, and she works closely with donors who are profiled in Duke Magazine and other publications. Alyssa has previous work experience with a private law firm, several non-profit organizations, and a regional bank. When she is not in the office, she enjoys being outdoors, running, and working on her new home.