About
A career at the intersection of philanthropy and finance.
Berna GÜLMİSÂL, MFA-P™, CFRE of BG Legacy Inc helps small and mid-sized nonprofits build endowment programs - and move beyond dependence on annual fundraising.
In Her Own Words
From boardrooms to bequests.
Before entering the nonprofit world, I spent 15 years as an Operations Director for an international metals trading firm based in London and Istanbul. I negotiated high-value cross-border deals, secured multi-million-dollar financing, and coordinated with lawyers, accountants, and banks across multiple regulatory environments. I've lived in five countries, speak two languages (with a third on the way), and understand how to build trust across cultures.
When I moved into fundraising, those skills translated immediately. At Plan International Canada, as the organization's sole full-time planned giving professional, I secured $6M in bequests in under two years. At the Textile Museum of Canada, I helped confirm 25 bequests in six months, partnering with stakeholders who understood giving as stewardship and cultural legacy. During this period, I completed both my MFA-P and CFRE certifications in under three months—a testament to disciplined execution and long-term commitment.
Today, I work inside nonprofit organizations on a fractional basis, partnering closely with executive teams and boards to strengthen legacy strategy, align governance, and build systems that endure beyond any one campaign or individual.
The Approach
Advise, then implement.
Berna works inside organizations, not at arm's length. She partners closely with executive teams and boards - assessing the donor base, building and running the campaign together, and putting the investment strategy, governance policies, and stewardship structures in place so the money works the way donors intended, year after year.
The conviction behind the work is simple: an endowment isn't just for large organizations. It's for any organization with loyal donors and a mission worth protecting.
Curious what this could look like for your organization?
A discovery call is a conversation, not a pitch. Bring your questions.