Planned Giving

Is your charitable pie missing a slice? Part three

DSC03115It is time to plant your planned giving seeds.

Take measures now to ensure your donors know that planned gifts are not only welcome but encouraged. In your verbal, print and digital communications with donors and prospective planned givers, it is important to strike the right balance between their needs and your organization’s needs. Organization’s tend to focus too heavily on themselves and their case for support. To be sure, this is important; but we must never forget one thing: the donor.

Successful planned giving programs can be simple, especially in the start-up phase. Concentrate your early planned giving efforts on these three areas:

  1. Donor-focused communications
  2. Encouraging bequest gifts
  3. Networking with professional advisors

Over time, as your planned giving program matures, fold in more planned giving best practices.  A great resource for planned giving best practices to help you strengthen your new or mature planned giving program is Michael Rosen’s book Donor –Centered Planned Gift Marketing.

Not all planned giving gardeners are nonprofit employees or volunteers. It is  great to read a thoughtful article like the one from journalist Rachel Emma Silverman of the Wall Street Journal: How to Leave Money to Charity. She is helping to plant a wonderful garden of planned giving seeds.

Now, go plant your own planned giving seeds, and watch them grow! Over time, your organization will have a bountiful harvest and a complete charitable pie.

This is the third and final post in this series. Click here for part one and part two in this series.

Is your charitable pie missing a slice? Part two

Kimberely Homemade GF PieMy husband and I are in the process of updating our will. We are pleased to include our church, college and several other causes we care about with a deferred gift in our estate plans. It is a rewarding step to take, and if you haven’t already, I would encourage you to consider making planned gifts to your “favorites” as well. The question is: will the organizations you care about be ready to accept your planned gifts? I sure hope so! But just in case, here are some quick tips. (more…)

Is your charitable pie missing a slice? Part one

Kimberely Homemade GF PieYour organization may be missing out on its piece of the charitable pie if you do not have an active planned giving program.

Time spent talking to donors about planned gifts (often called deferred gifts) will reap long-term benefits to your organization.

There are three prerequisites to consider prior to launching a planned giving program: (more…)

Thoughts from the author of “Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing”

Donor Centered Gift Planning BookThree things “Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing” author Michael Rosen would be pleased for your nonprofit organization to do, especially during an uncertain economy:

  • Spend time with Donors.
  • Have a Compelling Case for Support.
  • Keep Asking.

I couldn’t agree more! You can read his thoughtful post “3 Ways for Nonprofits to Crash & Burn in Current Economy” here.

His “Donor-Centered Planned Gift Marketing” book is an excellent resource to help you identify your best planned giving prospects and inspire them to give more to the causes they care about most. The book is available on Amazon.