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WALK THE WALK

WALK THE WALK

If you are going to start or grow a planned giving program with intention, the first thing I highly suggest you do is join the legacy society yourself. After all, how can you expect others to join if you are not a member? Once you are a member, it changes the conversation from a request to an invitation. This approach makes it much less threatening. It’s not about knowing all there is to know about charitable lead trusts. It’s about being authentic; it’s about asking others to join you in taking a stand and making a deeper commitment for the greater good. It’s about showing others that there are ways to make larger gifts and still meet their personal needs and goals.

If you have a retirement plan at work, consider making your employer a partial beneficiary in that retirement plan for as little as five percent. You can easily take them out if they fire your butt. 😉 (more…)

STEWARD AND CULTIVATE

STEWARD AND CULTIVATE

Your donor’s first planned gift intention does not have to be the last. You would never think about asking a donor to make a major gift and never asking them to make another. But how many times do fundraisers do that with planned giving donors? They thank their donor for their intention, invite them to the annual luncheon, send them a birthday and holiday card. All good stuff, but there is very likely a percentage of your legacy society members who may be open to increasing their planned gift commitment. Research from Russell James has shown that many planned giving donors are likely to increase their outright giving as well provided they are staying connected to the mission and feeling good about their intention.

Action Steps: (more…)