Many people avoid or are reactionary to planned giving conversations with their donors because they are concerned that a donor may ask questions, they won’t be able to answer. Answers come a lot easier when we understand that we don’t need to have all the answers. In fact, it’s not our job as fundraisers to get too deep with donors regarding their taxes and financial issues.
What we do need is a basic understanding of how planned gift vehicles work. We need to develop a keen sense of our donors’ life-triggering events that might make it the right time to have the gift planning conversation. Most importantly, we need to be patient. We need to be great listeners, ask better questions, and help donors accomplish what they want for themselves and their families, as well as for the people we serve.
Action Steps:
- Learn the planned gift vehicles. Email Joe Tumolo and he will send you an e-book on the gift vehicles free of charge: joe@mpgdevelopment.com
- Keep your eyes and ears open for clues that your donors may be approaching a change in their life. This includes marriage divorce, getting a new job, having their first child, getting a new job and more!
- Make a list of 10 questions you can ask your donors to start a PG conversation. Google it for more information or email joe@mpgdevelpment.com