Have you ever opened a letter to find out your organization is the beneficiary of a bequest or other planned gift? Do you know of an organization similar in size to yours where this has happened? Would you like to experience this exhilarating moment?
Regardless of the size of your organization, if you have been in existence for ten (10) years or more, you likely have a group of donors faithfully supporting your annual fund. These are your first and best planned gift prospects. Perhaps you have personally visited donors within this group who you believe have capacity to make a major gift toward a current program or project.
Have you ever considered introducing the idea of a future gift on one of these visits? This doesn’t have to be the point of your visit – but it can be a part of your overall donor discussions.
And then there are the many individuals who don’t have high current giving capacity but are comfortably well-off and all heart for your mission. These are your core supporters, who, with proper attention, will show up well as a group on your legacy society rolls.
Why not let Marquis Partners help you put together a bite-sized plan to identify, educate and personally reach out to your loyal supporters about planned gift opportunities? The planned gifts you raise will immediately strengthen your ongoing fund development program.
The step to create a plan is likely simpler and less time consuming than you think! But it is vital to the long term sustainability of your program. And it often turns out that some gift commitments you receive will come to maturity fairly soon.
Be sure to brief your board on your ideas about seeking planned gifts. Board members are a great source for your first planned gift commitments. And perhaps one of your board members will even agree to help you with the first steps, or fund a special mailing.
You’ll also want to announce the start-up of a planned giving outreach in your charity’s newsletter. Include a few simple ways to make a planned gift and what the benefits are to both donor and charity. Tell the story of a donor who named your organization in his or her will or living trust. Begin to incorporate planned giving education and motivational messages into a variety of communications, both written and oral.
Commit to a plan, take it step by step – get your board on board! You will be applauded for your wisdom and farsightedness. One day soon, a special envelope announcing the legacy gift of one of your dearest supporters will arrive on your desk!