Give and Take

Sometimes a board member or nonprofit will ask us, “Why planned giving? People are giving us annual gifts and we don't want to impact that source of revenue.” Unfortunately, this is the logic that keeps among the 99% of nonprofits that do not pursue planned gifts. Here's how to join the top 1%.

Making a difference can seem daunting. The good news is you are not alone in being the change. There are more than 1.8 million nonprofits registered in the US working toward your same dreams. Your estate planning and other heavily taxed assets can be your greatest tools (and your greatest savings) in partnering with nonprofits to make the change you want to see. Planned Giving is for You — Yes, You.

It’s tempting to think about marketing as a collection of traditional outreach. Sure, part of it is which we have been offering for years. Display ads, postcards, surveys, tag lines, digital media, videos — the list goes on. But marketing is more than that. Marketing also includes things you might not immediately think of.

What would you do if you had a verbal commitment for a planned gift—and the donor died before putting it into writing? It happens more often than you’d think. Here’s a real-world example of how stewardship can save the day. 

Navigating the complexities of estate planning and charitable giving can be daunting, but with the right tools and guidance, you can help donors make a meaningful impact and ensure that their legacy endures for generations to come.

AI might look enticing, but when you strip away all the hype it’s a ticking time bomb. AI-created content has created some serious problems for its early adopters. Do you really want to lose donations over an easier way to write a caption?

An endowment sends a motivating message to the world, as well as to your board, staff and donors. It says your organization is going to be here for the long run. It creates respect, trust, authority.

2023 was another tough year in the nonprofit industry. Although all the numbers aren’t in yet, it’s on track to be on par with 2022 — perhaps worse. And what’s even more concerning is that this seems to be part of a larger downward trend.

Do you want to join the top 1%? Are you a tire kicker or a Formula One driver? Be the exception!

When raising funds, talking with coworkers or even with family, remember that we all want to belong. We all want to feel part of something. In everything you do look for ways to give your donors and staff community and you will succeed.

In any given year, donors may give you thousands quarterly via a mailed check or an online donation for $0.12 that you are not sure was on purpose. It begs the question – is a gift, a gift? Does everybody at your nonprofit feel the same about these two examples? Has your organization ever stopped to consider exactly which donors get what thank-yous at your nonprofit? Take time in the new year to outline the expectations and procedures for thanking at your nonprofit to establish an essential best practice.

According to Forbes Magazine, here are the top five New Year’s resolutions for 2024: Get fit, lose weight, and three more. This article will surprise you!

Giving Tomorrow editor Karen Martin grills our founder and CEO on the industry, the state of planned giving, and even his first job. She also gets a little personal.

Is Your Nonprofit Accepting One of the Most Powerful Gift Types? If you’re not accepting gifts of real estate, you’re missing out on a very large untapped donation market. Consider this: While most nonprofits focus on cash gifts, that cash comprises less than 10% of America’s wealth. Meanwhile, about 43% of the nation’s wealth is held in real estate … yet only 3% of that goes toward charity. That means if the Great Wealth Transfer hits its projected $60 trillion+ mark over the next 20 years, about $25 trillion of that will be wealth held in real estate. Trillion. With a “T.” That’s a literal fortune in untapped potential. A Powerful Philanthropic Tool We always say that planned giving is philanthropy for the rest of us. That’s because it allows almost anyone to make a significant gift without affecting their day-to-day cash flow. Gifts of real estate are a perfect example

How do you want to be remembered? Someone who left chaos or left a legacy? 

After the fundraising marathon of November and December, thinking about another development strategy in January may seem like going overboard. However, a built-in requirement for every nonprofit in the United States provides an inspiring place to add extra stewardship at a key time of year.

I’ll never forget the first time my wife and I met with our lawyer to create our estate plans. When do you pull the plug if a partner is terminally ill? What happens if we both die in an accident at the same time? Who do we trust to be an executor? It was, in many ways, a grim task, and I could see why so many people put it off.

Online will makers are everywhere you look these days. From FreeWill, Rocket Lawyer, Trust & Will and GivingDocs to the comprehensive LegacyPlanner, it feels like everyone is offering their own version. And sometimes it seems like they all just appeared overnight, too. But the truth is, the industry has been around for decades — both US Legal Wills and LegalZoom had online versions more than 20 years ago.