Give and Take

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.

It’s almost 2024! To celebrate the crest of another year, here are five of the most potent New Year’s resolutions for nonprofit professionals. Enjoy these quirky resolutions for the nonprofit professional in your life. From losing weight to falling in love.

We can have the greatest product, mission, or idea in the world, but if no one hears it, what good is it? At the same time, we can whisper a good idea, and it can change the world.

The idea of your organization receiving a windfall may seem like only the stuff of dreams. But with stories of nonprofits experiencing unexpected major gifts happen all the time. When a donor chooses to give their wealth to your organization, will you be ready?

Managers care about titles. Leaders care about people.​ If you dare to be a leader, this is a must-read article by Wayne Olson.

A few essential pieces of data help fuel a powerful development department. These metrics, often called Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, help fundraisers gauge the health of their activities. Another essential KPI for fundraisers is the Average Gift Amount.

You’ve finally decided to create an estate plan instead of taking the path of Abraham Lincoln, Bob Marley and Aretha Franklin. Congratulations! But how do you choose an executor or trustee? We have a few tips that will help.

There are good causes with plenty of people and projects in need of support as they strive to make the world a better place. You might like to consider supporting them as part of your estate plan, making a charitable donation with the wealth you leave behind. This can be a wonderful way to give something back to the world, leave a positive impression, and support a cause that matters or means something to you personally. It also feels great, which is why so many people opt to add a charitable donation to their estate plan. But how does it all work? And what’s the best way to go about it? Here's a five-step guide to learn all about charitable giving in estate planning.