Category: Giving

Myths (& Facts) on Planned Giving
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

Myths (& Facts) on Planned Giving

Get your board on board and let them see the value of planned giving with these Myths and Facts. You can also purchase the expanded professional version of this post in PowerPoint. Perfect for your next board meeting or legacy society event. You can also evaluate your board’s readiness here. Engaging a board is critical for long term sustainability. The board of directors plays a critical role in the growth of your organization. And since many are “community players” they themselves can influence gifts. Want to make your job easier and be more successful? Engage with your board, and engage with advisors. Myth: Planned gifts compete with major gifts. Fact: Most planned giving donors are not prospects for large major gifts. Myth: We are not ready for planned giving. Fact: If you are a non-profit, you already are in the planned giving business. Myth: All planned gifts are deferred. Fact: Many planned gifts come in sooner than you think. And the fact is, the more you put off planned giving the more deferred they become. Myth: All planned giving donors are old. Fact: Younger donors will determine the future of your organization. Besides, age is in the eyes of the beholder and it’s a matter of mind. When you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter! Myth: Planned giving is for the wealthy.* Fact: Donors at all financial levels make planned gifts. In fact, some planned gifts, such as bequests, do not affect one’s cashflow during his or her lifetime. Myth: My prospects are not online. Fact: Your website is the first place your prospects will go for information. Myth: The real money is in current gifts. Fact: Only 5% of this nation’s wealth is in cash… you do the math. Myth: Planned gifts are a distraction in campaigns. Fact: They provide 30% or more of comprehensive campaign totals. Myth: Planned giving is complex, expensive and time-consuming. Fact: Planned giving can be as simple as you want it to be. And several planned gifts do not require an attorney.Free tools and resources. Planned Giving Infographics.*Jennifer Meckling at the Oklahoma City Foundation says it well: “Just because a donor doesn’t have cash doesn’t mean they don’t have assets that could be turned into a significant charitable contribution. Category: Giving, Planned Giving Marketing

Read More »
Viken Mikaelian September 15, 2012 No Comments
Symbolic image of life insurance legacy gift — one hand passing a red heart with a white cross to another, representing charitable giving
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

Unlocking Major Gifts from Mid-Level Donors: The Forgotten Power of Life Insurance

Mid-level donors are often overlooked when it comes to legacy giving conversations. They’re consistent, loyal, and quietly generous—yet rarely approached for more transformative gifts. That’s a mistake. Years ago, Tom Ligare and his colleagues at Planned Giving Marketing Solutions coined a term for a powerful strategy: Legacy Life Giving. It’s time to bring that concept back into the spotlight—with a modern twist. What Is “Legacy Life Giving”? Legacy Life Giving is a simple but underused technique: The donor purchases a life insurance policy, names your nonprofit as both owner and beneficiary, and spreads the premium payments over time—or pays in full upfront. The result? A mid-level donor can leave a $50,000+ legacy gift with a relatively modest outlay of cash. Why It Still Works Today We talk often about Donor-Advised Funds, appreciated stock, and blended gifts. But life insurance has quietly remained one of the most efficient vehicles for legacy giving, especially for donors in their 50s and 60s who are: Past their high-expense years (college, mortgages, etc.) Looking for tax-advantaged ways to give back Eager to leave a legacy that aligns with their values Unlike traditional charitable bequests—which feel abstract and distant—Legacy Life Giving is tangible, structured, and appealing to donors who like to see the impact of their gifts—even if it comes later. Example (Still Relevant Today) Let’s say a 60-year-old donor purchases a $50,000 policy. She can pay: $16,126 as a one-time premium, or Five annual payments of $3,495 Upon her passing, your nonprofit receives the full $50,000. Multiply that by ten donors. Now imagine a hundred. This is what we mean when we talk about scalable, sustainable giving strategies. How to Introduce the Idea to Donors Start with mid-level donors who have given consistently for 5+ years. Use language like: “There’s a way to make a $50,000 gift for less than the cost of a daily coffee.” “Would you consider a legacy gift that doesn’t reduce your current cash flow?” Better yet, embed this idea into your overall Legacy Planning strategy. Tools like LegacyPlanner make it easy to present options in a clear, non-intimidating way. The Bottom Line Legacy Life Giving isn’t new—but in today’s climate of donor fatigue and budget cuts, it’s more relevant than ever. If you’re not offering it, another nonprofit will. Looking to modernize your planned giving outreach? Get a Planned Giving Micro Website and reach donors where they’re most comfortable—online.

Read More »
Viken Mikaelian April 26, 2012 No Comments
Cartoon Uncle Sam with confused expression asking What do I do with this?' on teal background
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

Gone Without a Trace: Man Bequeaths $2 Million to Uncle Sam

The article discusses how James H. Davidson, Jr. left his $2.175 million estate to help pay down the national debt, but questions whether this well-intentioned gift truly created a lasting impact given the debt’s enormous size ($34 trillion). It suggests his legacy could have made a more meaningful difference through endowed scholarships or lecture series rather than becoming “a rounding error” in government finances. The piece ultimately emphasizes the importance of strategic giving and planned legacy gifts.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

Read More »
Viken Mikaelian December 13, 2011 No Comments

Every Dollar Looks Big to a Nonprofit

More than 40 years ago, comedian Steve Martin did an inflation routine that featured the line, “Gee, I got four dollars; I think I’ll throw it out into the street.” This came during the time of gas strikes and a recession in the 1970s, when many folks felt like their dollars weren’t going very far. These days, four dollars looks infinitely smaller than it looked back then. In 21st Century America, we’ve been desensitized to dollar amounts up to and including those with 12 zeros after them (i.e. numbers in the trillions). No surprise there: One hesitates to pay attention to numbers that big when they appear all the time with a negative sign and a dollar sign in front of them. The problem for fundraisers, of course, is that when even a million dollars looks paltry, donors can easily feel that their “small” gifts won’t make much of a difference to your organization. They need to know they’re wrong about that. It’s our job to tell them that every gift helps. So it’s crucial for planned giving to be specific: Let prospects know exactly how much good their donation will do in concrete, real-world terms. Explain to them how important all donors are to accomplishing your organization’s mission. Show them how all planned gifts contribute to growing your nonprofit’s endowment over the long term. Emphasize that your gratitude for and recognition of their gift is based on the fact that every dollar looks big to your nonprofit. And let’s all hope that one day in the future we won’t be so familiar with how many zeros there are in a trillion. Category: Giving

Read More »
Viken Mikaelian August 16, 2010 No Comments
Logo White

2103 Bayshore Boulevard
Unit 1501
Tampa, FL 33606

Products & Services

Subscriptions

Special Links

Contact