Category: Sustainability

Blocks spelling our funding on a table over economic and financial charts and graphs
Sustainability
Viken Mikaelian

Stop Begging, Start Planning: Why Foundations Are Done Funding Complacent Nonprofits

For too long, nonprofits have relied on reactive fundraising—chasing grants and emergency appeals. Today’s foundations demand more, prioritizing organizations with sustainable strategies over those operating crisis-to-crisis. The $68 trillion wealth transfer presents unprecedented opportunities, but only for nonprofits with modern planned giving programs. As Trump-era policy shifts demonstrated, diversified funding models provide essential resilience. Organizations clinging to outdated methods—like complex calculators and printed newsletters—are losing to those focused on donor relationships and digital engagement. The future belongs to nonprofits that plan strategically, not those that plead desperately.

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Future opportunity
Sustainability
Viken Mikaelian

Planned Giving is “Hot” these Days

As more uncertainty rattles the markets and the economic downturn deepens, donations will dry up. Even your most consistent donors will reevaluate their charitable giving as the threat of a recession looms. And the Wall Street roller-coaster will affect stocks as well as cash.

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Relevance and Influence
Planned Giving Marketing
Tim Siebert

Ways for Your Nonprofit to Remain Relevant

In this fast-paced ever-changing world, the nonprofit landscape can ebb and flow on a year-to-year basis. So how does your nonprofit remain relevant while navigating the internal and external opportunities and pressures that impact the organization?

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Strike While the Iron Is Hot
Sustainability
Viken Mikaelian

Planned Giving is “Hot” These Days

As more uncertainty rattles the markets and the economic downturn deepens, donations will dry up. Even your most consistent donors will reevaluate their charitable giving as the threat of a recession looms. And the Wall Street roller-coaster will affect stocks as well as cash.

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Church Planned Giving Programs
Sustainability
Patrick O'Donnell

Why Church Planned Giving Programs are Essential

Many churches focus only on the collection plate… meaning they are leaving millions of dollars on the table. Major donor efforts (and church planned giving programs) are essential to the financial health of your congregation. Read this article to learn why planned giving is essential for your church.

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Trust is The Most Important Element of Fundraising
Stewardship and Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

Trust is The Most Important Element of Fundraising

Achieving trust doesn’t happen overnight. Yet it is the most important element of fundraising for your nonprofit organization. Building trust takes time, persistence, consistency, and dedication. It also takes audience awareness of your “brand.” And creating that awareness means consistent marketing — an investment far too many nonprofits are afraid to make.

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Online Will Planner
Sustainability
Viken Mikaelian

Can Donors Use an Online Will Planner to Draft a Will?

Many fundraisers and advisors hold a deeply rooted belief that donors should always use an attorney to draft their wills. Yet many wealthy (and not-so-wealthy) individuals have had success with using an online will planner to handle their estates. This article looks at whether online will planners can be used for creating wills and bequests that support your non-profit.

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Do-It-Yourself Analytics to Boost Planned Giving AND the Annual Fund
Sustainability
Viken Mikaelian

Do-It-Yourself Fundraising Analytics to Boost Planned Giving AND the Annual Fund

Fundraising analytics are important for the health of your non-profit’s development program. Without basic wealth and demographic information, you won’t be able to effectively fundraise from those in your non-profit’s CRM. If your database doesn’t provide basic fundraising analytics, you can, with a little work, do it yourself. Here’s how to do it effectively.

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Finding Your Best Planned Giving Prospects
Stewardship and Relationships
Viken Mikaelian

Finding Your Best Planned Giving Prospects

Whether you’re kicking off a fledgling planned giving program or you’re comfortably positioned with a legacy society, it doesn’t take a data scientist to help you find your best prospects. It DOES, however, start with your donor data. This blog explains why data is essential.

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