Check out this collection of invaluable, free-to-use resources for the savvy fundraiser, right at your fingertips! You can put these free planned giving tools to work today to jump-start (or even launch) your nonprofit’s planned giving program. Among the free planned giving tools on this page are estate planning documents, a donor story form, an IRA solicitation letter, a donor profile table, a gift comparison chart, a sample codicil, donor prospect conversation starters, and more. Each asset is simple to use: Just click on the corresponding link to download, fill in the blanks with your nonprofit’s information, personalize, and send!
Donor Story Form
Use this tool to interview donors and collect the right information. Very few will say no to you if done right. Your major roadblock will be their time (people are busy!), and lack of confidence to write good copy. Give them the option of having it written or edited by a professional. This is a service that we offer… we make stories shine.
DOWNLOAD (MS Word Document)
IRA Solicitation Letter
Simply edit, place your touch on it, and mail it. This read-to-go letter will save you countless hours.
IRA Solicitation Letter (MS Word Document)
25 Conversation Starters
Here are one or two-liners to open up a comfortable dialog so you can motivate prospects to share their information.
DOWNLOAD (PDF)
The 25 Estate Planning Documents
These are the documents one needs to put in place before leaving this earth — that includes you. Some of them are eye openers. You’d be surprised how many doctors and attorneys put these off. Even wealthy singers like Aretha Franklin.
This is the simple first step for preventing chaos, disappointment, hard work and unnecessary expense resulting from a ragtag, unprepared estate, and it strengthens your role as trusted friend. You can employ this useful document in electronic or hardcopy form to initiate and/or support estate-planning discussions with your prospects. Good conversation opener, too. (You have our permission to place your logo and contact information on it.)
DOWNLOAD (PDF)
Donor Characteristics Table
Download this “typical donor” profile document for the answers you need to help you focus on the prospects you have, and discover new ones. Because a donor you don’t know is the same as no donor at all. (A great teaching tool for your staff, too!)
DOWNLOAD (PDF)
Year-End Giving Solicitation Letter
Every year you want to find compelling reasons for your donors to make vital year-end gifts. This letter highlights ways to benefit your organization that don’t even require donors to open their checkbooks. Specifically highlighted are gifts of appreciated securities and charitable gift annuities (CGAs). The copy encourages your donors to think outside the box about creative ways that they can support your organization and help you carry out your important mission while securing for themselves important tax and income advantages before the end of the year.
DOWNLOAD (MS Word Document)
Gift Comparison Chart
Here’s our popular When, how and why to plan a gift. This is an abbreviated and smaller (8.5 x 11 inch) version of our larger planned giving cheat sheet (11 x 17). This “Cheat Sheet” comes as a foldout in its original format in our Pocket Guide.
DOWNLOAD (PDF)
Sample Codicil
A codicil is a document that amends, rather than replaces, a previously executed will. Amendments made by a codicil may add or revoke a few small provisions (e.g., changing executors), or may completely change the majority or all of the gifts under the will. Each codicil must conform to the same legal requirements as the original will, such as the signatures of the testator and, typically, two or three (depending on jurisdiction) disinterested witnesses. Remember, it is highly recommended that these forms be used as guides, and that the services of an experienced attorney be rendered.
DOWNLOAD (MS Word Document)
The Perfect Question to Ask
Download it. Print it. Staple it to your wall. Courtesy of Jack Miller, Pittsburgh, PA.
DOWNLOAD (PDF)
Go to Premium Downloads (Gift Plan Sell Sheets, Videos, Gift Acceptance Policies, Back Office Forms, Campaign Counting Guidelines, Best Practices Worksheets, Planned Giving Microsites). Note: Premium Downloads are not free.
2020 Planned Giving Pocket Guide (includes a mini Gift Comparison Chart)
This is not another ways-of-giving brochure — it's a "why's of giving" that helps you better understand the upside and downside of different giving options for both you and your prospects.
Over 4,000 satisfied fundraisers have purchased this booklet.
