The Planned Giving Productivity Quiz

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Dan Rice

Dan Rice is President and CEO of the National Community Foundation and serves as Philanthropy Architect for Convoy of Hope. With over four decades in the field, he coaches philanthropists, secures principal gifts, and advises on charitable and estate planning. Dan previously held leadership roles at World Vision and the Educational Media Foundation (K-LOVE & Air1). He co-founded the Charitable Trust Administration Company and has served on influential boards and advisory councils. A respected national speaker, Dan is known for his engaging, insightful approach to philanthropic strategy.

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We’ve all got the same 24 hours a day.

How well are you using yours?

1. You have the opportunity to take an online course. Which of the following would you choose? (Don’t choose the right answer… choose what you would really do!)

The Best Online Gift Calculators
Tax Planning Essentials
21 Questions to Get Donors Talking

2. You have a 12-minute block of time between meetings. You:

Check Facebook.
Resume my search for the perfect header image for the e-newsletter I’m working on.
Jot a thank you note to the next donor on the ongoing list I keep.

3. Do you send out a planned giving newsletter?

Not yet. But I’d like to.
Yes.
No. It’s a waste of time.

4. Do you have clearly defined goals for your personal and professional life?

I always mean to do that. Maybe they’re written down somewhere around here…
No. I prefer to take on problems and opportunities as they come.
Yes! I have daily, weekly, quarterly and lifelong goals.

5. You’re staring at an unpleasant task on your to-do list. How do you approach it?

Stop staring, look at something else and ignore it as long as possible.
Let it sit for a few hours so I can think about the perfect way to resolve it
Tackle it first thing to get it out of the way.

So… How’d you do?

Mostly As: Procrastination Station

You did not need this quiz to tell you that you’re wasting time. Stop it. Make the call, have the conversation, sell the vision. Your donors are not sitting around waiting for you. They’re making decisions about their charitable giving and estate plans (including gifts to other nonprofits) while you’re refreshing your email… again.

Mostly Bs: Perfection Infection

Have you heard the saying, “Done beats perfect”? Write it down and post it near your computer. Farm out writing and design work to people who can do it faster and better than you. Your time is too valuable to be messing around resizing photos for a newsletter. Call a donor. Take a prospect out to lunch. Listen to a webinar that will hone your people skills. A hastily written thank you note is 1,000 times better than the perfect one you’re planning but never find time for.

Mostly Cs: Productivity Champ

You get it. You’re investing time in people because you know planned giving is a people business. Keep up the good work.

[Related: Read why multitasking is bad for you. Especially in the planned giving world.]