Starting a Planned Giving Program Tips II

[Tip Sheet]

If your organization has not done planned giving and is ready to begin, here are a few tips to help you get started:

Start with bequests; they are the simplest form of planned giving and almost any organization can receive a bequest.
Develop a Planned Giving Committee of volunteers who can help you develop your planned giving program.
Some volunteers who would have the skills you need on your PG Committee include estate attorneys, financial planners, trust officers, insurance brokers, CPAs, and community foundation representatives.
If you do not have the internal resources to manage a planned giving program, contact your local community foundation to see what services they might be able to offer in this regard.
Develop a name for your planned giving society-The Heritage Society, The Legacy Society, etc. Try to find a name that has meaning for your donors or is tied to your mission.
Develop relationships with the allied professionals (attorneys, CPAs, etc) in your community who can help promote your planned giving program to their clients (your potential donors).
Start simple; put a notice in your newsletters, on your website and on response envelopes, inviting people to consider remembering your organization in their will.
Offer planned giving seminars for your donors, inviting several professional speakers to talk about various planned giving instruments.
Incorporate planned giving opportunities into a capital campaign by suggesting planned gifts for the endowment portion of the campaign.
Publish articles in your newsletters about the benefits of planned gifts, especially testimonials from donors who have made a planned gift. If you do not have the expertise to write technical articles, ask some of your PG Committee members or you can purchase "canned" articles from several firms that offer this service.