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[Tip Sheet]

Making Planned Giving Easier Tips

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By Chuck Reynolds, A.B., M.A., CFRE

Welcome to this Tip Sheet to use if your organization is interested in making planned giving a reality. Often we underestimate our capacity to take incremental steps to begin the planned gift process. What research is telling us is that the planned giving area holds great promise for long term growth and yet, perhaps is the most underutilized opportunity for nonprofit organizations. Do not be concerned or stressed about the technicality of a planned gift. There are ways to address this area when the planned gift comes your way.

The 10 steps outlined below should enable your organization to engage the planned giving area. There are a number of ways and vehicles a donor can use to make a planned gift including gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, insurance and bequests as part of their philanthropic plans. Your priority, however, is cultivation and building a relationship with those committed to your mission.  Read more



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Making the Ask Tips

2
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  1. After you have made the formal "ask," remain silent until the prospect has fully responded.


  2. When soliciting for a major gift, don't ask that it be paid out over a period of years — that's a negotiating point.
    3.   Read more


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[Tip Sheet]

Making Your Board Feel Appreciated Tips

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Board members often work hard for an organization and feel unappreciated at times. Here are some tips to help you show your board members how much you value their time, talent and treasure.  Read more



[Tip Sheet]

Memorial Giving Tips

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Many organizations, particularly those who deal in health issues or end-of-life issues, receive numerous memorial gifts when one of their patients or people they serve dies. But are these donors one-time donors? Or can they be cultivated into giving again or even becoming major donors?  Read more



[Tip Sheet]

Mission Statement Tips

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In his book, Megagifts, Jerold Panas says that the one factor that is most influential in getting a big gift is that the donor believes in the mission of the organization. Most organizations have realized the importance of their mission and have developed a written mission statement. The mission statement should be reviewed annually within the strategic planning process and everything the organization does should relate back to the mission. If you already have a missions statement that you are comfortable with, here are some ideas for where you can publish your mission statement in order to get it out to the public as often as possible remembering that the belief in the mission will be the main motivating factor in obtaining donations.  Read more



[Tip Sheet]

Mission/Vision Tips

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Mission, vision, values, goals, case for support—what is it all about, do we need all these things, what is the difference between them, how do we use them? Let's start with the two basic documents most organizations start with-mission and vision. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:  Read more



[Tip Sheet]

Motivating Your Board to Get Involved in Fundraising Tips

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Almost every organization we talk to faces one major hurdle to their fundraising efforts — getting their board involved in fundraising. Many board members fear fundraising, other just don't see it as their responsibility, and others would like to get more involved but are not sure what they can do to help. Here are some ideas to get your board involved in fundraising.  Read more



[Tip Sheet]

Networking Tips for Development Professionals

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With all the talk about social media networking, and everyone buy getting onto Digg, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc. does anyone still do networking the old fashioned way?

Development professionals need to utilize all the various networking tools available to them. The old saying, "it isn't what you know, it's who you know has, in recent years, become totally focused on "who knows you." So how do you get people to know you? Here are some tips on networking that can be used for both social media and the "old-fashioned" networking methods.  Read more



[Tip Sheet]

Organizing the Development Office Tips

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If you are just getting ready to establish a development office in your organization, here are some tips to help make this move successful.  Read more



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Planning Your Board Meeting for Maximum Impact Tips

2.25
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How many times have you lost board members because they feel that board meetings are not productive, run too long, or are dominated by a few people? Here are a few hints to keep your board meetings concise, productive and fun!  Read more


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