Category: Planned Giving

Recurring giving programs help build sustainable support over time. Explore how to create a solid foundation for your program to encourage participation.

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) are becoming one of the fastest-growing forms of giving in the United States. As millions of Americans age into eligibility and retirement assets remain at historically high levels, 2026 is shaping up to be a breakout year for nonprofits that understand how to build a modern QCD strategy.

Planned giving isn’t only about money, it’s about meaning. When you frame the conversation around values, legacy, and impact, donors feel invited rather than pressured.

A planned giving conversation isn’t something you rush into. It’s a moment of trust, timing, and emotional readiness, and when you recognize the signals, the conversation becomes far more natural and meaningful for both you and the donor. Below is an exploration of the cues that tell you a donor may be ready to talk about legacy gifts, along with some practical guidance to help you approach the moment with confidence and care.

Planned giving can be one of the most powerful drivers of long-term nonprofit sustainability. Bequests and other legacy gifts are often the largest contributions an organization will ever receive. They deepen donor loyalty, stabilize future revenue, and connect supporters’ personal legacies to mission impact.
At the same time, we are experiencing the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history. Donors are updating wills, making estate planning decisions, and planning the distribution of assets right now. Nonprofits that are not present in those conversations risk being left behind.

Both allow donors to support causes they love. Both offer tax advantages. And both represent billions of charitable dollars waiting to be activated. Yet many donors — and even nonprofits — still find them confusing. LifeLegacy, the leading planned giving platform for nonprofits, understands this challenge.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what these tools are, why they matter, and how nonprofits can help donors move from intention to action. Let’s start with the definitions.

Over the past decade, digital estate planning tools have transformed how nonprofits introduce planned giving to donors. These platforms have helped modernize an area of fundraising that was long overdue for innovation. But as more nonprofits adopt these tools, an important distinction has emerged:

In a previous blog, we discussed why planned giving donors deserve the same treatment as major donors. But how do we move from theory to practice?
If we agree that these donors are high-value partners, we must shift our engagement strategy to reflect that. Here are three more reasons—and strategies—to treat your planned giving prospects like the major donors they are.

When it comes to planned giving, relationships are everything. The more you understand a supporter’s history of engagement, their volunteer hours, the events they attend, and the causes they show up for, the more naturally you can invite them to build a legacy with your organization.
The right volunteer management software can help nonprofits connect the dots between service and philanthropy, turning engagement into long-term generosity. This guide explores what to look for when evaluating volunteer management platforms and compares several top options that make this integration easier.

Planned giving is no longer a niche fundraising tactic. It has quietly become one of the most reliable, high-ROI revenue streams available to nonprofits today. And while major gifts and annual appeals often steal the spotlight, the data shows that planned gifts consistently deliver transformational impact.
If your organization is preparing for long-term sustainability, building or expanding your planned giving program is one of the most important steps you can take this year. Here is why.