Category: Planned Giving

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.

If your nonprofit is looking for its next reliable growth engine, here is a surprising truth from nearly four centuries of data. Planned giving has been one of the most consistent, predictable, and mission-transforming revenue streams in philanthropic history. And thanks to the work of Dr. Russell James, whose 380-year analysis of American charitable bequest behavior remains the most comprehensive in the field, we can finally see the patterns clearly.
Spoiler. They all point to one thing. Planned giving is not emerging. It is enduring.
So let’s explore what four centuries of donor history can teach us.

The fundraising landscape is shifting fast, and one thing is clear. Planned giving is no longer a back-of-house function. It is becoming one of the most reliable and strategic revenue engines for nonprofits of every size.

As donors adopt digital tools across every part of their lives, organizations are turning to online platforms to modernize planned giving. But here is the honest truth that nonprofit leaders already know. Not all planned giving platforms are built with nonprofits in mind.

Planned giving doesn’t have to be complicated, but for many nonprofits, it still feels that way. For years, legacy gifts have depended on personal outreach, mailers, and in-person events to keep donors engaged. That approach worked for a while, but times are changing.

For many nonprofits, gifts from long-time supporters over age 70½ represent a vital source of stability and growth. Yet, one of the most powerful giving tools available to this group remains underutilized: the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).