Making the Planned Giving Ask Part 1: Preparing for the Ask

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.