The Strength in Planned Giving

Promoting planned giving shows the strength of your organization. Let that sink in for a moment.  Having planned giving as one of the giving options shows how strong your organization truly is.

There is a significant amount of insecurity in the non-profit world at the moment.  Many organizations that relied on one source of funding are looking at ways to diversify their funding base.  While this is a difficult time to say the least, the move toward multiple fundraising sources is more essential now than ever!

Planned giving is one of those sources that can show your strength and build your organization for the future. I worked for a hospital system that invested in planned giving 20 years before I joined. By the time I arrived, over 30% of their income came from planned gifts every year.

Truly the best time to start a planned giving program was 20 years ago, but the next best time is now. It is time to show your strength!

Here are a few reasons why planned giving shows your strength:

1. 1. Longevity: Planned giving is usually not an immediate revenue source but one that comes in time.  By talking about planned giving, you are talking about the future and your vision for the next steps. This will help donors trust your organization more.   
   2. Another Tool in Your Toolbox: When asking for a major gift, if there is hesitation about giving now, asking for a planned gift is a great option! This gets the donor thinking about how they will impact your organization in the future.  A major gift is not the right vehicle for every donor so having planned giving as another tool in your toolbox gives the donor options to support your work. When a donor sees options, they see strength.
   3. Focus on Strategic Planning: Asking for a planned gift requires you to formulate and communicate a plan for the future. Engaging your key stakeholders in this process helps you build strength, and also creates another opportunity to talk to key stakeholders about supporting you through their legacy.

Talk about the future, dream with your donors, and ask for a planned gift. This will show how strong your mission is and how you plan to keep serving for many years to come. Your donors will see that and want to become part of making that happen!