Planned Giving Insights and Information

Will Your Year-End Giving Communication Be Different This Year?

Fundraisers are entering their year-end mode, and for many organizations the majority of their donations come in the last quarter of the calendar year. What is unknown is how the new tax law will change the way people give this season.

What Is the Age Range of Your Planned Giving Audience? Two Ends of the Spectrum

Our clients come in all shapes and sizes, so one might expect their planned giving programs to differ. It’s understandable then, that the age ranges of an organization’s audience for planned giving varies by organization and industry. Generally speaking, we suggest targeting donors between the ages of 45-90. But every once in while we hear something that contests that wisdom.

Please Don't Donate Cash

The new tax law has prompted many articles on a variety of topics. One topic, gifts of non-cash assets, is getting a lot of attention due to the most recent research from Professor Russell James. Professor James’ report, Cash is not King in Fundraising: Results from 1 Million Tax Returns, provides proof of what many fundraisers already know, but often have difficulty communicating or acting on.

Social Media Then and Now

Eight years ago, I wrote a post discussing the role of social media in planned giving based on an interview with Beth Kanter, a leading expert on the use of social media by non-profits. It’s amazing how much and how little has changed in that time. While social media has taken off for outright giving, it remains primarily a vehicle for engagement and stewardship for planned giving.