Planned Giving Insights | Jeff Lydenberg (4)

Transforming Life Income Gifts into Current Gifts

Published by Jeff Lydenberg on July 15, 2016

Life income gifts are always deferred gifts. The arrangement is made now, but the charity’s use of the funds is delayed until a future date, normally the death of the donor and any other individual beneficiary of the gift arrangement. Unfortunately, the donor of a life income gift usually does not get to see the gift in action, and the charity is unable to address pressing current needs. Converting a life income gift to a present gift can be both emotionally satisfying to the donor and immensely beneficial to the charity.

2 minute read

Giving USA Report Brings Good News for Gift Planners

Published by Jeff Lydenberg on August 28, 2015

2014 was a record year for philanthropy in the United States, according to the Giving USA 2015 Annual Report. There was a 7.1% increase in giving dollars over 2013 (5.4% adjusted for inflation). These numbers signal the return of pre-recession giving patterns. Some experts had predicted it would take 10 years for charitable giving to rise back to pre-recession levels, so the increases are heartening.

estate planning, planned giving, tax incentives on charitable giving

2 minute read

Dealing with a 1% IRS Discount Rate

Published by Jeff Lydenberg on July 26, 2012

The trend of the ultra-low IRS discount rate introduces some risk to charitable gifts – specifically, it increases the likelihood that some gifts won’t pass tests that have been deemed important. Additionally, the current 1.0% rate could pose a particular problem if it persists after September 30 and the 1.2% look back is no longer available.

working with donors, charitable gift annuities, IRS discount rate, charitable trusts

2 minute read

Overcoming Objections in Planned Giving

Published by Jeff Lydenberg on April 24, 2012

Despite skillful cultivation and nurturing, there are times when a qualified planned gift prospect will decline your request for a gift. You have a number of objectives at that point: 1.) determine the true objection, 2.) identify the source of the objection, and 3.) determine if the prospect is refusing to make any gift at all or if it is just a matter of timing. Explore different gift funding amounts and vehicles or a similar gift vehicle at a different time. Some common objections to a planned gift include: • The proposal presents too many choices and the prospect is paralyzed by its complexity In your efforts to be thorough, you may overwhelm a prospect with too much information. The proposal should communicate the features of a gift, but too many choices can create indecision. Don’t offer variations the donor hasn’t specifically requested to see. Planned gifts can help achieve multiple objectives; however, the illustration should focus on the objectives the donor has articulated...

donor relations, overcoming objections, working with advisors

1 minute read