More and more donors are learning that using their IRAs to give to their favorite charities with a QCD is beneficial because they are making meaningful contributions while avoiding paying taxes on their IRA distributions. As your charity receives more of these types of gifts, there are some key challenges and rules to be aware …Read More
Three Truths and One Lie: Up-to-Date Data and Your ROI
Truth #1: Postage costs have increased every year. Who could have predicted a roll of Forever stamps would be equivalent to a Warren Buffet-type investment? Truth #2: Older donors with the capacity and desire to learn about a planned gift, such as a QCD or noncash gift, a charitable gift annuity or a bequest, are …Read More
What’s Good for Charities Is Good for Donors—Health Benefits of Giving
According to several studies, it appears the adage “’tis better to give than to receive” is a scientific fact. Here’s to your health In 2013, Emma Seppälä, PhD and Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE), published the article “The Compassionate Mind,” where she reported that for people who are ill, showing …Read More
You Asked for a Million Dollars … Now What?—Asking for the Major Gift
While most fundraisers are comfortable asking for the major gift, few truly have a plan for how to move forward to ensure the gift will be realized. The reality is you must sell the idea twice—first to your donor and then to their advisor, because the larger the gift, the more likely it will be …Read More
Dividing > Multiplying: The Benefits of Segmenting Your Audience
An important relationship skill is the ability to see people as individuals rather than stereotyping them according to certain traits. This is also a valuable skill for fundraisers when working with individual donors. As a general marketing tactic, however, this can be impossible. It’s knowing general traits (i.e., the demographic makeup of your donor database) …Read More
An Art and a Science—Crafting Compelling Donor Stories
By Grant Miller Featuring compelling donor stories in your communications is one of the most critical strategies for engaging planned giving donors for your organization. These stories demonstrate your donors’ motivations for giving and show why your organization is so meaningful to their lives, thus inspiring others to say, “I can do that, too!” …Read More
Notes From the CFO: The Real Impact of Planned Giving and Its Fit in Philanthropy
When it comes to ensuring a nonprofit’s sustainability, striking the right balance between funding short-term needs and long-term viability hinges on combining annual giving, major giving and planned giving fundraising into a cohesive strategy. Annual giving provides a steady stream of immediate income, yet its reliance on recurring gifts can present challenges in meeting more …Read More
“Supersized” RMDs May Lead to Record QCDs!
An RMD (required minimum distribution) is a mandatory withdrawal an IRA owner who is 73 or older must take. The RMD amount is based on the market value of the IRA account on the last day of the previous year. Because of the stock market high on 12.31.23 combined with further increases in the financial …Read More
7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Give Up on Print
In the three decades I’ve spent as a marketing professional, I’ve seen many changes in how we communicate and consume information. Years ago, I worked for a local public broadcasting station during the time analog television was transitioning to digital. As P.R. director, I spent a lot of time on the phone helping viewers install …Read More
Notes From the CFO: The Economic Return From Ongoing Training
The landscape of planned giving is always changing, requiring a depth of knowledge, expertise and adaptability. In addition to being excellent relationship managers, gift planners must have knowledge of: shifting demographics. changing tax laws. economic conditions. technological advancements. best practices, and more. When it comes to budgeting and a desire for a favorable return …Read More