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One of the main purposes of planned giving marketing is to share information designed to encourage your donors to make decisions regarding their future plans. Many development officers also use response devices to begin a dialogue with donors. By giving donors an opportunity to respond to planned giving communications with a printed or digital reply…
Having a planned giving recognition society is an easy way to honor planned giving donors for their generosity, even though they may be reducing the amount and frequency of their current gifts and no longer qualify for other recognition societies. Donors who make planned gifts have often been regular donors over time and may have…
As a companion to traditional bequest marketing, online estate planning tools are changing how organizations can introduce legacy giving by making it easier for donors to take the next step. For planned giving fundraisers, the opportunity is not simply to promote an online will. It is to make estate planning feel more accessible while creating…
2017’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) substantially increased the standard deduction amounts, capped the state and local tax deduction, changed the mortgage interest deduction and eliminated miscellaneous itemized deductions that are subject to the 2% of AGI floor. Many of the deductions enacted by the TCJA were extended by 2025’s One Big Beautiful Bill…
While Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy is the oldest and most followed report on the nation’s philanthropic activities, it has been joined by several other fundraising reports in recent years, including the Fundraising Effectiveness Project report, sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy and GivingTuesday, and the Trends in Giving…
Welcome to the Sharpe Book Club!! Mindfulness and meditation have become popular over the last decade or so, with classes available online. Apps and products to help focus the mind and calm the spirit are being introduced seemingly daily. However, I hadn’t connected the practice of meditation to gift planning until I read Alexandra Brovey’s…
As America’s population ages, it’s important to understand who is—and will be—driving philanthropy. Each generational cohort brings different capacities, motivations and timelines for giving, making strategic segmentation essential for long‑term fundraising success. A closer look at the generations Greatest Generation (or GI Generation)—Born before 1928 and now in their late 90s and older, this group…
Some things never change. Just like cookouts, pool time and fireworks on the 4th of July, planning your year-end marketing strategy is a summer tradition. The two publications mentioned above aren’t available anymore, but we’ve got seven new year-end titles to choose from, and all have special pricing until Aug. 31. We’ve even added some…
[ ] Do you have a plan for adequate staff coverage through the end of the business day on Dec. 31, which is a Thursday this year? [ ] Do you have clear and easy-to-follow internal procedures for last-minute gifts? [ ] Do you have language for acknowledgment letters and thank-you notes? [ ] For…
The last quarter of the year doesn’t have to become a choice between encouraging year-end gifts and promoting planned gifts. In fact, the two concepts can co-exist. Use planned giving inserts in year-end gift receipts and donor acknowledgments. A “thank you” rather than an “ask” offers an excellent opportunity to suggest ways to make planned…