Dear %$firstname$%,

Welcome to THE PLANNED GIVING KEY^(TM), a newsletter to help you increase your fundraising success with planned gifts!

Situations changing in an instant happen in real life- and in fundraising too - all the time. It may be looking bleak and then someone you've been cultivating for years lets you know they're ready to make a "campaign changing" gift; or you receive a probate notice indicating your share of an estate is $1,000,000+ from someone who was supporting your organization with small gifts for decades. How about that unexpected letter that arrives from an estate executor - with a check!? Over the years, I've experienced each of these situations at least once.  I’m no Pollyanna; I know that sudden changes work both ways – good and bad. But in either situation decisions have to be made AND actions must support those decisions.

You are the community I serve and I would love to get your thoughts and comments on this issue. Please send them to me at lgreif@breakthroughphilanthropy.com or lgreif@easypg.com or let me know what you really think on my blog: www.plannedgivingbreakthroughs.com.  

Working to Bring You Breakthroughs in Philanthropy,

A warm welcome to all our new subscribers and best wishes for festive holidays!

 The announcement below went out to the people who originally said they were planning to attend the November 30th event.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Event Rescheduled: Fundraising Insight to Grow Your Nonprofit & Re-positioning Your Organization for the Future

Due to scheduling conflicts, the Fundraising Insight Panel Discussion that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 30 had to be changed as follows:

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 / 5:30 to 7:30 pm

NEW LOCATION

Support Center for Nonprofit Management
305 Seventh Avenue at 27th & 28th Streets, 11th Floor, New York City

Sincerest apologies for the late notice and the inconvenience. We would like to offer a free hour of consultation with the consultant of your choice to those who had responded they would attend on November 30th. Please contact us individually to schedule your time. Details follow at the end of this newsletter under LORRI RECOMMENDS.  

 This is just an example of how life can turn in an instant.  With extremely late notice, my colleagues and I have had to change an event date and also the place where it will be held. It was either that or cancel it altogether and disappoint everyone.  While this was not a happy turn of events for us initially, I realize it works out well for the people who originally responded that they were coming, because now they will all receive an hour of free one-on-one consulting on the topic of most interest to them.

While life and fundraising are full of turning points, I think this economy became a turning point for us and it almost feels like it was in the blink of an eye, though some of us seem to be getting used to it. Tougher times are not in any way the fault of nonprofits but I do think that changing to meet this turn of events requires more than making a decision to succeed. It requires positive thinking and then taking action, not just determined thinking or worse, acquiescence to negative projections.

I realize I’m not sitting in each person’s office, so it’s hard to be specific but new situations require new plans. I have worn the “fundraiser’s hat” at various organizations over the years and in my experience, it’s important to be realistic but also be creative. Don’t be afraid of trying something different, so long as it makes sense.  Check out my TIPS for suggestions.

·         You may want to contact attorneys handling open estates now to encourage your distribution before year end (because your nonprofit needs the money and not because of tax laws changing since they don’t affect the already deceased).

·         Make a special notation on holiday cards to charitable gift annuity contributors reminding them that with the passing of time comes a higher rate for new annuities.

·         Try to set up a challenge grant of current funds for everyone who newly commits (or self-identifies) a bequest or other planned gift. Make it end on December 31^st.  It doesn’t have to be for a large amount, although that would be nice, but it will bring in more money now and grow your planned gift commitments.

·         Remind planned giving prospects that providing their written commitment now regarding a gift for tomorrow, is also a way of giving today.

·         Send a special holiday card with either children (if appropriate) or the depiction of a “future” project to let planned giving donors and prospects see what awaits their gifts to come.

• Don’t forget to thank and thank.

Fundraising Insight to Grow Your Nonprofit & Re-positioning Your Organization for the Future.

You have another opportunity to attend this free Fundraising Insight Panel Discussion that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 30.

NEW DATE

Tuesday, December 7 / 5:30 to 7:30 pm

NEW LOCATION

Support Center for Nonprofit Management

305 Seventh Avenue at 27th & 29th streets, 11th Floor, New York City

We hope you can make it to the panel discussion and look forward to seeing you there!

THIS PANEL DISCUSSION with audience Q&A provides a cross-pollination of ideas on what it takes to fundraise effectively in today’s economy. Gain key fundraising take-aways on the state of fundraising with the recently-released Giving USA report, learn how to position your organization for success, and the role of planned giving programs as an essential part of your fundraising strategy. This crucial session combines big picture thinking with tactical ideas to impact your 2011 fundraising program.

PANELIST

Robert Evans, Partner, EHL Consulting and a Director of Giving USA Foundation, will speak about the results of the Giving USA 2010 Annual Report of Philanthropy and trends in giving.
revans@ehlconsulting.com

Lorri Greif, CFRE, President, Breakthrough Philanthropy and easyPG, will address the importance and role of planned giving and how nonprofits can start their own planned giving program. lgreif@easypg.com

Howard Adam Levy, President of the Nonprofit Brand Institute and Principal of Red Rooster Group , bring will address the role a strong brand plays in facilitating a nonpprofit's fundraising. howard@redroostergroup.com

MODERATOR

Roxanne Greenstein, President, Greenstein Consulting, Fundraising Consulting for Nonprofits. Roxanne brings 20 years of experience in all aspects of fundraising and board development, having held senior development positions at leading nonprofit organizations.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This session is geared toward those interested in improving their nonprofit's fundraising efforts including:

* Executive Directors
* Development Directors
* Marketing Staff
* CFOs
* Nonprofit Board Members

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

An exceptional evening of insight and interaction that will get you thinking about new ways to invigorate your fundraising plan. Leading nonprofit experts, each with decades of experience in their respective fields, share their knowledge and experiences in working with mid-sized nonprofit organizations.

Each panelist will present a short presentation on a facet of fundraising to give you a multi-faceted perspective on:

* The state of philanthropy, and what it means for your organization.
* What branding is and how a strong brand can improve your fundraising success.
* What planned giving is, and how your organization can reap millions through a thoughtful planned giving program (and an easy way to get started).

Roxanne will moderate a discussion to explore these various aspects of growing revenue for your organization and delve deeper into the tactics and implications for nonprofits. You are sure to come away with an increased understanding of how you can improve your organization's overall approach to fundraising.

A question and answer session will allow you to pick the brains of experts in fundraising strategies, wealth management, planned giving, and brand building. Hearing other nonprofits' questions will give perspective on the concerns of similar organizations. You are sure to learn lot.

Website: http://easypg.com

RSVP: 888-8easypg or lgreif@easypg.com

Lorri M. Greif, CFRE, president of Breakthrough Philanthropy, Inc., and creator of the easyPGŪ Program has worked for more than two decades in the nonprofit community focused on planned giving and major gifts.

She has created and implemented successful major gift and planned giving campaigns for both local and national nonprofits and her skill in training staff and leadership has made her a favorite speaker at planned giving seminars and conferences around the nation. 

Her unique experience in building or re-working varied major gift and planned giving fundraising campaigns from “the ground up” sets her apart from the crowd.

Lorri is a former board member of Women in Development (WID) and is still active on committees. She is also a member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP), the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY), the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (PPP), the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA), and served on the National Board of Gift-Planning Consultants for Planned Giving MENTOR™, a newsletter for beginners to gift planning.