The Planned Giving Key: Lock in tomorrow's gifts today

DON'T MISS MY FREE GIFT OFFER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ISSUE!

Connect with Lorri Online:
        

 Dear <$firstname$>,

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

It's here, the last quarter of the calendar year where approximately 40% of nonprofits bring in between 50%-75% of their charitable donations. Yet, everyone's nervous about the economy, their jobs, retirement plans, the stock market, the upcoming election...you name it! So, what's a fundraiser to do? 

You are the community I serve and I invite your input. What new or special steps are you taking this year towards reaching goals? Please share them with me at lgreif@breakthroughphilanthropy.com or lgreif@easypg.com.

Also, please check out my blog, www.plannedgivingbreakthroughs.com and tell me what you think about donor recognition societies. 

Working to Bring You Breakthroughs in Philanthropy,

A warm welcome to our new Planned Giving Key subscribers!

Shava tova to all our Jewish subscribers who are celebrating the New Year.

 Last Quarter Fundraising In Tough Financial Times

This year as every year, fundraisers will be pulling out the stoppers to improve results. I've always felt that when an extra push is needed, that people with proven commitment to your organization are faster to reach deeper than institutional contributors.

Granting foundations must get board approval if they're asked to stretch their parameters. This takes time and is not usually forthcoming. Additionally many foundations are cutting their gifts due to their own financial concerns.

No such constraints exist for people who love your nonprofit. Even in rough times, people have been able to more quickly reach a little deeper. It's just a more personal gift; more heartfelt.

I also encourage every development professional to talk about a bequest or other planned gift with their long-time individual supporters. It's a way to keep them engaged in a time when they have to be cutting back. Making a gift in tough times gives contributors a sense of action and power they may not be experiencing anywhere else in their lives.

If you're looking under the couch cushions to find additional revenues, here are some suggestions involving planned gift options:

1. Contact the executors of any open estates to see if any payments can be expedited more quickly.
2. If you offer gift annuities, now is the time to be marketing them...your donors on fixed incomes can really use them.
3. Gifts from IRA's from individuals over 70¹/₂ years may still be a possibility for some of your contributors - it's an easier, more painless way to show support if cash flow is tight.
4. Suggest a dormant asset (or long term appreciated stock) if a cash gift is just not possible. They may be able to fund a charitable reminder trust with the dormant asset and improve their financial situation.
5. Gifts of appreciated long-term securities may help avoid or lower capital gains taxation.

I have a gift for you that may help to spark more donor interest in planned gifts. It's my way of saying Thank You for your continued interest and input to the Planned Giving Key and easyPG^®. 

It sells in the easyPG^® store for just under $50 but it's my present to you for liking us. It's something you can give to your special donors or use as a giving level benefit in an honor society, to get people thinking about making or revising their estate plans and of course creating a legacy gift to you. It's a wonderful way to help them to help themselves and help you too! And, it leaves no doubt you are seeking these gifts.

Click here to "Like" easyPG^® and download at no cost to you, How to Begin Your Estate Planning: Your Step-by-Step Guide for Preparing an Estate Plan.

WHERE'S LORRI?

November 16^th AFP Westchester, NY - National Philanthropy Day at the Edith Macy Conference Center, Briarcliff, NY. My topic is: Starting the Planned Giving Conversation: How and Whom to Solicit for Planned Gifts.

LinkedIn Group - easyPG^®  Group to Create Successful Planned Giving Campaigns.

our easyPG^®  Page on Facebook and get into the conversation about planned giving.

Follow  easyPG  on Twitter.

Lorri M. Greif, CFRE, president of Breakthrough Philanthropy, Inc., and creator of the easyPG^® 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. Her articles on gift planning and planned giving campaigns are widely published on line and in print. She can be reached at lgreif@breakthroughphilanthropy.com or lgreif@easypg.com