No Excuses . . .Planned Giving Startup Tips!!!
Planned Giving is a great way to prepare your organization for the future. Whether it's wills, annuity programs, or future stocks . . . your nonprofit is at a disadvantage if you are NOT building this important fundraising tool.
Most nonprofit directors know the importance of starting a planned giving program but choose not to. Here are some simple steps you can take, to start your program:
GET EDUCATED - This is where most directors hit the pause button . . . at the FIRST step. There is sometimes a fear that you need to know everything about planned giving in order to start such a program. Just take the time to learn the basics. Find a partner with a lawyer that handles such things, financial planner, or even your local community foundation. Also take the time to ask them about what brochures should look like, what wording should be included, etc.
Learn the basics and where to go if you find an interested donor, and you are a step in the right direction. Your partners will help educate you.
GET ASKING - This is probably the second scary step for those new into the planned giving world. Not only are many nonprofit folks scared to ask about money to begin with but to ask about someone's will? Make sure you talk with current donors who have shown their love and interest in your organization, as they are great people to start out with, and even be honest by telling them that this is your first time doing something like this.
GET EXCITED - Once you do a few asks, and get some wins, it gets a lot more fun. The fear will wear off a bit. Easiest way to turn that fear into excitement? Just keep remembering the reason WHY you are talking to people about planned giving. Sounds so simple but it works.
Follow these steps and a planned program will be in your near future. Need some coaching and mentoring while trying to start a program? Need help finding interested donors? Midwest Studies Group can help. Email us at info@midweststudiesgroup.com.
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Midwest Studies Group connects nonprofits to their communities, by providing feasibility studies, annual giving studies, RD planning, strategic planning, and capital campaign support. Learn more at www.midweststudiesgroup.com.