We believe adding a planned giving component to your development efforts greatly enhances your relationship with your donors; your relationship with them is deeper and longer-term and you learn more about them along the way, so you know what to suggest to them and when; what they are more likely to say “yes” to and perhaps which avenues to avoid. Your donor will perceive that your development program is increasingly donor-centric with a focus on fulfilling the wishes of the donor in line with the needs of the organization. It also helps donors know that your organization is thinking (and acting) on a long-term vision with strategies to accomplish it.
"A planned gift is any charitable gift that is not a knee-jerk reaction to an appeal, that involved some level of thinking and planning in its relationship to finances, estate plans, and if applicable, to family, and may require either special handling or special stewardship by the organization that is to receive the gift."
— Dotty Weston-Murphy, CAP®
Senior Vice President for Development and Donor Services
