Major Gifts Fundraising: Planned Giving Basics

Some non-profit organizations receive up to one third of their annual gift revenue through planned gifts. Perhaps your division would like to pursue planned gifts, but you’re not sure where to start? Or maybe you’ve received a few estate gifts, but don’t understand the technical mumbo jumbo? You might even think that your donors are just “ordinary people” and can’t make a planned gift.

This session will help “ordinary” higher education professionals understand planned giving and also demonstrate that anyone managing donor relationships can plant the seed for an estate gift. Additionally, you’ll come to realize that all donors – even “ordinary people” – can make planned gifts.

This program will help you understand various planned giving vehicles, identify potential planned giving prospects among your alumni and donors and feel confident to pursue planned gifts for your division and/or programs. You will receive concrete examples of how to talk about planned gifts with your supporters.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will:

• understand various planned giving vehicles;
• be able to identify potential planned giving prospects among your donors;
• have some phrasing examples to start the conversation; and
• start or enhance a planned giving for your program(s).