How to Build a Planned Giving Program

According to the 2015 Giving USA report, giving by bequests increased 13.6% in 2014 and at a much higher rate than donations from living donors (which rose by only 4%). For nonprofits new to planned giving, experts recommend starting by asking donors to designate the organization in their wills or on a life insurance policy or retirement account, and moving to more complex bequests over time.

More than half of wealthy people surveyed in 2014 said they plan to give a big share of their wealth to charity when they die. To learn how to start seeking such donations, join us for a one-hour session that will walk through the fundamentals of establishing a planned giving program.

During the session, Jeff Comfort, head of planned giving at Oregon State University Foundation and a long-time planned giving officer, will explain the nuts and bolts of starting a planned giving program and share smart strategies gained during a decades-long career.

YouÕll also hear from two executives at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit who will dive into the details of their successful Centennial Campaign, which places a greater emphasis on planned giving than their annual campaigns. Marketing efforts supporting the campaign helped reshape conversations with donors and foster broader acceptance of planned giving among Federation fundraisers. The campaign attracted about 80 new planned gifts over three years equaling $165 million.

What Will You Learn?
How to determine which planned-giving techniques to offer initially.
How to identify supporters who might be interested in making a bequest or other planned gift.
How to promote planned giving to your donors.

Who Should Attend?
Chief development officers, development directors, and major-gifts officers
Planned-giving fundraisers at nonprofits with fledgling programs
Executive directors