Planned giving may offer affiliated funds the biggest (often untapped) opportunity to transform their place. The vast majority of planned gifts happen because someone educated, motivated, and asked the donor to make a gift. Whether it’s a group of FAC members who commit to making future gifts, or someone who moved away from their hometown but saw their fund mentioned in the local newspaper and decided to give back, for most individuals, planned gifts are the largest gifts they’ll ever leave . . . not to mention, an affiliated fund’s most effective way to capture a portion of the transfer of wealth occurring across Greater Nebraska.
We invite and challenge you to join us in advancing your fund’s gift planning efforts through NCF’s 2020 Planned Giving Marketing Challenge!
Every month in 2020, we’ll send out a simple checklist to complete by the end of the month to help advance your fund’s planned giving efforts. The tasks will be communicated via our Affiliated Fund E-newsletter (scroll to the bottom of this page to sign-up) and this webpage.
December
- If you haven’t yet, check out our virtual session on “How to Launch a Planned Giving Program (It’s Easier Than You Think!). Jot down a few planned giving goals for 2021 and reach out to Jim Gustafson to make a plan for reaching them!
- Remind your donors of this very important end of year giving information:
- Gifts must be received by your local fund in plenty of time for the gifts to be in the mail to NCF’s Lincoln office by December 31 in order to ensure processing in 2020.
- Credit card gifts and online gifts must be successfully completed by midnight, December 31, local time.
- Non-cash gifts may require additional lead time. Financial offices may be short staffed over the holidays. Gifts of securities and charitable IRA rollovers should be initiated no later than December 18.
- Livestock markets and grain elevators may be closed on certain days around the holidays. If you are interested in making a gift of ag commodities, please reach out early to make sure they are transferred prior to December 31.
- The end of the year is the perfect time to reach out and thank your donors, especially planned givers. Reach out personally with a card, email or phone call, and share the below social media graphic with the following message: Our most sincere thanks to all who gave their time, talent, and treasure to AFFILIATED FUND NAME in 2020. Our future looks brighter because of you.
November
- Check out this piece we created on non-cash assets. Options for sharing:
- Print out or email to share with prospective donors
- Post it on social media
- Adapt as an article that can be published in your local newspaper
- Register for Dreams Welcome Week if you haven’t already! We have a great session on “How to Launch a Planned Giving Program.”
- Download November’s social media graphic (below) and post to your Fund’s Facebook page and/or on the personal pages of your FAC members with this message:
There are so many assets that can be put to good use through charitable giving, many of them tax-advantageous. Reach out if you are interested in learning about the many options for gifting assets that will benefit our community!
October
- National Estate Planning Awareness Week starts October 19, 2020! We’ve created a series of social media graphics and posts for you to share throughout the week.Monday, October 19
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POST: The majority of American adults do not have a will. It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week, the perfect time to download Nebraska Community Foundation’s FREE Wills Planning Guide and get started: https://bit.ly/30Zkn6YTuesday, October 20
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POST: No more excuses—estate planning is easier than you think! It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week, the ideal time to explore your options: https://nebcommfound.giftlegacy.comWednesday, October 21
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POST: There are countless reasons to start your estate planning process during National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Learn more and download a FREE Wills Guide at: https://nebcommfound.giftlegacy.comThursday, October 22
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POST: Because of the increased tax burden of using IRAs as an inheritance, individuals may want to:- Designate all or part of their IRA to charities dear to their hearts and use other more tax-friendly assets to provide for their families. Any amount given to the charity avoids taxes.
- Designate a Charitable Remainder Trust as the beneficiary of their IRA and name heirs as income recipients of the trust, providing regular income for either the recipients’ lifetimes or a term of up to 20 years, and then making a future gift to a charity.
It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week, the ideal time to explore your options: https://nebcommfound.giftlegacy.com
Friday, October 23
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POST: Are you among the millions of Americans without a will in place? National Estate Planning Awareness Week is the right time to start your FREE Wills Planning Guide: https://bit.ly/30Zkn6Y
September
- Brush up on Charitable IRA Rollovers and Beneficiary Designations. Email cmalek-madani@nebcommfound.org if you would like copies of these brochures to share.
- Read up on “The Impact of the SECURE Act on Charitable Giving.”
- Download September’s social media graphic (below) and post to your Fund’s Facebook page and/or on the personal pages of your FAC members with this message:
There are some important things you should know about the new SECURE Act, especially if you are above the age of 70, or if you are thinking about leaving an IRA to your heirs. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3gQl5s7.
August
- Check out our Gifts of Agriculture brochure and share with a few producers you know.
- Email cmalek-madani@nebcommfound.org to get a customized advertisement to run in your local newspaper encouraging donors to give gifts of grain or livestock (like Stratton did!)
- Download August’s social media graphic (below) and post to your Fund’s Facebook page and/or on the personal pages of your FAC members with this message:
When it comes to charitable giving, think beyond cash. Giving a gift of livestock or grain is simple, provides tax benefits, and supports AFFILIATED FUND NAME and the community we love!
Speak with a professional advisor about how gifts of agriculture will apply to your situation. Email info@nebcommfound.org for more information.
July
- Use social media to highlight a planned giver to your fund – like Nebraska City did!
- Familiarize yourself with NCF’s Gift Planning Guide and learn about all of the ways to give.
- Download July’s social media graphic (below) and post to your Fund’s Facebook page and/or on the personal pages of your FAC members with this message:
Our affiliation with Nebraska Community Foundation means AFFILIATED FUND NAME is equipped to accept all kinds of donations and planned gifts. Visit NCF’s Gift Planning Guide to learn about all of the [tax-wise] ways to give. https://www.nebcommfound.org/gift-planning-guide/
June
- Six month check-in time! We are half way through the 2020 Planned Giving Challenge. Take this month to get caught up on anything outstanding. Reach out to Jim if you need help or have any questions!
May
- Recommend that your FAC spend some time talking about recognizing planned giving donors during your next meeting. Here are some questions to get the conversation started:
- Do you already have a “legacy society” in place?
- If not, should you consider creating one?
- What are you currently doing to acknowledge planned gifts?
- How might you recognize these generous individuals and families within the next year?
- Check out our Legacy Brochure and let us know if you would like copies for future conversations with planned giving donors and prospects.
- Read the NCF Classroom post on “Three ways the CARES Act may impact charitable giving.”
- Download and share the graphic (below) and the following post on social media:
Donations to FUND NAME aren’t just beneficial to your community. New charitable tax provisions in the CARES Act may also be advantageous to you! Read more at https://www.nebcommfound.org/news/three-ways-the-cares-act-may-impact-charitable-giving/
April
- Watch the NCF Classroom video on Planned Giving Basics.
- Commit to making personal phone calls to your donors (not just planned giving donors) and check in. What challenges are they facing in light of the pandemic? What positive things have they witnessed in your community? How are people coming together?
- Download the April social media graphic below and post to your Fund’s Facebook page and/or on the personal pages of your FAC members with this message:
In the face of adversity, COMMUNITY NAME always rises to the challenge. If you are feeling alone, afraid, or isolated, know your friends and neighbors are here to help. And if FUND NAME can be of service, please reach out. We are all in this together.
March
- Have you assembled your working group of planned giving enthusiasts? If so, reach out to Jim Gustafson to schedule a call about how NCF can best support you whether that’s identifying planned giving prospects, hosting a planned giving education event, or creating new marketing materials to inform your donors about their giving options.
- Read and share our latest NCF Classroom article on the impact of the SECURE Act on charitable giving.
- Attend our March 25 Lunch & Learn on “Planned Giving Basics.”
- Download the March social media graphic below and post to your Fund’s Facebook page and/or on the personal pages of your FAC members with this message:
10,000 baby boomers will turn 70 today! Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) allow those age 70 ½ to make tax-free gifts of up to $100,000 from their IRAs to the causes and communities they care about most. Learn more at nebcommfound.giftlegacy.com
February
- Watch and read the NCF Classroom post on “Teaching Others About Planned Giving.” Discuss with other members of your Fund Advisory Committee and consider if your Fund should coordinate a planned giving education event in the future. Reach out to Jim Gustafson if you are interested!
- Have a discussion with your Fund Advisory Committee about assembling a small working group or committee of planned giving enthusiasts. Perhaps these folks have planned gifts in place themselves and love talking about the benefits to others. Or maybe they are just energized around the possibility of helping others plan their legacy. Moving forward, this person/people can be listed as contacts in any planned giving marketing materials and will also be the driving force behind your Fund’s planned giving efforts.
- Download and share one of our donor valentines on social media. Recognizing and thanking donors on a regular basis is a crucial piece of effective planned giving marketing.
BONUS! Because it is a very common time of year for CDs (bank certificates of deposit) to mature, February is a popular time of year for your donors to consider establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA). Your donors may appreciate converting a low-interest investment into fixed, lifetime income for themselves or another income beneficiary and receive a tax deduction, all while knowing they’re leaving a future gift to a cause near to their hearts. NCF has developed a Charitable Gift Annuity brochure that you can share with prospective donors. Our Office of Gift Planning is also equipped to run illustrations for your prospective donors to help them and their advisors determine what a CGA would look like in their situation.
Download this brochure or request printed copies from NCF to share with donors who may be interested in making a gift to your hometown through a Charitable Gift Annuity. Contact Jim Gustafson at jgustafson@nebcommfound.org or 402.323.7329 if your donors are interested in establishing a CGA!
January
Before the end of the month, download this social media graphic and post it to your fund’s Facebook page and/or on the personal pages of your FAC members with the following caption:
An estimated 70% of American adults have either no will or their will is outdated. Planning for the future is easier than you think and 2020 is the perfect time to get started. Nebraska Community Foundation’s FREE Wills Guide will guide you through the process. Download an easy to use, fill-in-the-blank booklet that can help you organize all the information you’ll need to plan your legacy at: https://nebcommfound.giftlegacy.com/?pageID=19
Participating in the 2020 Planned Giving Marketing Challenge? Let us know by emailing cmalek-madani@nebcommfound.org.