Nonprofit Resources
Planning for the Future
We know your fundraising efforts are focused on gaining support for today’s operations. But omitting endowment and legacy giving from your regular messaging translates into lost opportunities.
Don’t worry … you don’t need to be an expert in gift planning or invest a lot of time or money. And it doesn’t have to detract from your current fundraising. You just have to let your donors know you’re planning for the future and show them how they can help.
Our easy-to-customize materials are a simple way to incorporate endowment and legacy messages into your own donor communication.
How to Build Your Fund
Communicate
It’s often said that people need to hear or see something seven times before they take action. Giving to your fund should be mentioned in some way in all of your communications, both spoken and written. It doesn’t have to detract from annual giving, and some donors will really appreciate that you’re building future sustainability for your organization.
Educate
Be sure to let people know how they can give. Include a link to our online giving page on your website and social media pages. Let people know about the simple and free options to leave legacy gifts to the fund, and help dispel the myth that only the wealthy can leave planned gifts.
Celebrate
Let your people know how your fund is doing. Thank donors publicly when new gifts come in … create a special designation for those who plan future gifts … tell stories of what the fund is doing or will make possible. If you don’t have a bank of good stories yet, give us a call. We have abundant examples that you can use to inspire your donors.
Endowment funds are a natural fit for donors who want to leave legacy gifts, which tend to be some of the largest gifts people are able to give. While 70% of Americans give charitably during their lifetimes, only 10% take the step of leaving a gift through their estate. And the number one reason that people don’t leave legacy gifts is because they weren’t asked to. We know Mason County can do better … especially if our entire nonprofit community is sharing the same message. We are happy to talk with you, your board, a group of your constituents, or an individual donor about giving to your fund. We all benefit when the organizations in our community have sustainable funding sources … let us help you build yours!
