Clever Wording Triples Donations

The way that charities present donation levels can inspire individuals to triple their pledges, according to a recent study by Italian university professors. In the study, two-thirds of participants agreed to a 450-euro contribution, when previously two-thirds had agreed to a donation of only 150 euros. (A euro is currently worth about $1.30.)

CGA Rates: Steady As She Goes!

Charitable Gift Annuity rates are staying at the levels established in January 2012, the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA) has decided.

Ten Key Legacy Dreams to Explore With Your Donors

For planned giving professionals, successful solicitation of potential donors involves more than just uncovering a person’s level of wealth and interest in your organization. It also entails knowing what motivates donors to make meaningful philanthropic gifts.

While it may not show up on the job description, discovering your donors’ legacy dreams is one of your significant planned giving responsibilities. By acquiring such knowledge, you can then better understand how to communicate with donors so as to encourage their heartfelt philanthropic impulse.

Many people may give to the same organization or to similar causes, but they likely have different reasons for doing so. Below are five legacy motivators to explore with donors as they contemplate supporting your organization. We’ll continue this topic with additional legacy dreams in Part II.

Get Women Together to Turn Potential Donors into Actual Donors

Barbara Stanny grew up wealthy—her dad was the “R” in H&R Block—so she assumed she would never want for anything, and she let her husband take care of all the finances. Big mistake. She says that in 15 years her ex gambled away all of her wealth—which she discovered when she tried to get $60 at an ATM and found there was no money left. In her colorful retelling of the story, she relates that she went to her father for help but he told her she needed to solve her own problems. She had three kids and was more than $1 million in debt.

Navigating the Gender & Philanthropy Landscape

Enormous progress has been made in gender equality in terms of women’s education, wealth, and employment opportunities. Yet, women are still reporting that they encounter outdated attitudes and stereotypes that hamper their full and equal treatment. In the planned giving field, there’s no room for these kinds of preventable errors with prospective female donors. Gender tips to keep in mind:

Female Donor Behavior: Online Conference Begins Sept. 20

SHEMAKESCHANGE, a three-part online conference for those who wish to better understand the factors that affect female donor behavior, begins Sept. 20, sponsored by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute.

How to Ensure Your Legacy Society Events Hit the Mark

A legacy society is a wonderful way to recognize and thank donors for their contributions to your organization. For many people, legacy society gatherings also serve as a means to form lasting friendships. These social bonds can greatly strengthen your planned-giving program. As your legacy society grows and flourishes, it then draws a greater number of new members. How can you enhance your legacy society and bolster membership?