Mentioning Tax Deduction Up Front Increases Charitable Interest

When marketing to donors, how much should you focus on the tax benefits of a charitable gift? Some research has indicated that tax benefits are a small part of the charitable gift decision, and some in planned giving have suggested downplaying tax benefits in marketing. But here's the rub: Researchers also know that the answers to their survey questions are often affected by "social desirability bias": Who wants to admit that one of their main reasons for making a gift to charity might be the tax benefits?

More Women Make Tribute Gifts, Which Can Be Inspired by Specific Strategy

Two recent findings about tribute gifts may help with your planned giving marketing strategies with prospective donors:

Planned Giving Experts Lead Pentera's August Seminar

An all-star lineup of planned giving experts will lead "Building Bridges Between Major and Planned Gifts," this year's version of the popular Pentera Planned Giving Seminar, Aug. 15-17 in Indianapolis.

Pentera CEO Claudine Donikian to Present Planned Giving Study Recommendations at PPGGNY

Pentera President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian will be presenting implications and recommendations from The 2016 Planned Giving Study at the plenary session of PPGGNY's Annual All-Day Conference May 25 in New York City. Presenting with Ms. Donikian is Una Osili, director of research at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Identifying Your Donor’s Empathy Type Can Help with Gift Conversations

There are two different kinds of empathy, and identifying the type that is more prevalent in a particular donor can help when it comes to your gift conversations. That's the conclusion of new research presented at a session moderated by Pentera President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian at last year's annual symposium on philanthropy at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Wealthiest Women Cite More Reasons to Give; One-Size-Fits-All Marketing Does Not Work

New research shows that the wealthiest women cite more and different reasons for giving to charity but also that high-net-worth women and men are more alike than the general population in their philanthropy. The 2015 study from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University also found that one-size-fits-all fundraising programs are inadvisable for nonprofits.

While Women Are More Altruistic, Egoism Plays Important Role in Giving

Women are more motivated to give to charity by altruism and by trust in an organization, according to new research presented at a symposium panel moderated by Pentera President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian. While the research applies to outright gifts, it lines up well with previous research on planned gifts and on women in philanthropy.

Claudine Donikian to Lead Session on Working with Women Donors at ACGA Conference in April

Planned giving professionals interested in the latest strategies for working with women donors will want to attend the session on women and philanthropy that will be presented by Pentera President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian at the April conference of the American Council on Gift Annuities.

Engagement—The New “It” Metric

Potential clients often ask us, “What kind of response can I expect from my marketing? Do you have client statistics?”

Understanding Motives of Volunteers May Help with the Ask for Planned Gifts

Like many nonprofits, you likely have a plan to approach some of your organization's volunteers to ask them for planned gifts. A recent panel discussion on research moderated by Pentera President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian included information that could be useful in tailoring that conversation: research on the motivations of volunteers, including whether they are motivated primarily to help others or motivated by receiving some type of benefit.

Pentera CEO Claudine Donikian to Moderate Session on Motivations of Donors

Pentera President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian will be moderating what should be a fascinating session on the latest research on the motivations of donors at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy's annual symposium Oct. 30.

Groundbreaking Research on Donors to Be Presented at NCPP

You are soliciting a very targeted audience for planned gifts, of course, but most planned giving research has not focused on that audience. Now there is research that is truly relevant: a new study on the characteristics and behavior of actual donors will be presented at NCPP 2015 in a session with Pentera President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian.

Happy Anniversary: Pentera Turns 40!

As Pentera celebrates its 40th anniversary this fall, the nation's top boutique planned giving marketing firm offers a retrospective of the company founded by André R. Donikian, JD, and led by President & CEO Claudine A. Donikian, JD, MBA, since 2008.

André Donikian to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Leader, mentor, teacher, expert, innovator, pioneer, and icon are words used to describe Pentera Founder André R. Donikian, who will be presented a Lifetime Achievement Award September 16 by the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY).

Experts Russell James and Claudine Donikian Discuss Words That Encourage Planned Giving

On May 28, planned giving researcher Russell James of Texas Tech University and Pentera CEO & Chief Marketing Officer Claudine A. Donikian will present a session on "Words and Phrases That Encourage Planned Giving" at the annual conference of the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY). The presentation is based on new research by James and on Donikian's research of Pentera clients and expertise in marketing communications.

New Study Predicts Growth in Charitable Giving

The nonprofit sector "continues on the road to recovery," with growth in charitable giving of just under 5 percent predicted for both this year and next, according to brand new research from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Giving by estates - which makes up the bulk of planned gifts - is expected to do particularly well in 2016.

Planned Gifts Increase Annual Gifts, Study Finds

Planned gifts, rather than cannibalizing annual giving to charity, actually trigger increases in annual gifts, according to new research that should allay the fears of some nonprofit fundraisers.

Women Are More Likely to Use Philanthropic Networks

Research shows that women are more likely than men to use philanthropic networks when making charitable decisions, and they give more when they do. Thus it behooves planned gift officers to connect women prospects with women donors who are already in philanthropic networks—and some nonprofits are forming their own women’s councils in order to do so.

New Study Profiles Legacy Society Members

The findings of a new study profiling legacy society members will be presented by Pentera and Indiana University Oct. 16 at the National Conference on Philanthropic Planning.

Download Free Mobile App for NCPP

If you are attending the National Conference on Philanthropic Planning (NCPP) Oct. 14-16, you can download a free mobile app, which will allow you to do everything from setting your own personal conference schedule to making comments, uploading photos, locating exhibitors, winning prizes, and private-messaging other attendees. Sponsored by Pentera, the mobile app is available both for iPhones and androids.