5 Things I Know for Sure - Legacy Giving Best Practices.

1. A legacy giving program should be focused on why your donors love your organization and how you can help them, not on complicated gift vehicles.

2. The best legacy giving prospects are your most loyal donors – not necessarily your wealthiest.

3. 80% of all estate gifts to nonprofits are given as a bequest in a simple Will. Nothing fancy.

4. Legacy giving donors are passionate about the mission of your organization. Just as in all other giving, the tax benefits are secondary. Estate gifts will be given to charities whose mission has touched donors’ lives and hearts most deeply and with whom they’ve developed the closest relationships.

5. Donor stewardship is everything. Most people draft four different estate plans in their lives:

o When they have children/dependents.

o When they become Empty Nesters.

o When they retire.

o After the death of their partner.

Staying in the Will is as important as getting there in the first place!