Annual Giving Lives in the Now. Planned Giving Lives in the Real World.
Every fundraiser knows the truth, even if we rarely say it: annual giving lives in the now; planned giving lives in the real world.
One group chases dollars. The other plants orchards.
This comparison is meant to be provocative, not judgmental. If you see yourself on the left side, good news: you can move right with almost no additional effort. Planned giving isn’t complicated — but it is often overlooked.
Annual Giving vs. Planned Giving
| ANNUAL GIVING | PLANNED GIVING |
|---|---|
| “But we need the cash now!” | “I convert deferred gifts into current revenue. It’s called strategy.” |
| Thinks a CRUT is a contagious disease. | Understands gift vehicles — and explains them clearly. |
| The new economy: “It’s Doomsday.” | The new economy: “Where’s the opportunity?” |
| Takes credit for a bequest planted 10 years ago. | Keeps planning and planting for the long haul. |
| Thinks short term. | Thinks long term. |
| Complains about her salary. | Earns more because she produces, not complains. |
| Thrives on chaos and urgency. | Thrives on strategy and consistency. |
| Waits for the “lottery gift.” | Cultivates realistic gifts. |
| Always chasing the shiny new trend. | Builds durable relationships. |
| Emotionally still in high school. | Grew up a long time ago. |
| Avoids donors with different politics. | Works with everyone — professionally. |
| Has a blind spot with wealth. | Understands that wealth fuels missions. |
| Obsessed with titles and letters after names. | Knows degrees don’t equal character. |
| Lives in event-planning mode. | Lives in stewardship mode. |
| Procrastinates on long-term strategy. | Understands “deferred” doesn’t mean decades. |
| On the phone during meetings. | On the phone with donors. |
| Operates institutionally. | Thinks entrepreneurially. |
| Relies on endless sensitivity training. | Treats everyone with humanity from the start. |
| Rarely leaves the office. | Visits donors in person. |
| Doesn’t know PlannedGiving.com exists. | Uses PlannedGiving.com regularly. |
From Short-Term Pressure to Long-Term Strength
If you want to move from short-term fundraising to long-term financial strength, start learning the basic planned giving tools. Planned giving isn’t complicated — it’s simply overlooked.
Take our interactive assessment to see how ready you are to begin securing the most meaningful gifts your donors will ever make.
