Viken Mikaelian, Author at Planned Giving Marketing Trusted Authority

Two Men Having a Difficult Legacy Conversation

Initiating the Legacy Conversation

My Dad never wanted to talk about creating a will. “Don’t worry,” he’d say, “It’s not like I’m going to die tomorrow.” Then he’d change the subject—usually to the tomatoes he was growing—because he found talking about planning his estate too uncomfortable. Guess what? My Dad died without ever making that estate plan.

Encourage Donors to Ensure Their Beneficiary Designation Forms are Up to Date

Estate Planning

If you’ve named a charity as the beneficiary of an asset such as an insurance policy or retirement account, you know that the beneficiary designation forms typically request that charity’s name, address and tax identification number (TIN). And if there’s a mistake?

Online Will Planning: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Over the past few years there has been a proliferation of online will planners, spurred on in large part by the number of people who adopted a no-contact, do-it-yourself approach to everything they could during the pandemic. Some are embracing the wave, some are despising it. Join our webinar to find out more.

Cat Got Your Tongue? Learn How to Start the Planned Giving Conversation

Effective fundraising, Marketing Planned Giving, Planned Giving Marketing

Even seasoned fundraisers sometimes have trouble initiating a conversation. However when you possess the ability to have an effective, engaging conversation, your prospects suddenly turn into donors; your donors turn into repeat donors; planned gifts increase, along with major and annual gifts; and your reputation grows (along with your career).

Are You Ready for Year-End Giving?

Year-End Giving

The year-end giving season is coming fast, and there’s a lot to get done if you’re a fundraiser. After all, at least half of all nonprofits receive the majority of their annual donations during the holiday season. And according to studies by Network for Good, 12% of all giving happens in the last three days of the year! Use these tips to learn how to build a great year-end fundraising strategy for your non-profit.

Online Will Planning Does Not Replace Planned Giving Websites

Planned Giving Marketing

Online will planning is the latest tool in fundraisers’ arsenal—and it’s taking over the internet by storm as more nonprofits realize its potential. But online will planning tools can not replace your planned giving website. Instead, focus on using both tools as part of an integrated planned gift strategy for your non-profit.

The Importance of Estate Planning

Planned Giving Marketing

Do you have an estate plan? Many people think estate planning is unnecessarily complicated – but it doesn’t need to be. A qualified estate attorney or easily accessible online tools can help you create a will that will make things easier on your heirs and ensure that your wishes are known to those who follow you.

Fundraising Image with Growing Plant and Money

The Most Frightening Words in Nonprofit Fundraising — and What We Do so You Don’t Say Them

Planned Giving Marketing, Stewardship

I’ve written before about the dangers of the DIY (do-it-yourself) mentality in nonprofit fundraising. The most frightening thing is the amount of time you’ll spend doing everything but meeting with donor prospects. Here’s how you can make your fundraising more successful by outsourcing some of your development needs to outside fundraising experts.

The Major Gift Metrics You Need to Track

Major Gifts, Planned Giving Marketing

On average, 88% of a nonprofit’s revenue comes from the top 12% of its donors. This shows how crucial major gifts are to an organization’s overall fundraising strategy. Additionally, major donors not only provide nonprofits with sustained financial security but are often co-creators of many programs and initiatives. Learn how to track major gift metrics to succeed with your major donor program.

Well-Managed Oil and Gas Interests Can Fuel Non-Profit Endowments

Effective fundraising, New Opportunities, Real Estate Donations

Your donor gave you an in-kind gift that you thought had nominal value, but when it was appraised, it was worth a lot more? This kind of pleasant surprise is not uncommon for charities that accept in-kind gifts of oil and gas interests. Non-profit endowments benefit when they accept more than just cash gifts.

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