CATEGORY

Planned Giving Marketing

Strategies and best practices for communicating planned giving effectively. Covers messaging, content development, digital presence, donor education, and positioning planned giving as a core component of fundraising strategy.

Two bubbles - this is your comfort zone, this is where magic happens
Planned Giving Marketing
Dennis Haber

Comfort Zone Treadmill

Are You Sure You’re Ready to Excel? If you continue to do things in the same manner you have always done them, your results are not going to change. Continuing to do things the same old way basically puts you on a treadmill where continuous, ineffective effort and lackluster results flow in a endless loop. It is time to re-examine your belief system. This article offers some ideas guaranteed to get you off that treadmill, to put money in your

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There Is Money Out There
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

There Is Money Out There

But did you hear about the doggy hotel your nonprofit is competing with? $175 per night. Your pooch can enjoy a poolside room with a view ($50 extra), an evening backrub ($25 extra), and even a bedtime story ($20 extra).

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Nonprofits Are Not Special
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

Nonprofits Are Not Special: Think Like a Business

That’s right. Being a charity doesn’t magically change business, economic, or marketing realities. So think like a business. Not like a nonprofit. Because the biggest problem among nonprofits is the “non.” There are quite a few people in the nonprofit world who do not want to hear this. In fact, our least popular webinar has consistently been the one that Jeff Comfort and I presented titled, “The IRS Considers You a Business. Act Like One.” We focused very much on

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The Cocktail Party Test: Is Your Enthusiasm Contagious?
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

The Cocktail Party Test: Is Your Enthusiasm Contagious?

Fundraisers can make “civilians” a little nervous when they’re around. What comments do you get when you tell folks what you do? “Ugh, I could never ask strangers for money!” “Well, I hope you didn’t bring your begging bowl with you tonight – this is a friendly party.”

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Illustration of several colored buildings tighly spaced together
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

Why Isn’t Your Organization Taking Real Estate

Real estate gifts are an underutilized opportunity in fundraising, with nonprofits missing out on substantial donations due to myths and misconceptions. Experts Chase Magnuson and Dennis Haber debunk common misunderstandings, revealing that charities can sell donated properties immediately, accept gifts with debt, and structure transactions creatively. With Baby Boomers holding over $48 trillion in wealth, much of it in real estate, now is the time to embrace these gifts. Fundraisers must educate themselves, build networks, and market real estate donations effectively to maximize impact.

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Myths (& Facts) on Planned Giving
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

Myths (& Facts) on Planned Giving

Get your board on board and let them see the value of planned giving with these Myths and Facts. You can also purchase the expanded professional version of this post in PowerPoint. Perfect for your next board meeting or legacy society event. You can also evaluate your board’s readiness here. Engaging a board is critical for long term sustainability. The board of directors plays a critical role in the growth of your organization. And since many are “community players” they

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Are You Irresistible?
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

Are You Irresistible?

Sales and marketing are different things. Sales, or stewardship, is direct contact, and the point is to make a sale. Marketing is more about building awareness of your brand, your mission and your vision. Though it creates bonds in less personal ways than sales, marketing enables you to cast a wider net and create a sales funnel that directs revenue your way.

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Symbolic image of life insurance legacy gift — one hand passing a red heart with a white cross to another, representing charitable giving
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

Unlocking Major Gifts from Mid-Level Donors: The Forgotten Power of Life Insurance

Mid-level donors are often overlooked when it comes to legacy giving conversations. They’re consistent, loyal, and quietly generous—yet rarely approached for more transformative gifts. That’s a mistake. Years ago, Tom Ligare and his colleagues at Planned Giving Marketing Solutions coined a term for a powerful strategy: Legacy Life Giving. It’s time to bring that concept back into the spotlight—with a modern twist. What Is “Legacy Life Giving”? Legacy Life Giving is a simple but underused technique: The donor purchases a

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Cartoon Uncle Sam with confused expression asking What do I do with this?' on teal background
Giving
Viken Mikaelian

Gone Without a Trace: Man Bequeaths $2 Million to Uncle Sam

The article discusses how James H. Davidson, Jr. left his $2.175 million estate to help pay down the national debt, but questions whether this well-intentioned gift truly created a lasting impact given the debt’s enormous size ($34 trillion). It suggests his legacy could have made a more meaningful difference through endowed scholarships or lecture series rather than becoming “a rounding error” in government finances. The piece ultimately emphasizes the importance of strategic giving and planned legacy gifts.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

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An image of a baby learning about marketing and e-marketing.
Planned Giving Marketing
Viken Mikaelian

Balanced Fundraising: Beyond Digital-Only Strategies

The Digital Marketing Myth Are you relying exclusively on digital tools to run your planned giving program? Think again. Many fundraisers and now advisors depend entirely on outsourced electronic solutions—tax reference libraries, gift law articles, automated emails, and complex calculators—while abandoning proven traditional methods. This shortsighted approach undermines fundraising effectiveness. As someone deeply involved in digital marketing myself, I offer this perspective with firsthand knowledge of both its power and limitations. Learning From Digital Giants Consider Google—the undisputed leader in

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Giving Magazine, Karen Alonso on Cover, United Way Las Vegas, AFP Chapter President

Giving Magazine

For those who drive change — not watch it. Join the top 1%.

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