Copyright Policy

We Don’t Like Writing This, But Here We Are.

We’re not required to post this notice. Under U.S. law, all original materials are automatically protected the moment they’re created.

But here’s the reality: Our content is among the most respected and widely used in the planned giving space — and as a result, it’s also one of the most copied. Our legal team has seen it all: nonprofits recycling our phrases, vendors “borrowing” entire taglines, and samples mysteriously reappearing on someone else’s platform.

This is your fair warning:

Whether you’re a nonprofit or a competing vendor, copying our materials without permission will result in enforcement action, which may include legal proceedings. What seems like a shortcut could result in costly legal consequences than simply doing the right thing. We’ve seen it happen, and we won’t hesitate to enforce.

The Legal Stuff

All of our content is copyrighted — in print, online, and in every format we deliver. This includes:

• Postcard and brochure copy
• Taglines, headlines, graphics, and page layouts
• Webinars, courses, e-broadcasts, and client resources
• Gift illustrations and educational materials
• Micro-sites, landing pages, and full planned giving websites
• Any content on PlannedGiving.com, MajorGifts.com, and Philanthropy.org

Client Usage & Licensing

If you’re a client:

• Your license is for your organization only. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, content cannot be shared with affiliates, partners, or friends in the industry.
• Content may not be moved to your own servers or replicated on external systems, websites, or archives.
• Each product comes with its own licensing period. Once it expires, so does your right to use the material.
• You may not share your login with anyone else.
• If you change jobs, you may not take our content with you. Your previous organization holds the license — not you.
• All intellectual property remains owned by PlannedGiving.com.

If you’re not a client:
You need our written permission before using any of our materials — no exceptions. Yes, we occasionally publish public-domain concepts. But our original execution and language are what you’re really after — and those are protected.

When in doubt, just ask. We’re generous with guidance — not with theft.

In Plain Terms

• You may not copy, forward, repurpose, or alter any of our materials without a license.
• You may not use our content beyond your licensed period.
• You may not loan, gift, or transfer your access to others.
• You may not claim authorship or “recreate” our resources under your name or brand.
• You may not reverse-engineer our samples or mockups for your internal or commercial use.

We make a living through our intellectual property — not by giving it away.

We Take This Seriously

We use bots, watermarking, and tracking tools to monitor where our content lands. When we discover unauthorized use, we pursue enforcement swiftly. Our legal team has helped us recover damages, shut down infringing use, and preserve the integrity of what we build.

If you’re a competitor: Don’t let “borrowing” turn into a bill.

If you’re a nonprofit: Let’s keep it clean and compliant.

To Our Clients — Thank You

This isn’t about threats. It’s about protecting your investment.

You pay for high-quality, original materials — and you deserve to know that those who don’t are held accountable.

Thank you for respecting the work we do. We value your business and your trust.