fundraising Archives

An image of giving money that will grow similar to a Charitable Remainder Trusts.

Planned Giving Marketing

Charitable Remainder Trusts

Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) offer a tax-efficient method to support charities while preserving income. Donors transfer appreciated assets into a Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT) or Unitrust (CRUT), gaining immediate income tax deductions and avoiding capital gains taxes. These trusts provide fixed or variable payments during retirement, allowing donors to maintain their lifestyle. They also enable wealth transfer with reduced gift or estate taxes, making CRTs an attractive option for long-term charitable and financial planning.

Joshua Keleske September 3, 2025 No Comments

Bronze sundial casting a long shadow on stone, symbolizing timelessness and enduring values in fundraising.

Stewardship and Relationships

Why Timeless Fundraising Strategies Crush Fads, Gimmicks, and Quick Fixes

Trendy fundraising tactics come and go—usually with little to show for it. The nonprofits that win big gifts and long-term loyalty understand one thing: donors are deciding if you’re worthy of their legacy. This article pulls no punches. It’s a call to abandon gimmicks and build something lasting. If you’re serious about donor trust, planned giving, long-range impact—and your career—this isn’t just another blog post. It’s your wake-up call.

Viken Mikaelian May 12, 2025 No Comments

Neglected boat stranded on dry land — a visual metaphor for abandoned nonprofit blogs and missed legacy opportunities

Planned Giving Marketing

The Silent Killer on Your Website: Your Blog

A bad blog doesn’t just look lazy—it proves it. In the world of planned giving, where trust and credibility matter most, an outdated or lifeless blog can quietly sabotage donor confidence. Learn why showing up halfheartedly online is worse than not showing up at all—and how to fix it before it costs you.

Viken Mikaelian May 10, 2025 No Comments

What every modern fundraiser thinks they need to become after addressing a donor as “Mr.” instead of “Dr.”. Spoiler: You don’t.

Planned Giving Marketing

Don’t Apologize. Cash the Check.

Originally Published September 16, 2010. Updated for January, 2025. Apology Not Accepted: Why You Shouldn’t Beg for Forgiveness in Fundraising A few years back, I was lying on a beach with my wife, margarita in hand, enjoying the sound of the waves and the luxury of ignoring my phone. Naturally, that’s when it rang. On the other end was a client, panic vibrating through his voice like a dentist drilling too close to the nerve. “I’m going to have to

Viken Mikaelian January 24, 2025 No Comments

Planned Giving Marketing

Let’s Talk About Love

I’ve been in the planned giving marketing industry for 25 years, and for 25 years I’ve been saying that planned giving is a people business. If you love people, you will go far in planned giving (and in your career).

Viken Mikaelian January 21, 2025 No Comments

Frustrated young fundraiser at desk, overwhelmed by complex planned giving tasks without proper training or mentorship.

Planned Giving Marketing

“Entry-Level Nonprofit Fundraiser”: A Wave of the Past?

Nonprofits did not do well last year, and you wonder why. I recently came across a job listing that read something like this: “[A nonprofit] is seeking a planned giving advisor. This is a junior position for a fundraiser with 3 or so years of experience who wishes to move into planned giving. Focus is on bequests, CGAs, and marketing.” Now, for those of us who have been in the trenches of planned giving for a while, that one little word—junior—jumps

Viken Mikaelian September 23, 2024 No Comments

A picture of the word "Bequests" above two thought bubbles containing the words "Do's" and "Don'ts," to illustrate a PlannedGiving.Com blog about securing estate gifts and securing bequests for your planned giving program.

Planned Giving Marketing

Estate Gifts Do’s and Dont’s

Estate gifts, also known as planned or legacy gifts, are a vital component of many nonprofits’ fundraising strategies. Soliciting bequests or estate gifts can significantly impact an organization’s financial sustainability and long-term success. However, soliciting estate gifts requires a delicate and thoughtful approach to ensure that donors feel respected, valued, and inspired. Here are some essential Dos and Don’ts to guide your nonprofit’s fundraising and planned giving efforts.

Jonathan Gudema August 21, 2024 No Comments

Bequests

Are You Sending Out Death Brochures?

That canned “planned giving newsletter” you’re paying for is viewed by your recipients as a “death brochure” and is going right into the trash. Spend your money wisely. (By Tom Ahern)

Tom Ahern April 27, 2018 No Comments

Young, polished man in a suit holding a whiskey glass—satirical nod to overconfident experts who complicate simple solutions.

Planned Giving Marketing

Planned Giving: Simple Stuff or Just for Harvard Lawyers?

Breaking the Myth: You Don’t Need a Law Degree Let’s dispel one of the biggest myths in fundraising: that planned giving is only for experts with a Harvard Law degree—preferably the kind who believe every problem needs a 20-page policy paper and a new government subcommittee. If you’re a development officer with a strong background in annual or major gifts, and someone has just tapped you to “start a planned giving program,” you might feel the urge to panic. Or

Viken Mikaelian September 2, 2010 No Comments