The Planned Giving Key: Lock in tomorrow's gifts today

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 Dear <$firstname$>,

Welcome to THE PLANNED GIVING KEY, a newsletter to help you increase your fundraising success with planned gifts!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

You are the community I serve. I know it's a privilege to be able to do something I love and I love helping you with planned giving. Thank you for your interest and input and for being a loyal reader.

How are you thanking your supporters, planned giving and otherwise? Please share this with me at lgreif@breakthroughphilanthropy.com or lgreif@easypg.com. I am always interested in learning something new and your confidentiality is guaranteed, if requested.

Also, please check our my blog, www.plannedgivingbreakthroughs.com. It's about cultivation and stewardship...and budgets.  

Working to Bring You Breakthroughs in Philanthropy,

Warmest welcome to our new Planned Giving Key subscribers!

Different Thanks

As fundraisers, we know it's so important to thank all supporters all the time. But, here we are at Thanksgiving so it may be a good idea to do something a little more special if possible, something that will separate you from the rest of the pack.

I know that this is the time of the big push for year-end gifts. I know that everyone is extremely overworked and stressed. But doing something a little different in addition to your "standard thank you" may really bring home the message of appreciation to your donors, the special people who continue making their gifts to you during this financial difficulty period.

Even the financially "comfortable" are feeling uncomfortable at this point. Doing something different or extra to show your appreciation will be so meaningful and it may be remembered when things pick up.

Here are just a few suggestions that you may not already use for thanks. After all, you want this message of appreciation to be over and above your norm. This digital age makes this easier to do because I'm assuming you thank people with printed communications.

• Video is everywhere. One reason is that it's so easy to create (even I do it with only the aid of my trusy and brilliant assistant). Expensive equipment is no longer necessary. Be imaginative and creative. Why not post a video on your website with a thank you message instead of a solicitation. If you include what all the donations you're thankful for have accomplished you may even get some new gifts (but that's not the focus).
• Email a thank you message and the web-link of a special video to special supporters (like your major and legacy gifters).
• Email a picture or a poem with a compelling thank you message.
• Don't forget your Facebook thank you (and perhaps a free download of something useful).

But it doesn't have to be digital and there may be older people (possibly planned gifters) who prefer something less techie.

• Put your Development Committee and other board members to work calling people to thank them and wish a happy holiday season.
• You can put other volunteers on the phone (or a beneficiary of your nonprofits mission) to say thank you. I think this could really have an impact.
•  Extend an exclusive "comp" or special invitation to various already scheduled activities (but don't make it too costly to accomplish). 

My point is, these are unique times so be sure your thanking process is unique too.

LinkedIn Group - easyPG^®  Group to Create Successful Planned Giving Campaigns.

our easyPG^®  Page on Facebook and get into the conversation about planned giving.

Follow  easyPG  on Twitter.

Lorri M. Greif, CFRE, president of Breakthrough Philanthropy, Inc., and creator of the easyPG^® Program has worked for more than two decades in the nonprofit community focused on planned giving and major gifts.

She has created and implemented successful major gift and planned giving campaigns for both local and national nonprofits and her skill in training staff and leadership has made her a favorite speaker at planned giving seminars and conferences around the nation. 

Her unique experience in building or re-working varied major gift and planned giving fundraising campaigns from “the ground up” sets her apart from the crowd.

Lorri is a former board member of Women in Development (WID) and is still active on committees. She is also a member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals (AFP), the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York (PPGGNY), the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (PPP), the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA), and served on the National Board of Gift-Planning Consultants for Planned Giving MENTOR™, a newsletter for beginners to gift planning. Her articles on gift planning and planned giving campaigns are widely published on line and in print. She can be reached at lgreif@breakthroughphilanthropy.com or lgreif@easypg.com