Thursday, February 17, 2011

Don't Miss the Opportunity to Strengthen Your Organization through Legacy Giving

Don't Miss the Opportunity to Strengthen Your Organization through Legacy Giving: "Legacy Giving—A Major Growth Opportunity

Nearly 70 percent of Americans make gifts to charity during their lifetime, yet fewer than 10 percent create legacy gifts. Why are people generous in supporting nonprofits during life but make no provision for them at death? Most have never been asked to do so!

Though we are in the midst of a significant generational transfer of wealth, organizations are not seizing the opportunity to talk with their supporters about the impact legacy giving can have on their mission-based goals.

Legacy gifts can enable organizations to achieve long-term financial stability and sustainability. Studies show that legacy giving offers a powerful means to enhance and diversify a charity's fundraising efforts because:

* It's a revenue source that typically increases during tough economic times.
* Almost everyone has the ability to create a legacy gift.
* For most people, it's the largest gift they can make.
* Investing in legacy giving efforts has a high rate of return.
* Legacy donors make larger annual gifts than non-legacy donors.
* There are many forms of legacy gifts that are very easy to create"

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