The Decision
As we reach the end of the legacy planning process with a donor or family, we give some practical steps that can help communicate your plan and make sure those you love, and the causes you care about, know what to expect. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide the best way forward and who they want to know about their plans.
Best Practices for Notifying a Nonprofit you’re leaving a legacy gift
When a donor chooses to notify the nonprofit(s) named in their legacy plan, here are a few suggested messages you might include. Use the toggle to explore each option:
Be sure to include whether a gift is included in your plan or a joint plan with a spouse or partner. Include your full names and a way for the nonprofit to get a hold of you if they have questions.
Here’s your chance to share a bit of your story! Describe how this organization made a difference in your life or a loved one’s life or how you connect with the unique mission of the organization you’re choosing to support.
Here you can choose to share as much or as little as you’d like! You might include notes on whether you’ll be giving a gift during life or through your estate after you’re gone. Will the gift be a lump sum or a variety of disbursements over several years? Will it be made in cash, stock, or through another asset? If the organization has an endowment or foundation, will your gift go to that entity, or straight to the organization itself?
If there’s a specific program or capital project you’d like your gift to support, it’s a great idea to let the organization know that. If there are any questions about whether the gift lines up to current, or future, priorities, those will come up now instead of decades down the road!
Legacy Giving: What to Expect from the Organization
Every organization treats legacy donors differently. Organizations can, and should, consider celebrating and communicating with their legacy donors. As a donor who’s indicated that you’ll be remembering an organization through a bequest or planned gift, you may hear from the organization’s development team more regularly or be asked to be part of a legacy organization.
Be sure to communicate your preferences, though! Just like you get to determine how or whether to inform a nonprofit about a planned gift, you get to decide how much you want to be recognized or how much you want to hear from the organization. You can change your gift at any time.