Mid-Valley Development Professionals : How To Facilitate Leaving A Legacy

How To Facilitate Leaving A Legacy

Familiarize yourself, your office partners and staff with the Leave A Legacy program.
Network with the local Planned Giving Council and Development professionals to further this program for nonprofits in the community.
Run a series of articles about Leave A Legacy in any newsletters or regular communication you have with clients. Include any testimonials from your clients about their giving.
Use the Leave A Legacy logo in all materials about gift planning.
Serve on a charitable board or gift planning committee to assist charities in securing donations.
Make your own legacy gift to the charities of your choice.
Keep records of Planned Gifts handled through your office or for clients to help assess the future effectiveness of this community-wide Leave A Legacy effort.
Share Leave A Legacy where you play, pray, volunteer or serve and with friends and family.

Invite a speaker to address your Board or staff about Leave a Legacy.
Get Board endorsement of the project and your organization’s participation.
Link your web site to ours (www.mvdp-or.org/about/leave-a-legacy).
Run a series of articles in your newsletter about Leave a Legacy, and planned giving in general. Include any testimonials from your donors about their giving.
Personalize the free Leave a Legacy brochures with your own logo or name.
Mail free Leave a Legacy brochures to your closest supporters with a cover letter personally signed by the Executive Director or Board President.
Invite supporters to a presentation, and use someone from the speaker’s bureau to speak about planned giving.
Use the Leave a Legacy logo in all materials about gift planning.
Ask about interest in gift planning information in every campaign or survey.
Educate and alert your staff about Leave a Legacy and your participation, particularly those answering phones. Post a simple note at the front desk for volunteer receptionists.
Carefully think through your prompt response to any Leave a Legacy inquiries, and develop a letter and simple packet of information. Follow up.
Show the inspirational Leave a Legacy video to interested parties.
Involve your leadership to visit your organization with any interested donors.
Join your local Leave a Legacy team and help raise community awareness!

Adopt a gift acceptance policy which addresses donations other than cash.
Work with your Board of Directors to decide if your organization wants to create an endowment fund.
Establish goals for your endowment fund, based on anticipated needs over the next 10-20+ years.
Join your local planned giving council and learn more about gift planning and network with nonprofit and allied professionals in your community.
Set up or re-evaluate your financial investment policy.
Consider making your own legacy gift to the charities of your choice.
Set up a committee to meet with your closest supporters and share your plans.
Set up a recognition process including such items as a heritage society, plaque in the lobby, and or annual listing in the newsletter or annual report.
Hire a planned giving consultant for a year or two to help you get started.