Bequest

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Bequest tick box is vital

In fundraising, one of the most valuable assets an organisation can have is a strong base of committed donors. Identifying those committed donors via a bequest tick box is vital. These individuals give generously, often on a recurring basis, and form the backbone of an organisation’s financial stability. But what happens when those donors pass away? Without a plan in place, the organisation risks losing a significant source of revenue and a key element of its community.

That’s where bequests come in. A bequest is simply a gift left in a will or trust. For many donors, leaving a bequest to a favorite charity is a way to continue their legacy and support a cause they care deeply about even after they’re gone. And for organisations, bequests can provide a reliable, long-term source of funding that helps ensure their mission can continue for years to come.

But how do you encourage donors to include your organization in their estate planning? One effective method is to include a bequest tick box on your donation appeals. This simple addition can make a big difference in the number of donors who consider leaving a bequest to your organization.

Importance of the Bequest Checkbox

Here’s why including a bequest tick box on your appeals is so important:

  1. It makes it easy for donors to take action

Donors are busy people, and they may not think to include your organization in their will or trust unless you remind them. By including a bequest tick box on your donation appeals, you make it easy for them to take action right away.

  1. It signals your organization’s commitment to long-term sustainability.

When donors see that your organisation is actively encouraging bequests, it sends a signal that you’re thinking about the future. This can be reassuring to donors who want to know that their support will have a lasting impact.

  1. It helps you identify potential bequest donors

Even if donors don’t check the bequest box on their first donation, the fact that they saw it and thought about it may be enough to plant a seed. And if they do tick the box, you now have a valuable lead on a potential bequest donor.

  1. It shows that you value all types of support

By including a bequest checkbox alongside your regular donation options, you send a message that all types of support are valuable. This can be especially important for donors who may not be able to give as much as they’d like during their lifetime, but still want to make a meaningful contribution.

  1. It can lead to a significant source of funding over time

While bequests may not provide immediate revenue, they can be a significant source of funding over time. By encouraging donors to include your organisation in their estate planning, you’re setting the stage for a reliable, long-term source of support.

In conclusion, including a bequest tick box on your donation appeals can be a simple yet powerful way to encourage donors to include your organization in their estate planning. By making it easy for donors to take action, signalling your commitment to long-term sustainability, identifying potential bequest donors, showing that you value all types of support, and creating a reliable source of funding over time, you can help ensure that your organisation’s mission can continue for years to come.

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Few charities actually recognise birthdays

ridbc-1It is amongst the easiest ways for a charitable organisation to remember a donor. It is, perhaps, amongst the most important ways to remember a donor. By simply saying “happy birthday” via a hand-written note, an Email, a telephone call, or an SMS, non-profit organisations show they care. Does your charitable organisation remember donors on their special day?

January is my birthday month. I give to about 400 charitable organisations in a given year. This year I received two birthday messages – one from Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) and another from Mater Foundation. ridbc-inside

This may come as a surprise to you, but it is not to me. The reason it is not a surprise? Very few organisations request a donor’s birthday despite the fact every organisation should. Very few organisations I support have asked me for my date of birth.

The fact is there are three data elements, which are vital in any supporter’s record:

  • eMail address
  • mobile telephone number.
  • date of birth.

Date of birth is not simply vital to offer greetings on one’s birthday. Date of birth is, of course, critical for use in bequest prospecting.

Take time to gather date of birth from each of your supporters. You won’t regret it and neither will the donors.

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Best practice response form in nonprofit tax appeal

Best Practice TWSI wrote previously about my giving to conservation organisations, including Bush Heritage Australia (BHA) and The Wilderness Society (TWS). I have also written about best practices these conservation organisations follow in terms of response devices and confirm, edit and enhance. This week I received a tax appeal from TWS.  The TWS response device spoke of best practice, yet again.

What makes this a best practice response device?

  1. The response device is clear, clean and easy to read.
  2. A question is featured to ask me if I wish to receive more information about the TWS bequest program.
  3. My contact details are pre-populated on the form.
  4. I was asked if my contact details are current.
  5. The form features multiple calls to action. There are three, in total, including the bequest tick box, a petition, and an opportunity to make a gift.
  6. TWS include vehicles to make my gift – post, phone and online.
  7. Finally, the form includes an opt out mechanism.

TWS, and BHA previously, know how to make it easy for the donor to respond to calls to action and to assist the organisations to keep their data clean and correct. Charities across Australia might make a gift to both nonprofit organisations to get on their mailing list and to see live best practice samples for themselves.

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Don’t judge your donors by the way they dress

Snip20150207_52The US morning show, NBC’s Today Show, reported this week about a gentleman who lived very modestly in the US state of Vermont. In fact, he lived so modestly no one had any idea he was worth about $8 million…until he passed away and left it all to charity.

According to the story, Ron Read, a janitor surprised everyone when he left $4.8 million to the local hospital – Brattleboro Memorial Hospital – and the remaining $1.2 million to the local library – Brooks Memorial Library.

His estate attorney says Read told her he had money. And, the estate attorney did not believe him because of “the way he dressed”. She said he typically dressed in a worn coat, flannel shirt and baseball cap. The attorney adds “never judge someone across the table for what they look like”.

Two institutions that impacted Read’s life while he was alive are now being impacted by Read after his death. In fact, both organisations say the gift Read left is the largest they have received. Simply put, Read has left the community stunned.

Think of the time and attention we pay to people, in and outside of the fundraising world, based on the way they look. Think of the time we spend in this business on high value donors simply based on what they give out of pocket today. Read likely did not give money while he was alive. Some reported they tried to buy him a meal in the hospital cafeteria based on the fact he looked like he was in need.

I love this story because it indicates to me that someone at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and someone at Brooks Memorial Hospital thought he enough to care for Mr Read no matter how others may judge him. And, in the end, he recognised the caring received and the services provided by the hospital and the library.