Planned Giving: ‘How Old Are You and Did 
You Know You Could … ?’

Our mothers taught us that it isn’t good manners to ask people how old they are — and it isn’t generally wise to guesstimate. Usually, the prospect provides an opening for you to ask this question. She may mention being “old” or celebrating a “milestone” birthday; talk about retiring at a set age or in the near future; or mention physical ailments she suffers from that usually strike “older” people. But what do you do when a prospect doesn’t volunteer this information?