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

If a donor responds that she has included your organization in her will, you should consider doing any or all of the following:

• Immediately thank the donor, tell her about your legacy society (if you have one—see below) and let her know she will receive an invitation.
• Request a copy of the relevant documentation for your files.
• Discuss the allocation of the proceeds, if any. (Occasionally, the donor cannot recall, so this is another reason why you should request the documentation.)
• Follow up after the meeting with a second “thanks” for the planned gift, and then be sure the donor receives a legacy society invitation.

Often legacy society membership will put the donor in an enhanced mail/contact category, and the donor will begin to receive more news about your organization and hopefully feel more connected. Remember that most bequests are revocable; the donor’s ability to change his or her mind (and in our experience there are a few who do this) means you now have the responsibility of keeping the donor informed and happy.