Asking questions and educating prospects about ways to make gifts are the hallmark of our jobs as fundraisers. In this article, we list 10 key questions you need to ask donors and prospects in order to begin the cultivation process. We also discuss important points about listening to and processing information gleaned from the answers.
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INDIANAPOLIS, November 2, 2009 — Gender does not generally predict whether someone who donates to charity is likely to leave a charitable bequest in his or her will, according to a study released today by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
October 26, 2009, The Telegraph — Barbara Crichton and her mother Susie know the distress and expense that can be caused by a disputed will. Their close friend, Beatrice Southwell, 91, wrote a new will shortly before her death, which was contested by the Crichtons, who wanted her original will reinstated. They were not successful.
September 29, 2009, Forbes — Dozens of charities, including some with brand names, have been soliciting gift annuities over the Web citing unlikely high yields and an endorsement from a fake person who is quoted as saying she is "delighted" with her investment.
August 29, 2009, The Roanoke Times — Robert Rust needed a little financial help during the Great Depression to pay for his final two years at the Virginia Military Institute, and he got it in the form of a $300 yearly scholarship. Before his death in April, Rust decided to return the favor.
Face it, no one likes to talk about death — especially not his or her own. And to talk about planned giving, you have to acknowledge the fact that a "planned" gift is one that will be given to a charity after the donor has shuffled off his or her mortal coil. It takes a very specific approach — and personality type — to do it well.
New York, July 13, 2009 — With charitable giving down, more and more nonprofits are dipping into their endowments further reducing their resources -- making a bad situation worse. However, there is one type of giving that hasn't been tapped to its full potential and that's planned giving, which is just another way to raise money in addition to annual donations and grants. Yet, board members and fundraising staff shy away from planned giving programs perhaps because it sounds more complicated than other programs.
July 7, 2009, Third Sector — Charities are facing an increasing number of challenges by disgruntled family members to legacies left to them by supporters, according to a number of charities and charity lawyers.
Remember the story of the boy in Holland who noticed a hole in the dike? Fearing a leak could flood the entire town, he shoved his finger into the hole, potentially avoiding a major disaster.
