Comments on: When Talking about Cash Gifts is Tough, Talk Planned Gifts Instead

By: Give 2 Achieve

Give 2 Achieve — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:32:09 +0000

Hi there

I certainly would want to join that program, and I hope it would give more benefits, and hopefully turn out very successful.

Thanks for the link
Richard

By: Danielle Denhardt

Danielle Denhardt — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:12:41 +0000

Hi Kivi – I’m really excited about this webinar! Fancy Cats Rescue Team has been considering this but I just don’t have any idea how to get started. As the potential recipient, do we need to consult a lawyer or accountant to set anything up on our end to be able to properly receive these gifts? Or do we just go out with the ask? And I’d love to know if Viken has any contacts in the Northern VA/DC area who might be willing to give a (free???) seminar on this topic for our donors/supporters.

By: Kivi Leroux Miller

Kivi Leroux Miller — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:02:15 +0000

Hi Judi — I think you have your answer right in your question — it’s not about their death, it’s about their life’s legacy. The approach is not “we want your money when the cancer finally kills you off” but rather “would you like to leave a legacy that helps others fight this disease (or however you would use the money)?” What better way to empower someone who has been struck with an illness than giving them a way to fight it after they are gone. You absolutely have to change your mindset and focus on the benefits for others and the donors role in making that progress through the gift. Today’s webinar we just did on Taking the Fear Out of Fundraising would help with that mindset shift too.

By: Judi Sohn

Judi Sohn — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:46:54 +0000

Unfortunately, someone from our org can’t make the webinar but we’ve been struggling with this for a while. We are a cancer advocacy organization, and no matter how many ways we’ve turned it over, it feels tactless so we haven’t tried. Many of our supporters are terminally ill, so it feels like we’re saying, “since you’re going to die soon anyway…” when of course that’s not what we mean. Here we are fighting to keep them alive, and then on the other side of our mouths we’re talking about their deaths.

Would love to find some resources of how other patient/disease-focused organizations do this.