Fundraising Strategy • Campaign Planning • Board Engagement

You Don't Have to be an Attorney to Inspire a Planned Gift

One of the biggest misconceptions in fundraising is that you need to be an estate planning attorney, CPA, or financial advisor before you can have a conversation about planned giving.

In nearly 40 years of fundraising, I can honestly say I've never had a donor ask me to draft a will, create a trust, or provide legal or tax advice.

Yet I regularly hear nonprofit leaders and fundraising professionals say they avoid talking about planned gifts because they're afraid they'll be asked a question they can't answer.

The good news? That's not your role.

Your role is simply to begin the conversation.

August is National Make A Will Month. Use this opportunity to begin the conversation - and discover why planned giving is often much simplier than people imagine.

Read the Article

Winner's Roundtable for Nonprofit Leaders

Over the years, I've met hundreds of nonprofit board members who are successful business and community leaders. They're passionate about the organizations they serve and genuinely want to make a difference.

Yet many quietly admit the same thing:

"No one ever taught me how to be a great board member."

Serving on a nonprofit board is one of the most meaningful ways we can give back to our communities. But passion alone doesn't prepare us for the responsibilities of governance, strategic leadership, financial oversight, fundraising, or serving as an ambassador for an organization.

One of the books I enjoyed reading again this summer was The Perfect Board by Calvin K. Clemons, CAE, CMP. Through an engaging story, it introduces readers to the principles of effective board service—from fiduciary responsibilities and governance to measuring your effectiveness as a board member.

Reading the book reminded me of one of my favorite experiences in college.

Every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. (painfully early for a college student!), two of my favorite business professors hosted a Winners Roundtable at a small restaurant in downtown Kalamazoo. Each week we discussed a simple chapter from a from a current business book over breakfast.

Beginning this fall, I'd like to launch a Winner's Roundtable for Nonprofit Leaders.

On the first Friday of each month at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern), I'll host a one-hour Zoom discussion for nonprofit executives, board members, board chairs, volunteers, and anyone interested in becoming a stronger nonprofit leader.

We'll read one chapter each month from a carefully selected book and spend time discussing practical ideas we can apply in our own organizations and board service.

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, I'd love to have you join us.

Just email me at Tracy@TCPhilanthropy.com and I'll forward the reading schedule, Zoom information, and details for our first Winner's Roundtable.

Read The Article