A client of mine (an Executive Director of a mid-size non-profit) recently told me that his agency was running a $140,000 deficit due to the difficult economic times.  Fundraising was down as well as government contracts.  However, a $100,000 bequest due this year would cut the shortfall to $40,000.  That bequest will make all the difference in his operating budget this year.
In these difficult economic times, when donors are finding it more difficult to part with current dollars, planned gifts can make a critical difference for non-profits.
So why aren’t more non-profits engaged in planned gift activities?

The Problem – Procrastination

•     Organizational procrastination - Often the non-profit never gets around to promoting planned gifts because these gifts are usually deferred for many years and the non-profit needs immediate dollars that will help them in the short term. 
•     Donor procrastination - Donors are also subject to procrastination.  Even with the best intentions, he or she often never gets around to completing a planned gift.  There is no immediacy or deadline to motivate an action step.

The Answer – The Quiet Campaign

The Quiet Campaign is a new approach to planned giving fundraising.  It overcomes the procrastination problem by:

•     Providing strong closure using a campaign format with volunteer involvement, a goal, and a deadline.
•     Tying planned gifts to current contributions in the form of a challenge.  Donors are solicited for major gifts of current dollars that are then used as a “challenge” to leverage planned gifts for endowment.  This challenge links immediate dollars to planned gifts.  This provides a focus for both the organization and the donor.
•     Providing ongoing Moran Company consultations to give direction and maintain momentum.

 
Upon successful completion, this program will:

1.   Provide $200,000 in current dollars for the non-profit (exact amount depends upon the development capacity of the individual non-profit).
2.   Result in 20 new planned gifts for the non-profit (hundreds of thousands of dollars in future endowment).

 

SUCCESSFUL PLANNED GIFT PROGRAMS

Successful planned gift programs do the following:

•     Exhibit a high level of commitment by both the Board and the Executive Director to the planned giving program.
•     Systematically identify planned gift prospects from the non-profit’s constituencies.
•     Focus on personal visits as the preferred method of cultivation and solicitation.
•     Establish an annual goal for planned gifts.
•     Develop a Heritage Society.
•     Use mail and e-mail for dedicated planned gift communications to qualified prospects.
•     Integrate planned giving messages and articles into ongoing publications.
•     Promote a variety of planned gifts with an emphasis on charitable bequests.
•     Conduct planned giving and estate planning seminars for constituency groups.
•     Inform and educate professionals in the estate planning and tax fields about the potential of planned gifts.

 

If you would like more information on the Quiet Campaign or other planned gift fundraising call (816) 756-1090 or email us at info@morancompany.com  

Our Services Include:

           

Following, is a partial list of organizations that have benefited from our services:

Academie Lafayette Charter School
American Lung Association
American Red Cross
American Royal
Amethyst Place
Arts Council of Metropolitan K.C.
Armour Home
Avila University
Barstow School
Cancer Action, Inc.
Catholic Charities
Center for Management Assistance
Child Abuse Prevention Association
Children’s Mercy Hospital
The Children’s Place
City Vision Ministries
Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation
Community Foundation of Central GA
Community Foundation of the Ozarks
Community Fnd. of South Wood
Community Resource Network
Cornerstones of Care
Council on Philanthropy
Crittenton
DeLaSalle Education Center
Dreams Work, Inc.
Foundation on Aging
Foxwood Springs Living Center
Friends of the Zoo
Greater KC Community Foundation
Greater Memphis Community Fnd.
Greater Salina Community Fnd.
Harvesters
Hays Medical Center Foundation
Health Resource Partners
Healthykansascity.com
Heart of America Family Services
Heartland Presbyterian Center
Hispanic Development Fund
Holy Cross Family Ministries, Inc.
Immacolata Manor
Jackson County Historical Society
Junior Achievement
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City Film Commission
Kansas City Hospice
Kansas City Public Library
Kansas City Public Television
Kansas City Symphony
La Crosse Wisconsin Comm. Fnd.
Liberty Hospital Foundation
Local Investment Commission (LINC)
Marillac
Mattie Rhodes Counseling Center
Medical College of Virginia Fnd.
Metro Growth Fund of Greater KC
Mid-Amer. Coalition on Health Care
Midwest Bioethics
National Kidney Foundation
Oshkosh Wisconsin Community Fnd.
Ozanam Home for Boys
Park University
Partnership for Children
Racine Wisconsin Community Fnd.
Resource Development Institute
Rockhurst University
Saint Luke’s Hospital Foundation
SAVE, Inc.
Shawnee Mission Medical Cntr. Fnd.
Spofford Home
Sunshine Center School
Support Kansas City
Swope Parkway Health Center
Swope Ridge Geriatric Center
Synergy Services, Inc.
TLC
Topeka and Shawnee County Library
Truman Library
Truman Medical Cntr.Charitable Fnd.
United Methodist Homes
Via Christi Medical Foundation
Wayside Waifs
Wentworth Military Academy
William Jewell College
Women's Christian Association
Women’s Intersport Network for KC
Yampa Valley Community Foundation
YMCA