Focus on Bequests in Bad Times

Focus on Bequests in Bad Times

by Tom Wilson Major Gifts Guru

For months I've stressing to clients that in these tough times major gifts of six and seven figures are going to be hard to land. Donors need time to sort out the economy and let their assets regain some of their value.

But, bequest decisions need to be made every day. No matter what the value of your assets, when you die you're gone and the assets need to go somewhere.

If a donor is retired, considering an immediate gift is even tougher, there's no way to gain back lost asset value except wait for the market to come back. You can't earn any more, you just have to wait.

So, talk to retired major gift donors about bequests. If you can't help us today, help us tomorrow when you're gone.

A recent article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy reinforced this concept brillantly. The Nature Conservancy noted that since the beginning of their last fiscal year (7/1/08) bequest notifications have increased 24%. Check out The Conservancy's planned giving website section by clicking here.

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