| During a fundraising committee meeting, a new | | | | bequest. Your nonprofit has an untapped potential in |
| member asked the question "How much money did | | | | the form of your current annual or major donors |
| we receive last year from bequests or other forms | | | | from which to solicit bequests. |
| of planned giving?" This question generated a lively | | | | Recessions can be a good time to seek bequests. |
| discussion because this small nonprofit had never | | | | In difficult economic times, many donors feel that |
| received money from any form of planned giving. | | | | they cannot give as much as they have in the past. |
| Board members had talked about it but the general | | | | A bequest offers them the opportunity to feel that |
| thinking was that planned giving was too complicated | | | | they are still helping your nonprofit without hurting |
| and costly for a small nonprofit to manage and so | | | | themselves in financially challenging times. |
| they never pursued it. If this is the stance of your | | | | Creating a bequest program is simple. |
| nonprofit, share with them the following reasons why | | | | Once your board approves the establishment of a |
| all nonprofits should do some sort of planned giving | | | | bequest program, you can begin advertising this in |
| program beginning with simple bequests. | | | | your newsletter, on your web site, and in every |
| Nonprofits receive enormous sums of money from | | | | promotional piece you produce. That is all you need |
| bequests. | | | | to do until some one dies and you actually receive |
| In the United States in 2008, more than $22 billion | | | | the money. Then, it is up to your nonprofit to ensure |
| was given to charity through bequests. This fact | | | | that the bequest is used according to the wishes of |
| looks even more impressive when you compare it | | | | the donor. It may take years before your nonprofit |
| with the fact that only $14.5 billion that was given to | | | | actually receives its first bequest. However, since it |
| charities from the corporate sector. | | | | takes so little time and effort to establish and |
| The opportunity to get bequests is nearly unlimited. | | | | support a bequest program, is there any reason why |
| About 80% of people in the United States give | | | | your board wouldn't establish one? |
| annually to charities while less than 3% leave a | | | | |