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  Planned Giving Strategy Revenue

Planned Giving StrategyBeing very young, our university didn't have a prayer in soliciting planned gifts from our alumni. And there wasn't much return on working directly with elderly "friends" who had their own universities and charities to first consider.

So we built a program where we concentrate, almost solely, on cultivating practitioners like estate lawyers, CPA's, realtors, investment counselors, etc. We've convinced them, via intense and ongoing interaction with our planned giving professional, president, etc., that we have a sophisticated program and can execute even the most advanced planning techniques (which we can).

We've recruited members of the practicing community to join our "Planned Giving Council" and that organization is now about 65 strong. They meet quarterly on campus and receive bi-monthly electronic newsletters. They have to constantly upgrade their competency on various issues, so we offer the classes they need on our campus.

So when wealthy investors find themselves in a "tax-situation" or don't have a will and/or charities in their favor, the practitioners mention the institution as an organization prepared to and interested in meeting their intentions/expectations as  applicable within the scope of our university.

What has resulted is a large list of 'expectancies' now on our books from people, many of whom have never set foot on our campus. (The range of giving is due to the potential fluctuation of the value of assets in the collective "portfolio." It's calculated very conservatively). One of these assets just came to fruition when we received a house that recently sold for $770k. We had the expectancy booked at $750k.

In another case, just unfolding, an heiress will be on our campus to seriously discuss establishing a project. The donor is aging. Why is this donor interested in us? Her lawyer, who lives here and is on our "Planned Giving Council," called and suggested we provide the heiress with tickets to a campus event. We did. She came and met our President for dinner before the event. The lawyer informed her that our program is sophisticated enough to do something serious and thoughtful with her money.

So it's a great program created entirely out of necessity. Yet it will translate well at and be effective at any university or charity.

Just because you have well-established contacts with perhaps thousands of aging, potential donors, working the practitioners will still open up an entirely different case-load that will very quickly warrant an entirely new planned giving professional within
the organization.

Planned Giving - Professional Allies Program

Current Structure

Planned Giving Committee (PGC)

Leadership group of professionals (currently 14) who meet four times annually with the Director of Planned Giving.

Group provides critical feedback on technical, marketing and client issues, and is a sounding board for policy and procedure review as well as program strategy.

Critically, the Committee members can provide invaluable information and feedback on particular cases that you are working on.

The Committee does not have formal authority, as all decisions rest with the Director, but its contributions and the weight of its opinion are of major importance to Institutional Planned Giving.

Planned Giving Advisory Council (PGAC)

The larger (currently about 65) group of allied professionals who meet twice annually on campus at a luncheon hosted by the President and/or Provost.

Lead presentation is about some aspect of the campus academic or other programs, usually represented by faculty or director.  We like to have students involved, when appropriate.

Council members have three charges:

  • Become knowledgeable about and familiar with the university

  • Act as an ambassador for the institution by encouraging clients to make a planned gift to the university in appropriate circumstances

  • Advise the Office of Planned Giving on ways to increase support through bequests and other planned gifts

Suggestions on Building an Allied Professional Program

1. Recruit the Planned Giving Committee first

Use 2-3 leading professionals to brainstorm on names, sign letters, and call them on the phone.  Start with the very best names possible.

Keep size around 10-16 for management purposes.

Consider involving a speaker from the university to start most meetings to keep the learning process going, and connecting them to the university.

Take the members on a campus tour and introduce them to students from time to time.

Introduce to the President and your Foundation. These VIP volunteer leaders provide a great network to clients as well as their colleagues.

Tell potential donors about your PGC, as appropriate, to demonstrate to them the breadth of the professional support for your planned giving program. This lends credibility to the university. Even if a layperson does not use any of the PGC professionals as her advisors, they will still like this relationship.

Have an annual social, thank you event on campus that highlights Performing Arts, Athletics or another aspect of the university.

Seek candid feedback about what they think the university could be doing to strengthen the planned giving program and its image in the community.

2. Recruit the Planned Giving Advisory Council after the PGC is operating smoothly

Invite to initial luncheon those professionals who you would like to have join.

As you meet professionals in their offices, take PGAC invitation form and, if you have it, your weekly newsletter or other publicity, and ask them to join.

Be very sensitive to the fact professionals are very protective of their clients. I emphasize that our primary purpose is for them to get to know the university so they become aware of possible giving opportunities for their clients to consider.

Develop a membership list which is shared with members, potential donors and the campus community.

Get email addresses!

Communicate with PGAC members by email about campus accomplishments or to seek feedback or help on particular issues (carefully and judiciously).

If you have the money, ideally send them an annual or more frequent technical newsletter.

Communicate the existence and importance of this group at every opportunity on- and off-campus.

Invite them to never hesitate to contact you by phone or email, and that you are happy to come to their office at any time to visit with them, and, if they wish, a client.

Provide them with technical gift illustrations and show them an example once annually at one of the luncheons or other meetings.

Remember that this is a trust-building exercise that takes time before the professional contacts you about a client. Tell the professional that you would like her to consider placing the university on her list of charities that she might mention to clients when there appears to be a possible interest.

Service, service and service. Consider providing assistance (calculations, case discussion) to professionals even where it involves a charity other than your own institution. It will all come back to build goodwill for the university.

Brochure samples: Charitable Gift Annuity, Planned Giving Opportunities.

 
Sample Electronic NewsletterSample Bi-monthly Electronic Newsletter

CSUMB Teleconference October dd, yyyy

IRA and Pension Tax Planning in yyyy--Ways to Help Your Clients Avoid the Big Tax Trap

This is a vital planning skill for professional advisors that can provide great benefits to clients.

IRA and pension assets have returned to the peak level of $10 trillion. With the growth of qualified plans, many estates are 40%-70% IRA or pension plans. Clients need protection against this ticking time bomb that could push many children into the top income tax brackets. Under current plans, huge numbers of surviving spouses will be depleting IRA's while paying greatly increased income taxes. This session also will offer solutions for stock options, qualified replacement property for ESOP's and stock bonus plans.

Registration forms for this event will be mailed out in the next week. Please give our office a call at 999-9999 to reserve your space!

October dd, yyyy
12:00-2:15 PM,
CSUMB University Center

Best regards,

Director of Planned Giving
999-999-9999

Note that this part of the newsletter if followed by stock planned giving materials
from one of the planned giving vendors.

See CSUMB's Planned Giving Page at:
http://csumbgift.org/plgive_main.jsp?WebID=GL2004-0160&SSID=578A7AB19005B038F0B60E8ECA166F00

 
Contributed by ...
 
Scott Warrington, Vice President, University Advancement, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Email AddressScott has served in the advancement field for higher education for nearly twenty years. He spent ten years at Penn State University as their Director of Development for the College of Education, was Associate Vice President for University Advancement at Fresno State for six years, and Vice President for University Advancement at CSU Monterey Bay for five years. He has chaired and presented at national conferences on advancement topics such as athletic and academic fundraising comparisons, compensation for advancement professionals, and volunteer recruiting and management.

Scott holds a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in English/Writing and a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts, all from Penn State.

Supportingadvancement.com Job Descriptions - Advancement Services Manager, Major Gifts Officer, University Relations Assistant
Supportingadvancement.com Planned Giving Strategy. Samples: Charitable Gift Annuity, Planned Giving Opportunities, Teachers

 
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