​2025 is shaping up to be a very interesting year for tax policy, to say the least! 
​
The Republican-led Congress and White House are aiming to use the budget reconciliation process to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. This process allows them to bypass typical filibuster rules and require only a simple majority of 51 votes in the Senate. So what does this mean to you and your colleagues and the way you should approach generating support for your endowment fund at the Community Foundation? 

The Community Foundation will help keep our nonprofit partners up-to-date on potential tax law changes in 2025 related to the scheduled expiration of provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, and what might happen if the TCJA provisions wind up expiring instead of being extended.
Here are three things that are important to know: 

Potential reduction in estate and gift tax exemption
The estate and gift tax exemption is slated to decrease significantly at midnight on December 31, 2025. Currently, the exemption is $13.99 million per person. After 2025, this could be reduced to approximately $7 million per individual and $14 million per couple. This change may impact charitable giving strategies, particularly for high net-worth donors who use estate planning as part of their philanthropic efforts.

Changes to charitable deduction limits
The TCJA temporarily increased the deduction limit for cash contributions to public charities from 50% to 60% of adjusted gross income (AGI). If this provision expires, the limit may revert to 50% of AGI. This reduction could affect the tax benefits for donors making large charitable contributions, potentially influencing their giving decisions.

Increase in standard deduction and impact on itemized deductions
The TCJA significantly increased the standard deduction, which led to a reduction in the number of taxpayers itemizing deductions. If these provisions expire, the standard deduction could revert to lower pre-TCJA levels. This change might increase the number of taxpayers who itemize, potentially making charitable deductions more attractive for a broader range of donors. However, it's important to note that the overall impact on charitable giving could be complex, as it may be influenced by other factors such as changes in tax rates and the reinstatement of certain itemized deductions.

These potential changes underscore the importance for charity fundraisers to stay informed about tax law developments and to work closely with donors and their financial advisors to navigate the evolving landscape of charitable giving strategies.

For context, if you like to get in the weeds, we recommend taking a look at a recent study that breaks down the flow of capital into the nonprofit sector.
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

Especially at the beginning of a new year, the team at the Community Foundation fields a lot of questions from fundraising professionals about strategies for increasing gifts to an organization’s endowment fund. Not surprisingly, a very common question is this:

“How can we get our board members more involved in endowment fundraising?”

And of course, that is an important question. Board members’ active participation in endowment fundraising can provide a big boost to achieving your organization’s long-term financial stability.
Here's a five-point formula for getting your board involved in growing your endowment in 2025 and beyond. 

Step 1: Set the stage
Help board members fully understand the importance of endowment fundraising. Let them know that a strong endowment provides financial stability, supports long-term planning, and helps weather economic uncertainties. Start the year with a dedicated segment in your first board meeting to discuss the status of your endowment and its significance to the organization's future. Remember, transparency is key. Be open about your endowment's current status, even if it has been affected by market fluctuations. Honesty builds trust and motivates board members to take action.

Step 2: Inspire action
Present a confident and enthusiastic approach to fundraising for the year ahead. Emphasize that your organization is proactively addressing financial challenges while others might be hesitant. Be sure your board members know that a strong endowment acts as a buffer during economic downturns, ensuring the continuity of your mission.

Step 3: Equip your board members
Your board members certainly do not need to know all the details of how a gift to your endowment can be structured. Indeed, board members don’t need to know any details; they simply need to be armed with just enough information to be able to listen closely for opportunities when a potential donor mentions anything related to charities or financial planning. Then, it is natural for the board member to make an introduction to your team. Jumping off points for an introduction, and suggested board member responses, include: 

• Required Minimum Distributions from an IRA (“There are ways you can send funds from your IRA directly to a charity. I’ll connect you with Sally Jones at ABC Charity. I’m on the board and the organization does amazing work.”)
• Appreciated stock (“You probably already know that appreciated stock makes a great gift to a charity. I’ll connect you with Sally Jones at ABC Charity. I’m on the board and the organization does amazing work.”)
• Upcoming events (“I am on the board of ABC Charity. There’s an event coming up that you’d really enjoy. I’ll connect you with Sally Jones so you can learn more.”)

Step 4: Make it as easy as possible
Keeping it simple is key! Complexity is a known barrier to a donor’s commitment to give. Meet individually with each board member to discuss potential involvement in endowment fundraising efforts. You may be pleasantly surprised to uncover unique skills, connections, or resources that could benefit your endowment strategies. Along these lines, take advantage of events where board members can engage with potential endowment donors in a comfortable setting. Assign specific, manageable tasks to each board member based on skills and preferences, including asking them to seek out specific donors. And, importantly, encourage board members to make their own contributions to the endowment, demonstrating their commitment to the cause. This makes it much easier for a board member to talk with potential donors because they can speak from personal experience. 

Step 5: Celebrate success
Keep the board informed about the progress of endowment fundraising efforts, celebrating successes and addressing challenges. Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of board members who actively participate in fundraising activities. Remember, activity creates results! If board members are out in the world talking about your organization and the endowment, good things will happen! 

As always, the team at the Community Foundation is here to serve as a sounding board as you implement strategies to encourage board members to become active participants in endowment fundraising, ensuring the long-term financial health of your organization.

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

Philanthropy professionals have long recognized the importance of emotional engagement in fundraising, particularly during annual campaigns or initiatives focused on immediate donations. Indeed, recent research underscores the critical role of emotional intelligence in successful fundraising. 
​
When it comes to charitable gift planning, however, such as helping a donor structure a legacy endowment gift, it’s tempting to approach the process as a primarily rational exercise. This is understandable given the complex tax and legal considerations involved in structuring various giving vehicles such as trusts, bequests, foundations, donor-advised funds, and beneficiary designations. Of course, it is crucial to address technical aspects to ensure donors' charitable intentions are fulfilled with tax benefits and financial goals in mind. 

At the same time, you’ll want to be sure that the emotional dimension of charitable gift planning isn’t overlooked. Legacy giving offers psychological benefits. Endowment gifts, in particular, can offer donors a sense of immortality and a way to perpetuate their values beyond their lifetime. No doubt you’ve watched this in action as you’ve helped donors structure legacy gifts to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation, and perhaps you've even played a role in facilitating a donor’s unique emotional and reflective process when considering such a gift.

Encourage your donors to consider the benefits of a legacy gift:

• Create a lasting impact that aligns with their personal values
• Leave a meaningful legacy that extends beyond their lifetime
• Culminate a long history of support for your organization in a significant way

To maximize success in legacy fundraising, nonprofit organizations should strive to engage both the hearts and minds of your donors. Consider sharing inspiring stories and testimonials that illustrate the long-term impact of legacy gifts. To further build an emotional connection, you might even offer the donor exclusive events or site visits to help donors visualize the future impact of their gifts. On the rational side of the equation, you’ll find that working with the Community Foundation team helps you provide clear information about the tax and legal aspects of various giving vehicles. Our team can also help you address concerns about administrative complexities and provide support throughout the giving process.

Please reach out anytime to the team at the Community Foundation to help you implement a balanced approach to tap into donors' emotional desires to make meaningful, lasting gifts while also ensuring that all technical aspects are properly addressed. We are here to help you develop more meaningful connections and ultimately achieve greater success in securing endowment and legacy gifts to keep your mission strong for generations to come. 

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

Year-end gifts are a crucial component of every nonprofit organization’s operating budget, and December is a wildly busy time! Even with so many transactions flying around, it’s still important not to lose sight of the relationship side of fundraising, especially so that you and your team can continue to intentionally and methodically cultivate gifts to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation.
 
More than half of nonprofit organizations say they don’t have donor engagement plans. That’s a lot of missed opportunities! Enhancing donor engagement by creating entry points for their children is a strategy that can deliver a lot of good throughout the year, year after year. 
 
Here are three ways to plant seeds with donors about how leaving a legacy to your organization’s endowment creates meaningful opportunities for family engagement:
 
Help donors celebrate their legacies. Encourage donors to talk with their children about why they’ve chosen to support your organization over the years, and why they are particularly interested in ensuring that your mission stays strong for generations to come. Offer your donors tangible examples of how your mission could help their children–and their children’s children and grandchildren–at critical junctures many years in the future. This helps reinforce the power of endowment giving across generations. 
 
Offer site visits, with a twist. Naturally, you and your colleagues regularly encourage donors to see your work up close. But have you considered encouraging donors to bring their teenage or adult children along to a site visit? And have you made sure that during the site visit, you are pointing out longstanding programs that are made possible only because of gifts to your endowment fund over the years? Wrapping these two elements into your site visit strategies can give your endowment fundraising an instant boost. 
 
Make it easy for young donors to donate to your endowment. It’s never too early to start talking about endowment gifts! If your fundraising strategy includes outreach to children of current donors, or emerging philanthropists in general, be sure your communications and marketing materials include at least basic language about supporting your endowment. You want all of your donors to see that giving to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation is always an option, at every stage of a donor’s philanthropic journey. 
 
Please reach out to the team at the Community Foundation to explore these and other ideas for engaging young givers in your endowment-building efforts. We are here to help! 
 
This articles is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

​For decades, bequests have been a small but relatively steady component of total charitable giving in the United States. You certainly understand the importance of bequests to growing your endowment fund at the Community Foundation. To that end, your fundraising materials likely include language to encourage donors to include endowment bequests in their wills or trusts. A donor can leave a particular dollar amount through a “specific” bequest, or leave a portion of the estate or trust remaining after taxes, expenses, and distributions to family and other beneficiaries (known as a “residuary” bequest). A donor can also name your organization’s endowment fund as the beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement plan. 
 
So, after a donor passes away, when does your endowment fund actually receive the money? It depends on the type of bequest, and the money rarely arrives quickly. But, the Community Foundation can help. For example:
 

• If a donor names your endowment fund at the Community Foundation as the beneficiary of an IRA, the Community Foundation will pursue a transfer of the proceeds from the IRA administrator as quickly as possible. 

 

• In the case of a donor who names your endowment fund as the recipient of a bequest in the donor’s will, which is subject to probate, full distribution of a residuary charitable bequest will typically occur after the probate process is completed. A specific bequest of a certain dollar amount may be released in a “partial distribution” earlier in the probate process. A complete probate process can take several months or even more than a year, depending on the complexity of the estate.

 

• If a donor has left a charitable bequest in a trust rather than a will, and therefore the estate is not subject to probate, distribution of the bequest may happen faster, but still, especially in the case of a residuary bequest, the trustees will want to ensure that all expenses, taxes, and other liabilities of the deceased donor can be covered before the trustee makes any distributions to beneficiaries, including to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation.

 
One of the benefits of working with the Community Foundation is that the Community Foundation team will take the lead on pursuing distributions from donors’ bequests to your organization’s endowment fund. Please reach out anytime with questions and to learn more.

This articles is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

Every organization dreams of that game-changing, multi-million dollar endowment bequest that comes as a complete surprise. Often it can seem totally random when we hear about a donor who leaves a major gift to a charity in a will, trust, or beneficiary designation. And sometimes it is unexpected. But in many cases, the “surprise” should not have come as a surprise because it was the result of years of careful seed-planting and intentional relationship-building.
 
Of course, nonprofit fundraising professionals are well aware that cultivating small gifts can lead to large bequests. The question is, though, how can you give your organization the very best chance of receiving a gift like this? Not surprisingly, it all starts with small steps that add up to big steps. Intellectually, we understand this. But it can be so hard to be patient. Stick with it, though! Never give up on letting your donors know that any size gift makes a difference. 
 
Here are suggested messages you can use to encourage donors to consider making small gifts to your endowment fund:
 
We want to help you support our organization’s endowment fund at a financial level that meets your charitable giving budget. At every level of giving, your endowment support is a catalyst for improving quality of life. Whether your gift to our endowment fund is a $250 credit card donation, a $2500 check, $25,000 worth of appreciated stock, or much more through a bequest or IRA beneficiary designation, you’re making a difference. We’re grateful for your support because it helps ensure that our organization’s mission stays strong for years to come. 
 
As you look ahead toward your year-end giving, you might be considering transferring highly-appreciated stock to your donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation. Remember that our organization’s endowment fund is held at the Community Foundation, too, making it very easy for you to use your donor-advised fund to support our endowment through year-end gifts of any amount. 
 
Consider that small donations from a large number of people can make a huge difference. Please help us spread the word! Forward our emails, share our posts on social media, and tell your family and friends that every dollar given to our organization’s endowment fund paves the way for a brighter future in our community. 
 
In so many ways, whether gifts are large or small or somewhere in between, philanthropy creates the margin of excellence that helps communities, families, and individuals thrive. The team at the Community Foundation is here to help you inspire your donors to support your endowment fund at every level. 
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

You and your team are certainly familiar with annual giving strategies to encourage donors to regularly support your operating budget. When it comes to endowment fundraising, though, many organizations tend to think about endowment campaigns as isolated events every few years, perhaps executed alongside a capital campaign.
 
As the fundraising environment gets tougher, especially in an election year, take a look at your approach to engaging donors in endowment giving on a regular basis, not just during the occasional campaign every few years. Indeed, national annual events like National Philanthropy Day and GivingTuesday create strong opportunities to engage your donors in endowment-focused conversations. 
 
The team at the Community Foundation is happy to offer ideas for ways to make regular, consistent giving to your endowment fund an attractive–and even habit-forming–practice among your donors. Whether a donor’s cadence of contributions is monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, the consistency delivers many benefits. Of course, your endowment will grow, which is a huge benefit. But your organization also will benefit from the communications and engagement opportunities. Here’s how: 

• As individual donors’ contributions to your endowment fund grow over time, you’re able to show them how they’ve personally helped build that all-important nest egg to ensure that your organization’s mission stays strong. 
• Consider periodically letting individual donors know just how much they’ve contributed to your endowment fund over time, and translate that amount into the income you’re able to devote each year to improving lives. When a donor sees what a big difference this can make in perpetuity, they’ll be pleased and maybe even surprised.
• Showing these results during a donor’s lifetime is an excellent platform for a serious discussion about the donor leaving a significant bequest to your endowment. It’s much easier for a donor to envision the future impact of an endowment gift when they’ve witnessed present impact. 

 
Reach out anytime to the team at the Community Foundation. We’re happy to help you establish endowment-building strategies to ensure that your mission stays strong for generations. If your organization has not yet established an endowment fund at the Community Foundation, please reach out. There’s no better time than the present to begin paving the way for a bright future.
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

​2024 is rapidly drawing to a close! You’re likely making plans to send a letter to your donors asking them to consider making a gift as part of your annual appeal strategy. Don’t miss this opportunity to weave in messages about your endowment fund at the Community Foundation and how important it is for donors to support both current and future needs of your organization.
 
Here are a few tips and suggestions for crafting an annual appeal letter to inspire both current and endowment gifts.  
 
Cast a Wide Net
 
Somewhere in your letter, be sure to illustrate the various ways donors can support your mission. For example, you could consider language like this:
 
Our community is better because of donors like you who’ve included our organization in your philanthropy plans and charitable giving practices. Perhaps you give every year. Perhaps you’ve established a designated fund at the Community Foundation to support our organization. Or maybe you’ve already made arrangements for a major gift to our endowment fund at the Community Foundation. You might have even updated your estate plan to leave a bequest or IRA beneficiary designation to our endowment fund. Whatever way you’ve chosen to support our mission, we’re grateful! 
 
Offer Specifics
 
Let donors know about a few of the very specific ways your organization has been making a difference. For example:
 
Thanks to our donors’ generosity in building our endowment fund over the years, our organization was able to add two case managers to our team this year. This, in turn, means that we can ensure that nearly 50 additional children can receive the care they need. Donor support has also enabled us to provide our case managers with iPads, vastly increasing the efficiency of reports and communication, which in turn means we have more time to spend one-on-one with the children we serve.  
 
Tell Them Exactly What To Do
 
A call to action is essential, of course, but make sure you offer options to make it as easy as possible for donors to make a gift. Offering options also shows that you are flexible and signals to donors that you’re open to a live conversation, which is the gold standard. Consider the following example:
 
We’d be honored to receive your gift in whatever way works best for you. You can donate online at [include URL] or mail a check to the address below. And, importantly, we’d be happy to receive your gift of appreciated securities, which can be highly tax-advantageous. Please reach out today to talk about a potential stock gift. We work with the Community Foundation to make it easy and seamless for you to make a gift to our organization’s current programs, endowment fund, or both. 
 
For more ideas about how to engage donors through your annual appeal letter, please reach out! The team at the Community Foundation is honored to be your partner as you grow your endowment fund and expand your organization’s ability to serve our community.
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

By Revey Hertzler

​Founded in 2018 by a group of dedicated individuals in Grand Forks, ND, Journey Home Animal Rescue has emerged as a beacon of hope for stray and unwanted animals in the region. This foster-based rescue organization was brought to life by four passionate animal advocates who had previously volunteered with various animal rescues. They identified a critical need for sanctuaries where animals could receive care and love before finding their forever homes. "Our goal was to offer a safe haven for stray and unwanted animals through foster homes," says Leslie Hagert-Rethemeier, one of Journey Home’s founders. "We ensure these animals are spayed and neutered, vaccinated, and cared for before rehoming them."

The Vital Role of Foster Families

Foster families provide temporary homes where animals can experience love, safety, and care. They play an important role in the wellbeing of rescued animals, helping them transition from a life of uncertainty to one filled with hope and stability. "Foster families are the heartbeat of the organization," Hagert-Rethemeier says.

These families not only offer shelter but also help in socializing the animals and preparing them for adoption. They show the rescues kindness, security, and healthy interaction. Throughout their journey, the foster families document their experiences, capturing moments and writing bios for the Journey Home website to help potential adopters get to know the animals better.

The Importance of Volunteers

Journey Home Animal Rescue operates entirely with the help of volunteers. One of the most pressing issues is the sheer number of animals in need compared to the number of available helping hands. "The overwhelming number of unwanted and stray animals in North Dakota is a major challenge," explains Hagert-Rethemeier. Despite these hurdles, Journey Home remains committed to its mission, continually seeking innovative methods to recruit more volunteers and expand their reach.

Volunteers are recruited through various channels, including word of mouth, social media, and local events. "We have about 10 different programs that are always recruiting new support," Hagert-Rethemeier says. The dog walking program, for example, requires consistent attention, and while some volunteers are able to commit multiple shifts a week, the organization still faces challenges in filling all slots. Nevertheless, the volunteers' dedication ensures that the animals always receive the best care possible.

Webster the Mastiff’s Touching Journey

Since its start, Journey Home has positively impacted the lives of many animals in need. One particularly moving story is that of Webster, a Mastiff mix who came to the organization with a severe abdominal wound. The team quickly mobilized to secure the necessary funds and transportation for his surgery and recovery. Webster's journey from a rural pound to a loving foster home is a testament to the dedication and resourcefulness of Journey Home's volunteers.

After his surgery and recovery in a medical foster home, Webster blossomed into a happy, playful dog under the care of Journey Home’s placement program, A Place Called Home. He was eventually adopted by a loving family, becoming a symbol of hope and resilience.

Managing the Logistics

Rescuing animals from across the region, and sometimes beyond, is no small feat. Often, Journey Home is contacted at the last minute with little information about the animals in need. The organization works closely with local law enforcement, animal pounds, and other rescue groups to coordinate these rescues. "It's really tough sometimes," admits Hagert-Rethemeier. "Our rescue coordinators evaluate which animals we can secure appropriate fosters for and then arrange volunteer transportation."

The foster families open their hearts and homes to these animals, supplying them with all they need to recover and thrive. Their role in the rehabilitation process, helping animals overcome physical and emotional trauma, cannot be overstated. Although the logistics can be challenging, the outcome of the team’s effort is always worth it.

Community Involvement

From individuals to organizations, the involvement of the community in fostering has had a profound impact on the mission. Local businesses have supported Journey Home by hosting events that raise funds and awareness. "Many of our animals have been adopted by people who have come out to support us at community events," says Hagert-Rethemeier.

These events also provide opportunities for fosters to connect with each other and the public, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

The Crucial Role of Funding

The establishment of an endowment fund with the Community Foundation has been pivotal in Journey Home's growth and sustainability. Initiated with the support of generous donors in November of 2023, the fund is on the brink of reaching the necessary amount to begin distributions. "We are very fortunate to have supporters that helped start the endowment fund," says Hagert-Rethemeier. "The Community Foundation has been wonderful in including Journey Home in their nonprofit features and other communications, providing us with a platform to grow and sustain our efforts."

Looking Ahead

Journey Home Animal Rescue aims to continue supporting and caring for unwanted animals in Grand Forks and surrounding communities, providing an adoption option for animals in North Dakota pounds that do not adopt out. The organization also plans to expand access to veterinary care and educate the community on responsible pet ownership. "We want to continue growing our volunteer base so we can reach more and help more," Hagert-Rethemeier says.

One exciting initiative on the horizon is the expansion of their emergency rescue building, A Place Called Home, which has already provided a safe haven for over 225 animals, including Webster the Mastiff mix. 
​
The Road Home

Journey Home Animal Rescue embodies the spirit of community and compassion. Their tireless efforts, supported by volunteers, local businesses, and the Community Foundation, have saved countless lives and given many animals a second chance and the experience of unconditional love. As they continue to grow and evolve, their commitment to making a difference in the lives of animals and people remains unwavering. "Journey Home Animal Rescue is a small and mighty team," Hagert-Rethemeier says. With passion and expertise, they accomplish incredible feats. But they are always looking for others to join their life-saving mission and further their impact on a community of animals in need.

Aspiring volunteers can easily reach out through Journey Home's website, journeyhomeanimalrescue.org, where they can sign up for programs and offer their support. View Journey Home's 2023 report here.

Collaborating for Change

Art and art education are vital components of any community. They bring people together, fostering healthy bonds and reducing isolation. Engaging in art helps to reduce stress, create empathy, and promote critical thinking. Moreover, art is simply fun and can be a powerful tool for healing and unifying communities.

Collaboration is key to the success of Art Matters, as they rely heavily on partnerships with schools and other nonprofits. Many underserved children face challenges in accessing donated items, so Art Matters works with organizations that regularly interact with these children to bridge that gap. One of their key partners is the Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC), a long-established local nonprofit. “When CVIC identifies children who are in need, the packs they distribute can be a key resource to keep kids engaged and help put them more at ease during difficult situations,” says Sapa.

Feedback from CVIC has been incredibly positive, emphasizing how the packs help children cope during times of instability and uncertainty. They provide a valuable outlet for mindfulness and engagement during CVIC’s meetings with families, which can be stressful for children.

Art Matters has also collaborated with Calvary Lutheran Church, where they provided art supplies to every student at Lewis and Clark School in  honor of Pastor Kirk Messick. This project  was a touching tribute and a huge success, with 195 packs distributed.

Great Effort for Greater Outcomes

Maintaining the operation and distribution of art packs, especially during challenging times, has not been without its hurdles. The entire Art Matters team is made up of volunteers, and Sapa herself works a full-time job alongside it.

“This often requires working at night and on weekends,” she explains, and during the summer, her living room turns into something of a warehouse for supplies. Sapa is grateful for the support of her spouse and motivated by the positive experiences these art packs bring to children.
At Art Matters, that motivation never falters. “We may be an organization of unpaid volunteers, but we have deep roots in our community and a strong determination. We are committed to seeking donations, broadcasting our mission, keeping up relationships, and forming new ones, no matter how long it takes,” Sapa explains.

​The news about large gifts keeps coming! And “big bet” philanthropy in general has been in the news recently, reportedly because donors’ approach to giving at scale is changing thanks to a greater focus on relying on the experts in organizations to deploy resources for maximum impact and trusting them to do so. It’s also encouraging that donors are trending toward giving gifts in dollar amounts that are appropriate to tackle the scale of the challenge to be addressed rather than basing donations solely on the organization's current capacity and budget. 

The team at the Community Foundation can help you maximize your ability to receive large gifts to your reserve fund or endowment fund. We do this by offering structure and services for you to house your fund with us. This, in turn, allows our team to help you with crucial fundamentals for planned giving tools to attract and accept large gifts, including:

• Support to accept complex gifts of alternative assets, such as real estate, closely-held stock, and even large blocks of publicly-traded stock
• Support to establish and administer charitable planning vehicles to benefit your organization, such as charitable remainder trusts and designated funds
• Support to help a donor establish a bequest to your organization in a will, trust, or–and especially tax-savvy for the donor–via beneficiary designation on an IRA or other qualified retirement plan

Indeed, planned giving, especially via bequests, continues to be an important source of funds for nonprofit organizations across the country. Some researchers have estimated that the historical average size of a charitable bequest falls somewhere between $37,000 and $78,360. That’s hundreds of times larger than the average one-time donation a living donor typically makes, which historically has been identified as hovering a bit over $100. 

Please reach out to the team at the Community Foundation to learn how we can help you grow your organization’s endowment or reserve fund. If your organization has not yet established its fund with the Community Foundation, let’s talk! Now is the time to make sure your planned giving and endowment infrastructure is firmly in place so you can lean into the “big bet” philanthropy trend. 
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

A donor-advised fund is one of many types of funds that an individual, family, or business can establish with the Community Foundation. You’re likely more aware of donor-advised funds than other types of funds because they are frequently covered in financial media and also because your organization might have received grants from donor-advised funds. 
 
The team at the Community Foundation is happy to talk anytime to help demystify these popular vehicles. At the very least, however, you’ll want to check out the recently-released DAF Fundraising Report that sheds new light on the overall role of donor-advised funds in philanthropy and the significant value donor-advised funds provide to charities. 
 
For example, the report revealed that when a donor starts giving from a donor-advised fund, their annual giving increases by 96%! Donor-advised funds are also helping keep philanthropy strong. According to the report, the number of donors using donor-advised funds has grown by 79% in an environment where the number of other types of donors has declined by 6%. 
 
It’s absolutely worth your time to learn the basics of how a donor-advised fund works. You and your team also should consider developing strategies to identify and cultivate relationships with your donors who are using their donor-advised funds to support your organization. Dollars in donor-advised funds are already set aside for charitable giving, and it’s very convenient for donors to use their funds to support favorite organizations–like yours.
 
It’s also important to know that the team at the Community Foundation encourages donors to give directly to their favorite charities when that’s the best strategy to achieve a donor’s estate planning, tax, and charitable goals. Many times, though, both the donor and the charity benefit from the donor using a donor-advised or other type of fund at the Community Foundation. Examples include cases where the donor wants to give a complex asset, such as real estate or closely-held stock, or needs to plan out several years of giving to address fluctuating income levels and tax liability. 
 
We are always happy to review how the Community Foundation works with donors through donor-advised funds and other vehicles to support your organization and others in the community. We look forward to hearing from you! 
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

​The team at the Community Foundation frequently hears from nonprofit professionals about how difficult it is to communicate to donors the value and importance of unrestricted gifts. This is especially the case when you and your colleagues are striving to attract dollars to boost your operating reserve or endowment fund.

Here are five cut-and-paste talking points you can use in your donor communications to help break through the myths that often surround unrestricted giving. 

Myth: A charity can use unrestricted dollars for anything it wants. 

Reality: When a donor makes an unrestricted gift to a charity, it means that the charity has the flexibility to use the funds where they are needed most within the charity’s overall mission. A charity has a legal and ethical responsibility to use all donations–whether unrestricted or restricted–to carry out its charitable purpose. 

Myth: Unrestricted gifts have to be big to make a difference.

Reality: Any size unrestricted donation, whether to a charity’s current programs and operations or to its endowment fund, is meaningful. To fund their missions, charities rely on all levels of donations from a wide variety of donors. Even very small donations help charities build relationships with new donors and expand the circle of awareness. 

Myth: Donations that are restricted to supporting actual programs make the biggest difference.

Reality: A charity is like any other organization, whether for-profit or nonprofit, in that there are critically important expenses required to do its work. Rent, utilities, technology, and insurance aren’t technically “program” expenses, but without these expenses, a charity cannot function. Unrestricted gifts often help support these essential line items in a charity’s budget. 

Myth: It’s hard to see the impact of unrestricted gifts.

Reality: Unrestricted gifts are vital for a charity’s overall sustainability and allow it to carry on year after year. Indeed, a donor who gives an unrestricted gift can look at the entirety of the organization’s impact and know that the gift helped make it all possible. 

Myth: An unrestricted gift is not a “strategic” philanthropic investment.

Reality: Unrestricted gifts are arguably the most strategic type of giving because they demonstrate trust in the charity’s leadership to make the best decisions in carrying out the charity’s mission. An unrestricted gift also sends a signal to other donors that the organization’s leadership and staff are strong, which in turn attracts more support. 

Please reach out to the Community Foundation for more ideas about how you can communicate the value of unrestricted and endowment giving to your donors. We are here to help! 
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

​The word “endowment” can be intimidating, even for the most seasoned fundraising and planned giving professionals–and certainly for donors! But it doesn’t have to be that way. “Endowment” is such an important concept to secure your organization’s future, and it’s worth striving to simplify the basic points for your team and your donors.  
 
Here are answers to five frequently-asked questions about your endowment fund at the Community Foundation that may help you communicate with your staff, board, and donors. Please copy, paste, edit, and deploy as you wish! 
 
What does “endowment” mean?
“Endowment” refers to a designated pool of assets that are invested (in our organization’s case, by the Community Foundation) and tracked separately such that a modest portion (usually based on a percentage) of the assets are distributed each year to support our organization’s mission, and the rest of the assets remain invested to grow in perpetuity. 
 
Why is our endowment fund so important to the future of our organization?
The assets set aside in our endowment fund produce an income stream that helps support our mission now and in the decades ahead, allowing us to deliver on our mission consistently over time, especially as needs shift and the fundraising environment ebbs and flows. Plus, the growth of the endowment itself can provide increasing levels of support each year. 
 
How can donors stay involved even after they make an endowment gift?
Our team is happy to keep donors informed about the positive change in the community that is occurring thanks to distributions from the endowment fund. We’re happy to continue to keep a donor’s children and grandchildren informed, too, beyond a donor’s lifetime. In this way, a donor’s legacy continues through the generations. 
  
Who decides how the endowment distributions get used each year?
Our organization’s board of directors reviews endowment income each year as part of a careful budget process. It’s very clear that certain dollars are flowing into the budget from endowment income. Our independent board of directors, together with staff, develops and oversees a budget to meet our organization’s mission for the coming year.
 
How can a donor make an endowment gift?
A donor certainly may transfer cash to the endowment fund. Even better for tax purposes, a donor can transfer appreciated stock or real estate. A donor can also work with estate planning and financial advisors to structure a bequest to the endowment fund. Our team works with the professionals at the Community Foundation to help each donor design a gift to achieve both the donor’s tax goals and charitable giving goals. For instance, many advisors highly recommend a bequest through an IRA beneficiary designation because of the multiple tax benefits. Related, if a donor is over 70 ½, making a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” from an IRA directly to our organization’s endowment fund is a very effective charitable planning tool to reduce income tax and, if applicable, also satisfy Required Minimum Distributions.
 
The Community Foundation team looks forward to working with you and your donors to establish meaningful endowment gifts that support your organization’s mission for generations to come. Thank you for the opportunity to work together!
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

​“You can’t make old friends” isn’t just the title of an album; it’s an important reminder that long-term relationships are the key to successful endowment building. That’s common sense, of course, but sometimes it’s hard to put this principle into action. You’re ready now to grow your endowment fund at the Community Foundation, and you wish your donors shared your sense of urgency! 
 
There are no silver bullets or magic tricks or secret sauces to make donor relationships grow faster, but it might help to understand how your donors’ emotions factor into decision-making about when–and to what extent–they will make a financial commitment to your endowment. 
 
Along those lines, the team at the Community Foundation really enjoyed a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review offering suggestions for ways to approach philanthropy so that it is “relational,” including thinking in terms of "we" instead of "us” or “them" and moving away from hierarchical models achieving impact. 
 
As you update your endowment-building plans, consider three ideas inspired by principles of relational philanthropy. 
 
Focus on donor loyalty and trust
Keep an eye toward creating long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with donors. Trust fosters donor loyalty, encouraging recurring and more substantial contributions over time, which is crucial to ultimately securing an endowment gift. To achieve this, you need to understand what benefits the donor is seeking by supporting your organization. Is it recognition? The knowledge that they’re part of something bigger than themselves? Confidence that a problem they’ve personally wrestled with will be solved for others? The donor’s perspective matters.
 
Inspire donor advocacy
It’s one thing for donors to feel personally connected to your organization. It’s an entirely bigger thing for them to become advocates. When a donor is so dedicated to your mission that they actively encourage their friends and family to also support your organization, you know you’ve got a friend for life. Asking this type of donor for a commitment to your endowment is likely to achieve a high rate of success. Pay close attention to which donors are regularly referring new donors to your organization, whether by offering up prospect names directly or inviting prospects to join the donor’s table at your organization’s annual event. 
 
Know your audience
Large-scale communications platforms such as email campaigns, social media, and your website are important tools in all fundraising activities, including securing endowment gifts. An endowment gift is a big ask, though, so make sure to layer in highly personal outreach to your donors, in addition to general messaging. One-by-one communication across channels allows you to demonstrate your organization’s understanding of donors' individual preferences for their involvement.
 
As always, please reach out to the Community Foundation anytime you have questions about best practices for growing your endowment fund. If your organization has not yet established its endowment fund at the Community Foundation and you’d like to learn more, we’d welcome the opportunity to talk with your team and board of directors. We look forward to continuing to work side-by-side to improve the quality of life in our community through the power of philanthropy. 
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This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

As you implement strategies to attract gifts to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation, it’s critical to regularly encourage donors to check their estate plans to be sure they’ve incorporated their intended bequests. Now is an especially good time to get the word out because August is national Make-A-Will Month.
 
Here are three cut-and-paste messages you can use in your communications with donors, whether those are broad communications such as website pages or one-on-one emails to particular donors.  
 

• Money, mortality, and family relationships can be tough for anyone to address head on, and when you combine them, it’s no wonder so many people put off setting up or updating their estate plans. Don’t delay! Reviewing your wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations not only gives you peace of mind, but also lets you explore ways to include a bequest to [ABC Charity]’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation. Please reach out. We’d love to work with you and your advisors to establish a legacy that will benefit the community for years to come. We’re so grateful for everything you do to help [ABC Charity]’s mission stay strong. 

• As you work with your attorney and other advisors, be sure to review the beneficiary designations on your insurance policies and retirement plans. Pay close attention to tax-deferred retirement plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs. Typically, you’ll name your spouse as the primary beneficiary of these accounts to provide income following your death and to comply with legal requirements. But as you and your advisors evaluate whom to name as a secondary beneficiary of these tax-deferred accounts, don’t automatically default to naming your children or your revocable trust. You and your advisors may determine that naming [ABC Charity]’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation is the most tax-efficient, streamlined way to establish a philanthropic legacy. A bequest like this avoids not only estate tax, but also income tax on the retirement plan distributions. Reach out to learn more! ​

• We’ve all heard stories about the sad consequences of someone not having an estate plan, or even having out-of-date beneficiary designations. Estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations, often represent generous acts of clear distribution and conflict avoidance for your family and loved ones. An estate plan allows you to demonstrate how much you care about the people in your life as well as your charitable passions. We’d love to work with you and your advisors to include [ABC Charity]’s endowment fund in your estate plan.

 
As always, please reach out to the team at the Community Foundation! We are here to help you build your endowment fund. We appreciate the opportunity to work with organizations like yours that are making such a big difference in the quality of life in our community. 
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

​The Grand Forks Public Schools Summer Performing Arts Company (SPA) has just completed its 37th season. 1,153 area students participated in SPA this summer – a record-breaking year of enrollment.

SPA offers various Fine Arts programs for students of all ages and abilities. Programs vary in length and curriculum depending on the age group, and all culminate in a performance opportunity.

• Pre-K and Elementary students participate in a workshop of creative dramatics, theatre games, and movement exercises.
• Middle School students have a workshop-style program that focuses on drama, movement, and vocal music.
• High School students work on stage and behind the scenes on main stage musical productions.
• Bands on the Red is a three-week band program that focuses on lighter music like movie themes, show tunes, and marches.
• MySPA is an Arts opportunity developed for students with special needs or challenges. It focuses on a variety of creative expression including drama, music, movement, literature and visual arts.
• SPA provides guest artists in various disciplines to work with Multilingual students taking Summer School. In addition, vocal and instrumental lessons are offered as well.  

Our High School mainstage productions this summer were “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Grease”. We were fortunate to have full houses for all of our performances, and we are grateful for the community support.

Because SPA has gained so much community support through the years, we feel it is important to give back to the community that is so generous to us. This summer, we hosted a spare change drive to benefit the Grand Forks Foundation for Education Giving Tree and the Santa Claus Girls – two programs that help many area children and students. The Giving Tree helps Grand Forks Public Schools students and their families by providing a pantry stocked with critical items such as personal care products, essential household items, school supplies, snacks, and more. The Santa Claus Girls provide a gift bag that includes a toy, candy, reading book, coloring book/crayons, toothbrush and toothpaste, hat, gloves, and socks to children aged 12 and under from low-income families during the holiday season.

One of the greatest accomplishments of the SPA program is that no student has ever been turned away from participation due to financial hardship. Because of private donations and grant programs such as those offered through the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region, we were able to assist 110 students this summer. Post-COVID, the requests for assistance have steadily increased. The number of extreme hardship cases has increased as well. Though Arts education is the primary focus of the program, we recognize the importance of providing a safe and positive environment for our students.  In some cases, SPA may be one of the only safe spaces some students may encounter outside of the school year. Supporting all students’ mental health and social well-being is critical.
​
All in all, 2024 was a tremendous season for SPA. We thank everyone for their continued support to ensure that all of our students shine brightly on stage and behind the scenes.

​A recent study sheds light on how high net-worth people who’ve made their own money tend to approach philanthropy. As it turns out, self-made millionaires are more likely to give to charity than those who inherited their wealth – a whopping 93% reported doing so. People with legacy wealth are still likely to be philanthropic, but only 74% reported that they give to charity.

So what does this mean for your fundraising and stewardship practices, especially as you strive to build your endowment fund at the Community Foundation? As you’re building donor engagement strategies and expanding your roster of supporters, don’t just focus on “old money.” Consider three strategies to jumpstart your endowment-building efforts by engaging self-made donors:

Track local companies. In every community across America, local entrepreneurs have started enterprises from scratch. In addition, more and more of your donors are investing in private markets instead of simply limiting their strategies to stocks listed on the exchanges. (Indeed, the number of publicly-traded companies has declined significantly since the mid-1990s.) The result of these two trends is that a large portion of many donors’ wealth is represented by closely-held stock in businesses they’ve started or in which they are investors. Make sure local companies and the people involved in them are on your prospect list. 

Talk the talk with entrepreneurs. Pay careful attention to the messages you use to engage entrepreneurs and people who own their own companies. These donors are likely to appreciate the investment characteristics of endowment gifts because they understand that an endowment’s long-term value is human-centered and not simply a financial strategy. Stay close to local companies and their owners as potential major donors, especially for long-term endowment giving. 

Understand gifts of closely-held stock. The team at the Community Foundation can help you tap into the increased popularity and tax benefits of donors giving closely-held business interests to support favorite charitable causes such as your organization. We can help you navigate a thoughtful stewardship process to encourage a closely-held business owner to consider a gift of ownership interests to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation, whether during the owner's lifetime in anticipation of a future (but yet-to-be-determined) exit, or upon death in the form of a bequest. 

We look forward to discussing the ways self-made millionaires can help your organization thrive for generations to come. Please reach out anytime to strategize with our team. We are here for you!

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. ​​

​By the time summer rolls around, reflecting on what happened last year may feel like cognitive whiplash. That’s not the case, though, with the statistics from the annual Giving USA report that are released every June for the prior year. The team at the Community Foundation reviews the findings closely so that we can identify trends and strategies that could help you and other nonprofits strengthen fundraising and stewardship practices and build financial resources to support the community for generations to come. 

You’re likely aware that the recently-released Giving USA report for 2023 reveals that while charitable giving in the U.S. increased to $557.16 billion, the increase failed to keep pace with inflation. When adjusted for inflation, total giving declined by 2.1% year-over-year. 

While the news is disappointing in some ways, it actually presents a terrific opportunity to communicate a positive set of messages to your donors. Here’s an example of a four-point messaging platform that might be a fit for your outreach strategy: 

• Acknowledge that fundraising has been tough for organizations across the board, and that’s why you’re so grateful for their continued support. Cite the Giving USA statistics to show donors that you’re on top of the issues. (You can also reference another recent study showing that trust in nonprofits has increased!)
• Let your donors know that the drop in giving is no match for the passion and commitment of your organization’s staff and board to ensure that the mission stays strong through best-in-class fundraising and stewardship strategies.
• Remind donors that it’s been a great year so far for many stocks! Encourage your donors to review their portfolios to identify highly-appreciated positions, and ask them to consider making a stock gift to your organization’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation, avoiding capital gains tax in the process.
• Suggest that your donors consider a planned gift to your endowment fund at the Community Foundation so that your organization is better prepared to weather the inevitable ups and downs of giving in the years ahead. Remember, a planned gift, such as a bequest or a beneficiary designation on an IRA, does not impact a donor’s wallet today. 

As always, please reach out to the Community Foundation for ideas and strategies. We are here to help you build your reserves and endowment funds. It’s our honor to support your work to improve the quality of life for so many people in our region. 

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. ​​

​The team at the Community Foundation is committed to keeping an eye out for trends and developments that impact charitable giving and your ability to raise funds for your organization’s mission.  
 
Here are three developments you'll want to track: 

• Although you and your donors certainly anticipate that your organization will thrive for years to come, there is no crystal ball. Sometimes, the unexpected happens and the viability of a nonprofit organization is threatened or called into question. It is especially important to consider these issues when planning for large endowment gifts. That’s why so many nonprofit organizations consult the Community Foundation about how to structure donors’ endowment gifts to ensure that the mission is served, regardless of what might happen to a particular entity. Please reach out as you work with your donors on major bequests. We can help ensure that both the donor’s intent and your mission are served across generations. 
• Be prepared to help donors with planning issues to address the anticipated changes to the estate tax exemption at the end of next year. The estate tax exemption is the total amount a taxpayer can leave to family and other individuals during their life and at death before the hefty federal gift and estate tax kicks in–is scheduled to drop, rather precipitously, after December 25, 2025. For 2024, the estate tax exemption is $13.61 million per individual, or $27.22 million per married couple, an increase over 2023 thanks to adjustments for inflation. Later this year, the IRS will issue inflation adjustments for 2025. For 2026, without legislation to prevent it, the exemption is scheduled to fall back to 2017 levels, adjusted for inflation, which would roughly total $7 million per person. That is quite a drop! This means a lot more people – including many of your donors – could be subject to estate tax in the not-too-distant future. The team at the Community Foundation is happy to help develop strategies for maximizing endowment gifts as the sunset draws near. Please reach out! 
• You’ll want to pay attention to the latest fundraising statistics, simply to be aware of what’s going on in the nonprofit sector overall. For example, while the number of new donors is up, donor retention rates continue to suffer. This does not need to be the case, however, for your organization; strong donor stewardship practices can significantly increase donor retention and even increase large gifts to your endowment. Please reach out to the Community Foundation for ideas on how to grow your endowment fund.

 
Thank you, as always, for the opportunity to work together! It is our honor to be your partner in philanthropy and community impact.  

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

Your donors are likely very familiar with the term “endowment,” but they might not know how it works or how important it is to help sustain your mission for the long term. If you’ve established your organization’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation, we’re happy to help you communicate the benefits of endowment gifts to interested donors who may be new to providing this type of support.
 
For example, you can include language in your communications along these lines: 
 
“Endowment” is the word often used to refer to a designated pool of assets that are invested by and tracked separately such that a modest portion (usually based on a percentage) of the assets are distributed each year for charitable purposes, and the rest of the assets remain invested to grow in perpetuity. This growth, in turn, helps the endowment provide even more support each year to our organization.
 
And this: 
 
Our organization has established its endowment fund at the Community Foundation, where the team is experienced at managing the accounting, investment, and distribution aspects of endowment funds. Working alongside the Community Foundation, our board and staff are committed to keeping a finger on the pulse of our community’s greatest needs and maintaining a deep understanding of how our organization can meet those needs now and well into the future when priorities emerge that simply could not have been predicted. Distributions from our endowment fund are reviewed and approved by an independent board of directors to ensure that they fulfill our organization’s mission-focused goals for establishing the endowment in the first place.
 
And this:
 
When you support our endowment fund through gifts of stock, bequests in your will, beneficiary designations on your retirement plans, or even gifts of real estate and other complex assets, you are helping pave the way for our organization’s long-term stability to continue to improve the quality of life in our region. What’s more, we can work with you and your advisors to structure endowment gifts that meet your own estate planning and tax objectives.
 
As always, please reach out to the team at the Community Foundation for ideas about growing your endowment. We are here for our community, and we are here for you! 
 
This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. 

​Even with many of your donors traveling or taking time off, summer is not the time for stewardship and fundraising to move to the back burner. Especially because endowment gifts and complex charitable giving structures take time to establish, mid-year presents an excellent opportunity to double down on development efforts.
 
For example, always remind your donors to give appreciated stock instead of cash. Absolutely it feels like you are a broken record! You mention the benefits of giving appreciated stock all the time in your donor communications. But it really can’t be overstated. Donors are so tempted to reach for the checkbook for charitable giving, even when they are making a gift to your organization’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation.
 
Emphasize to your donors that not only will transfers be eligible for a charitable deduction at fair market value (if the donor held the shares for more than one year), but also your organization won’t pay income tax on the capital gains. This means the donor will be making a much bigger gift than if the donor had sold the stock, paid the tax, and supported your organization out of the proceeds. 
 
The Community Foundation is always happy to help you process gifts of appreciated stock, especially when a donor wants to give a large block of a single stock to support your organization as well as others. 
 
And keep talking about QCDs! Donors who are 70 ½ or older absolutely must consider giving from an IRA. Certainly you mention this a lot in your discussions with donors, but sometimes donors are not ready to hear it, especially if they are on the cusp of reaching 70 ½ but aren’t there yet. They will listen differently when they’ve actually hit the age.

​As you know, a QCD allows a donor to direct $105,000 from an IRA to your organization, penalty-free. If a donor is subject to the rules for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), QCDs count toward those RMDs. That means the donor can avoid income tax on the funds distributed to charity. The Community Foundation is happy to help you work with donors and their advisors to determine whether a QCD is a good fit to help maximize charitable giving.

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. ​

It’s common practice for fundraisers and other philanthropy professionals to use the term “planned giving,” but do your donors know what you mean? Certainly, some donors understand the term, especially those who’ve served on your board or who’ve worked with you to establish a bequest. But many donors – and especially prospective donors – could benefit from an explanation that avoids the confusion of industry jargon.
​
To that end, in your fundraising communications, you might consider providing background to help orient your donors to the purpose of planned giving before you dive into defining it or describing it. For example:

• You could explain that a donor who writes checks or gives stock is making what’s sometimes referred to as a “current gift.” 
• You can further explain that many donors repeat these types of gifts every year so that they become “annual gifts.” 
• Next, you can draw a distinction between current or annual gifts and future gifts, outlining that well-structured future transfers to your organization are often referred to as “planned gifts” because, well, they require planning! 
• Be sure to let donors know that planned gifts are important to help the organization build its endowment and ensure that its mission stays strong for generations to come.

Clear, concise, and simple communication with donors will help your fundraising efforts. Indeed, a new study sheds light on the elements of communication that can help increase donor trust, including emphasizing good stewardship and solid decision-making practices. 

Consider adopting techniques to improve donors’ understanding of your message. For example:

• Use genuine, relatable storytelling to demonstrate the importance of your organization’s work, and share perspectives of the most affected people. Because you’re asking donors to consider gifts beyond their lifetime, be sure to illustrate the long-term, unpredictable needs facing the communities you serve and your organization's ability to address them.
• Provide plenty of context, including details that improve believability. Don’t assume that the donor is familiar with what your organization actually does. Illustrate the organization’s commitment to service as a non-negotiable core value that will continue to persist far into the future. 
• Live up to your position as a trusted messenger by sharing vivid details and inclusive viewpoints to build transparent relationships. Skipping details and getting straight to the result creates a missed opportunity to educate donors about the level of work required to achieve impact and the need for financial support through endowment and other long-term gifts. 

By communicating clearly with your donors, omitting jargon, and sharing stories to demonstrate the value of a donor’s investment, you’ll go a long way toward improving your fundraising efforts to build long-term support for your organization and its mission, especially through planned gifts that demand a high degree of donor trust. 

This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. ​