Author: jgudema

Planned giving consultant/guru/entrepreneur. Formerly with a large philanthropic services consulting firm, I launched Planned Giving Advisors, LLC, in the fall of 2011. Before that, I have been in fundraising, planned giving, and/or law since 1992. And, I have advised, served as planned giving officer, consulted and/or been the legal answer guy to well over 200 organizations over that time.

What is Planned Giving and how do you do it?

In the summer of 1992, my first law school summer, I interned for the Planned Giving director at the MetroWest Jewish Community Foundation. So, it’s 30+ years since I was introduced to this field (1998 since leaving law practice to focus full-time on this field – 25 years)!

I have been through a lot – worked with over 300 organizations as a consultant and was involved with over $500 million in Planned Gifts (have lost track of the total). But, the core of planned giving is really about is something that I am constantly working on.

How do you get to closed gifts?

For this, you need to understand how to reach donors (i.e. marketing, events, activities) and you need to understand the donors’ motivations and inspirations, and who are the best prospects and when is the best time to open the conversation.

This Wednesday, I will be giving my most important webinar for understanding the nuances of this field and how to actually get to gifts.

If you have time for only one training session, and want get started talking to donors, this is the one:

Initiating Legacy Conversations – February 1, 2023 at 2 pm EST

I will condensing 30 years of my own experiences, as well as those of colleagues, clients, and donors, into this one 1.25 hour webinar.

Still time to register for Initiating Legacy Conversations webinar

With the next new Legacy IRA Act primed to bring more Planned Giving into your discussions with donors, now is the time to get ready!

Initiating Legacy Conversations

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

February 1, 2023
2:00 – 3:15 PM EST

Do you have trouble initiating a planned giving conversation? Do you clam up when it’s time to have “that talk?”

If you can’t initiate a dialogue or make the ask, your prospects will look for someone else who can.

But when you learn how to have effective conversations with donors and prospects when it comes to legacy gifts, your nonprofit’s endowment will grow, right along with your reputation and career!

This exclusive course on starting the planned giving or legacy conversation will show you how to find the clues to begin the dialog … and close the deal. And it couldn’t come at a better time.

Put doubt and uncertainty in the rear-view mirror.

Understanding mindsets, motivations, aspirations.
Know who to target.
Know which life events are good triggers to open up a dialogue.
Learn how to develop your “Legacy Opener.”
Overcome the greatest hurdles to a legacy conversation.
Find out if they have a will or an estate plan, and know what to suggest if they don’t.
Close on a gift.
How to solidify a gift once confirmed.
Get exceptional information for a donor story.

Includes Q&A

Recordings Available

JONATHAN GUDEMA, JD

PLANNED GIVING EXPERT

15 Conversation Starters (Includes the “Why” Behind Each Question)
31 Quality Questions to Ask Donors and Prospects
Planned Giving for MGOs (PDF)

Free webinar alert: ONLINE WILL PLANNING: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Next Wednesday, January 18, 2023 2 PM EST I will be on a panel discussing Online Will Planners – no cost!

Click this link to learn more!

Webinars

ONLINE WILL PLANNING:

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

2 PM EST

Over the last several years there has been a proliferation of online will-planning tools. The growth in this industry was spurred on in large part by the number of people who adopted a no-contact, DIY approach to everything they could during COVID.

And while many fundraisers are embracing the wave and the bequests it brings their nonprofits, there are those who despise it. Some lawyers, of course, are claiming that online will planning is an ill-advised concept. And there are even a few foundations that believe online will planning works against the interests of advisors and ruins relationships, while others do not see it making a difference either way.

But one thing is certain: Whether you love it or hate it, online will planning is here to stay.

Every day, more and more Americans are choosing to create their wills using guided programs that help them create simple, legal wills online — many of them for free — from the comfort of their homes. And those nonprofits that are embracing the trend are seeing an increase in the number of bequests and other planned gifts from their donors.

Which is why you need to attend our newest webinar, Online Will Planning: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

We’ve enlisted the help of five industry experts to explore the online will planning trend. They asked the tough questions, including:

Are online will planners a good idea, or a bad one?
Who comes first — donors, advisors, or the nonprofit?
Are there any security issues?
Which platforms are succeeding, and which are not?
Are you risking relationships with the lawyers who help your organization?
How effective are online will planners at increasing planned gifts?

You’ll leave this information-packed presentation armed with all the facts and plenty of strong opinions, both of which will help you make the right decision for your organization.

New Initiating Legacy Conversations Webinar