Preparing for bequests

Before you start

• Audit your readiness:
  • Are you solid enough?
  • Are you professional enough?
  • Do you have a strong supporter base?
  • Do you have the right personnel?
• Check that the board and senior staff are supportive of putting in place a planned giving program.

First steps

• Do your research – carry out an honest assessment of your prospects. Hold a focus group.
• Assess what resources you will need – think about the time, money and skills you will need to make this work.
• Make a plan – including a budget, a timeline, and post-donation steps (including recognition and spending of gifts).
• Put the right person in charge – someone with all the personal and technical knowledge and skills that a planned giving program requires.

Get the message out

• Regularly mention the work you do - in your newsletters, on your website, in direct-mail outs, within your annual report.
• Tell people that your group accepts and welcomes bequests and legacies, and what they would help your organisation achieve.
• Include tick boxes in all direct mail appeals so donors can request information about bequests and the benefits of having a will. Respond to all such requests quickly and sensitively.

Nurture your donors

• If people have shown an interest in providing a bequest to your organisation, always try to meet them face to face. Understand what drives them and try to build as strong a relationship as possible before asking people to consider a planned gift.
• Listen; share; keep good notes; show an interest in all your donors – today’s small donor may be tomorrow’s big bequest; plus, they’re supporting your organisation, so they deserve your respect, no matter the size of their gift.