Tony Martignetti

The Biden administration has been pitching the President’s new tax plan as a boon for nonprofits — since it is likely to inspire wealthy Americans to give more of their assets to charity to offset their tax bills.

When a nonprofit launches a planned giving program, it’s wise to start simple. Rather than promoting hard-to-understand methods like charitable lead unitrusts, it’s best to encourage your donors to make a simple bequest.

Smart fundraisers understand the importance of timing. They know there are times when it’s appropriate to ask for support, and times when it’s important to just listen and offer help.

The most financially successful nonprofits aren’t funded exclusively through well-executed annual giving programs or foundation grants. They achieve long-term, diversified financial strength through legacy gifts — primarily bequests left in the wills of generous donors who believe strongly in their work.

Planned giving should be a critical piece of every nonprofit’s fundraising strategy. Yet, many organizations are leery of promoting planned gifts because they fear they do not have the expertise in-house to properly manage these gifts.

July 31, 2009, OnPhilanthropy — State charity registration laws have been ignored for decades. Until earlier this year, I wouldn’t have been given space to write about them. There is no penalty for breaking most of them and the few states that have penalties rarely enforce them, so there’s been no incentive to comply. Until the IRS stepped in.