Charitable giving through estates grew nearly 20% last year. That’s more than a headline. It’s a signal for every nonprofit heading into year-end. As 2026 enters its final months, here are five planned giving takeaways from Giving USA 2026, plus the practical steps your organization can take now to turn them into action. 👉 Check out the biggest takeaways: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/gi…

One of the most common assumptions in nonprofit fundraising is also one of the most limiting: if a donor doesn’t have a history of large gift donations to your organization, they probably aren’t capable of leaving planned gifts. That assumption may be understandable. Fundraisers have limited time, limited resources, and thousands of donors to consider. So it can seem logical to identify the donors who have already demonstrated significant financial support and focus planned giving conversations on them. But there is a fundamental problem with that approach. Your donor’s giving history is not a balance sheet. What someone has given to your organization tells you something about their philanthropic behavior. It does not tell you how much money they have, what assets they own, where those assets are held, what their estate looks like, or what they may ultimately want to accomplish through philanthropy. And that distinction matters enormously in planned giving. 👉 Learn more about why every donor deserves the planned giving "ask" share.lifelegacy.io/learn/wh…

Your donors may have more ways to give gifts of wealth, but it's up to your team to discover what's possible. Giving Season is when generosity peaks and many donors are planning their year-end taxes. That timing makes it the right moment to talk about asset gifts. Most wealth isn't sitting in checking accounts. It's held in stocks, crypto, donor-advised funds (DAFs), and retirement accounts. When your organization is ready to accept asset gifts for Giving Season, you give donors more ways to give, and often the gifts are larger and cost donors less with favorable tax benefits. Here are asset-based gift types every nonprofit team should be ready for from our friends at Infinite Giving: infinitegiving.com/blog/asse…

Starting a nonprofit planned giving program shouldn’t be difficult. Learn how planned gifts create long-term financial stability using accumulated assets. 👉 Learn more: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/pl…

Donors don't think in fundraising categories. They think about causes they care about and the impact they want to make. Blended gifts often lead to larger, more thoughtful commitments than either a current gift or a planned gift on its own — and they open the door to deeper, longer-term relationships. 👉 Read our full guide to learn more about blended gifts: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/wh…

If you’re evaluating the best planned giving platform, you’re not alone. More nonprofits are realizing that planned giving is no longer a side initiative. It’s a core growth channel. And with the $124 trillion Great Wealth Transfer underway and $18 trillion projected to go to nonprofits, choosing the right platform matters more than ever. But not all platforms are built the same. Here’s a clear, honest breakdown of the leading options and what actually matters when making your decision. 👉 Learn more: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/be…

October is around the corner, and so is National Estate Planning Awareness Week (Oct 19 - Oct 25). NEPAW creates a rare, targeted window of public awareness around legacy decisions; however, the best campaigns start now. With donors already thinking about their future and the impact they want to leave, nonprofits have a valuable opportunity to start meaningful legacy conversations. The key is reaching the right supporters with thoughtful messaging and a simple path to take action. Our complete guide outlines five practical steps to help your organization prepare, engage donors, build your planned giving pipeline, and inspire more gift intentions during the week and beyond. Start planning now so you are ready to make the most of the moment. 👉 Download the complete guide: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/na…

Grow your planned giving program without adding staff, increasing workload, or becoming a planned giving expert. LifeLegacy helps nonprofits uncover planned gifts, inspire legacy giving, and secure future funding through a fully branded, turnkey planned giving platform trusted by 1,000+ organizations. 👉 Ready to strengthen and grow your planned giving program? Come chat with our team of experts: lifelegacy.io/our-nonprofit-…

Qualified charitable distributions let eligible donors give directly from their IRAs. Learn how QCDs work, which donors to approach, and how to promote them without financial jargon. 👉 The Complete QCD Guide for Nonprofits: How to Increase IRA Gifts: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/qc…

After months of planning, promoting, fundraising, and executing a major fundraising campaign or event, it can be tempting to kick up your feet and enjoy the win. And you should celebrate! Celebrating a successful fundraiser is important. Your team worked hard, your supporters showed up, and your organization raised valuable funds for its mission. But now’s not the time to get too comfortable. The weeks immediately following a major fundraiser are some of the most valuable opportunities to turn a one-time success into long-term support. Your organization is still fresh in donors’ minds, relationships with sponsors and participants are still active, and supporters have already demonstrated that they’re willing to engage with your mission. Knowing how to maintain fundraising momentum can help your organization turn that initial enthusiasm into more current, future, and even blended gifts. That momentum can also help retain supporters, strengthen partnerships with sponsors, and build a strong pipeline for your next campaign. 👉 Here are three ways to keep the energy and momentum high to retain supporters and sponsors after a major fundraiser. share.lifelegacy.io/learn/ho…

Today, we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor the first responders, volunteers, families, survivors, and communities forever changed by that day. Twenty-five years later, we remain deeply grateful for the courage and compassion shown in the face of unimaginable loss. May we continue to carry those lessons forward by caring for one another, serving our communities, and working toward a more peaceful world. For those looking to honor the people and families impacted by 9/11, consider supporting organizations such as @Tunnel2Towers, @1strcf, @Voices_Center, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, or another organization carrying this important work forward. We remember. We honor. And we hold onto hope for a more peaceful future.

One of the most common assumptions in nonprofit fundraising is also one of the most limiting: if a donor doesn’t have a history of large gift donations to your organization, they probably aren’t capable of leaving planned gifts. That assumption may be understandable. Fundraisers have limited time, limited resources, and thousands of donors to consider. So it can seem logical to identify the donors who have already demonstrated significant financial support and focus planned giving conversations on them. But there is a fundamental problem with that approach. Your donor’s giving history is not a balance sheet. What someone has given to your organization tells you something about their philanthropic behavior. It does not tell you how much money they have, what assets they own, where those assets are held, what their estate looks like, or what they may ultimately want to accomplish through philanthropy. And that distinction matters enormously in planned giving. 👉 Learn more about why every donor deserves the planned giving "ask" share.lifelegacy.io/learn/wh…

Grow your planned giving program without adding staff, increasing workload, or becoming a planned giving expert. LifeLegacy helps nonprofits uncover planned gifts, inspire legacy giving, and secure future funding through a fully branded, turnkey planned giving platform trusted by 1,000+ organizations. 👉 Ready to strengthen and grow your planned giving program? Come chat with our team of experts: lifelegacy.io/our-nonprofit-…

October may feel far away, but the strongest campaigns for National Estate Planning Awareness Week (Oct 19 - Oct 25) start now. With donors already thinking about their future and the impact they want to leave, nonprofits have a valuable opportunity to start meaningful legacy conversations. The key is reaching the right supporters with thoughtful messaging and a simple path to take action. Our complete guide outlines five practical steps to help your organization prepare, engage donors, build your planned giving pipeline, and inspire more gift intentions during the week and beyond. Start planning now so you are ready to make the most of the moment. 👉 Download the complete guide: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/na…

Donors don't think in fundraising categories. They think about causes they care about and the impact they want to make (and how to maximize it!). Blended gifts often lead to larger, more thoughtful commitments than either a current gift or a planned gift on its own, and they open the door to deeper, longer-term relationships. 👉 Learn more about blended gifts and how you can approach this strategy with donors: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/wh…

A complete guide to National Estate Planning Awareness Week for your planned giving program. Every October, National Estate Planning Awareness Week creates a targeted window of public awareness around legacy decisions, offering a major opportunity for nonprofits focused on planned giving. Donors are actively reflecting on their long-term impact. Your job is to meet them where they are with clear messaging, targeted audience outreach, and frictionless digital tools. This guide outlines five actionable steps to maximize planned gift conversations, build pipeline, and capture commitments during the week and beyond. Nonprofits that begin prepping in August and September, rather than the second week of October, consistently drive the best outcomes. 👉 Download the guide here: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/na…

Your most loyal donors may already have a powerful way to support your mission. They just need to know it exists. Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) allow eligible donors to give directly from their IRAs while potentially reducing their taxable income. For nonprofits, they offer an opportunity to inspire meaningful gifts from supporters who already care deeply about the work. Yet many organizations rarely talk about them or make the giving process harder than it needs to be. 💡 What’s inside the guide? Our Complete QCD Guide for Nonprofits breaks down what fundraisers need to know in a clear, practical way. You’ll learn how QCDs work, why they matter, how to identify the right donors, and how to promote them without overwhelming supporters with financial jargon. 👉 Check out our guide today: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/qc…

A planned giving conversation isn’t something you rush into. It’s a moment of trust, timing, and emotional readiness, and when you recognize the signals, the conversation becomes far more natural and meaningful for both you and the donor. 👉 Review the cues that indicate a donor may be ready to discuss legacy gifts, along with practical guidance to help you approach the moment with confidence and care: share.lifelegacy.io/learn/ho…

👉 Fundraising friends, check this out: Top 10 Miscues Nonprofits Can Make in Planned Giving (and How to Avoid Them): share.lifelegacy.io/learn/to…

Grow your planned giving program without adding staff, increasing workload, or becoming a planned giving expert. LifeLegacy helps nonprofits uncover planned gifts, inspire legacy giving, and secure future funding through a fully branded, turnkey planned giving platform trusted by 1,000+ organizations. 👉 Talk to our team of planned giving experts: lifelegacy.io/our-nonprofit-…