LEAVE A LEGACY® Stark County, Ohio

Steps to Success

Invite a speaker to address your Board or staff about LEAVE A LEGACY^®.
Get Board endorsement of the project and your organization's participation.
Link your web site to ours.
Run a series of articles in your newsletter about LEAVE A LEGACY^®, and planned giving in general. Include any testimonials from your donors about their giving.
Personalize the free LEAVE A LEGACY^® brochures with your own logo or name.
Mail free LEAVE A LEGACY^® brochures to your closest supporters with a cover letter signed personally by the Executive Director or Board President.
Invite supporters to a presentation, and use someone from the LEAVE A LEGACY^® Speakers Bureau to Talk about planned giving.
Use the LEAVE A LEGACY^® logo in all materials about gift planning.
Add a line asking about interest in gift planning information in every campaign or survey.
Educate and alert your staff -particularly those answering the phone- about LEAVE A LEGACY^® and your participation. Post a simple note at the front desk for volunteer receptionists.
Carefully think through your prompt response to all LEAVE A LEGACY^® inquiries, and develop a letter and simple packet of information. Set aside time to follow-up.
Show the inspirational LEAVE A LEGACY^® video to interested parties.
Invite your volunteer leadership to visit your organization with interested donors.
Join your local LEAVE A LEGACY^® team and help raise community awareness!

In every issue of your newsletter, make sure to include a small box with your full legal name and a simple statement about legacy donations.
Adopt a gift acceptance policy that addresses donations beyond those of outright cash.
Set up an endowment fund if you do not already have one, with an expectation that any legacy gifts will be placed there.
Establish goals for your endowment fund, based on anticipated needs over the next 10-20+ years.
Join the Northern Ohio Planned Giving Council and learn more about gift planning. Network with nonprofit and allied professionals in your community.
Define or re-evaluate your financial investment policy.
Consider making your own legacy gift to the charities of your choice.
Set up a committee to meet with your closest supporters and share your plans.
Develop a recognition process that might include a heritage society, a plaque in the lobby, and/or annual listing in your newsletter or annual report.
Hire a planned giving consultant for a year or two to help you get started.