Accepting non-cash assets can unlock a whole new pool of donors, yet many nonprofits still rely entirely on credit cards, cash, and checks. This reliance leaves transformational funds on the table and limits your organization’s long-term sustainability.

In fact, research shows that organizations accepting complex assets grow their overall revenue much faster than cash-only nonprofits. According to a landmark study by Dr. Russell James, nonprofits that accepted only cash gifts experienced an average 11% increase in contributions over five years, barely keeping up with inflation. Meanwhile, those accepting any non-cash gift experienced 50% growth, and those accepting appreciated securities (like stock and real estate) experienced 66% growth.

It’s no secret that planned gifts are essential for your nonprofit’s long-term financial health. However, the challenge comes when it’s time to create a clear communication strategy that encourages donors to make a long-term commitment. So, where do you begin? 

A successful planned giving program is built on trust, education, and open communication. From creating a central resource for donors to celebrating their gifts in a meaningful way, this guide will provide everything you need to inspire planned (also called legacy) gifts. 

Legacy giving serves as a tried-and-true (if often underutilized) source of revenue for nonprofits. 

Planned gifts like bequests provide a range of benefits, including stable funding over time and opportunities to deepen relationships with your organization’s most dedicated supporters and their families. Creating a thriving legacy giving program is a worthy investment for organizations of all sizes. 

But even with a well-managed program, you may be inadvertently limiting the potential of your investment by keeping a narrow focus on just one type of gift.  

To help you maximize the impact of your legacy giving program, we’ll take a look at today’s legacy and non-cash giving options that might be excellent choices for some of your nonprofit’s donors.