There is an essential logic in fundraising. Hearts, minds and cash. The mantra for this is no gift is made without emotion to drive it. The moment you connect. A close spark or bond created. This remains true above all with legacy gifts. But we often focus on function first – wills, probate, tax. Maybe we are scared. Maybe we don’t understand. Maybe we don’t know. Either way it’s not where transformational legacy gifts sit and it’s not where donors start. Here’s 10 emotional connections for legacy fundraising to get you connecting
- Find your founder story and relive it though the eyes of your founders
- Systematically collect and share stories
- Recognise long-term consideration of a gift will start with an emotional connection
- Understand the motivation for giving is emotional and won’t always be remembered
- Teach your organisation to be able to have a legacy conversation as you would to a trusted friend
- Show the work and the inspirational transformation made by legacy gifts
- Join up legacy admin so its part of the gift process and joy of giving
- Do everything possible to make face to face happen
- Reassure donors about their fears and barriers – soothe them
- Find and use your own personal connection to legacies
So – uncover the emotion, dig deep, be brave, open your hearts – but above all, connect.
If you’d like to explore other great tips to open up your Legacy Fundraising click here for your free download A to Z of Legacy Fundraising. Its a checklist of 26 tips, ideas and prompts. Click here for your download