Recurring gifts, beyond volunteering, and family philanthropy across generations
Greetings from [ABC Charity]!
As summer begins, many of us look forward to spending more time with family, reconnecting with friends, and reflecting on what matters most. It is often during these moments that we think about the values we hope to share with future generations and the impact we want to have on the people and communities we care about.
At [ABC Charity], we see every day how generosity grows through relationships. Some supporters begin by making a small recurring gift. Others begin by volunteering their time or involving children and grandchildren in service activities. Over time, these connections often deepen into lasting commitments that strengthen our mission and help ensure it continues for years to come.
This month, we're exploring how everyday acts of generosity can create a lasting legacy. We hope these articles inspire you to think about the many ways your support can make a difference today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.
Good habits: Recurring gifts can pave the way for lasting impact
Your regular support already says a lot about your commitment to [ABC Charity]. Explore how consistent giving can evolve into a larger legacy plan that reflects your values and extends your impact into the future.
What's next? Tips for volunteers to make an even bigger difference
Volunteers are among the most dedicated supporters of [ABC Charity]. Discover how giving your time can deepen your connection to our mission, strengthen your impact, and create opportunities to leave a lasting legacy.
Family and legacy: Connecting the dots for impact
The values we share with our children and grandchildren often become some of our most meaningful gifts. Learn how family conversations about generosity and [ABC Charity] can inspire charitable traditions and create a legacy that lasts for generations.
Thank you for being such an important part of our work. Your support makes a difference every day, and we're grateful to have you with us.
–Your friends at [ABC Charity]
THIS MONTH’S
FEATURED ARTICLES
Good habits: Recurring gifts can pave the way for lasting impact
Many people generously give to charities consistently every year through gifts that are large and small. That is certainly the case with many of [ABC Charity]'s supporters, and we are grateful! As you structure your recurring gifts, take a moment to consider how your future legacy plans can build on—and continue—your lifetime of making a difference.
First and foremost, your annual or monthly donations to [ABC Charity] provide a dependable source of funding that helps us plan ahead, respond to needs as they arise, and invest confidently in our programs. Just as importantly, your ongoing generosity creates something else for which we are extremely grateful: a lasting relationship with our mission.
Over time, many of our supporters find themselves thinking beyond the next month or the next year. You may begin asking bigger questions. What kind of long-term impact do I want to have? How can I help ensure this work continues long after I am gone? How can I continue supporting future generations of people who may benefit from [ABC Charity]’s mission?
For many supporters, a legacy gift is simply a natural extension of the commitment they have already demonstrated through years of support. Just as your recurring gifts help sustain the mission today, a planned gift can help sustain the mission tomorrow.
The good news is that planned giving does not have to be complicated. Many legacy gifts are created through a simple provision in a will or trust, or by naming [ABC Charity] as a beneficiary of a retirement account, life insurance policy, or other financial asset.
Whether you have been supporting [ABC Charity] for a few months or many years, your generosity is already making a meaningful difference. By considering how your charitable support fits into your long-term plans, you have an opportunity to extend that impact well into the future. Please reach out to learn more!
Thank you for supporting [ABC Charity]—past, present, and future!
What’s next? Tips for volunteers to make an even bigger difference
Many of the most dedicated supporters of [ABC Charity] did not begin their relationship by making a financial contribution. They began by giving something equally valuable: their time.
Indeed, if you’ve recently started volunteering, or even if you’ve been giving your time for years, you might not yet have taken the step of providing financial support. And that is perfectly fine!
For starters, you and other volunteers play a vital role in helping [ABC Charity] and other nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions. Volunteers bring energy, expertise, compassion, and a willingness to serve. What’s more, you probably noticed that volunteering provides an opportunity to experience [ABC Charity]’s mission firsthand. Whether helping at an event, serving on a committee, mentoring participants, or supporting day-to-day operations, you and other volunteers often develop a unique perspective on the challenges facing the community and the difference [ABC Charity]’s work can make.
We’d love to invite you to think about whether your connection might grow into something even deeper, whenever the time is right for you. Here are a few considerations:
–Many volunteers tell us that their experiences changed the way they think about philanthropy. By witnessing the organization's work up close, they gained a greater appreciation for both the needs being addressed and the resources required to create meaningful solutions.
–Because of this deeper understanding, many of our volunteers have become [ABC Charity]’s most committed advocates and supporters. They share our organization's story with friends and family, encourage others to get involved, and often become financial contributors themselves.
–For some volunteers, this commitment eventually leads to a legacy gift. That’s because, after years of volunteering, many supporters begin to view [ABC Charity] as part of their own life story. They have seen lives changed, relationships formed, and communities strengthened. Including [ABC Charity] in an estate plan becomes a way to continue supporting a cause they know intimately and care about deeply.
If you think your journey over the coming years and decades might follow this type of trajectory, remember that legacy gifts are not reserved for wealthy donors. In many cases, they are simply a reflection of a lifetime of involvement and commitment. They allow volunteers to ensure that the work they helped build and strengthen can continue long into the future.
Above all, thank you for volunteering! You help make our mission possible every day. As you consider how your impact might continue beyond your lifetime, we would be honored to explore ways to create a lasting legacy together.
Family and legacy: Connecting the dots for impact
Understandably, because dollars and cents are involved, many people think of charitable giving as a financial decision. In reality, it is often something far more personal.
For many families, philanthropy is a way to express values, strengthen relationships, and create a sense of purpose that extends across generations. The conversations families have about generosity today can shape charitable traditions that endure for decades.
Indeed, for more than a decade, researchers who study philanthropy have observed that charitable values are often learned at home. Children and grandchildren pay attention when family members volunteer, support causes they care about, and talk about the importance of helping others. These experiences help establish lifelong attitudes toward giving.
That is one reason many donors find great satisfaction in involving family members in charitable decisions. That family involvement itself comes in many forms:
–Family members volunteer together.
–Family members attend nonprofit events together.
–Family members discuss community needs at the dinner table.
–Older family members invite younger generations to learn about organizations they’ve supported for years by joining them in charitable giving decisions.
What’s more, many donors who engage their families in philanthropy become very interested in legacy giving—which makes sense! When people begin thinking about the values they hope to pass on to future generations, charitable giving often becomes part of the conversation. A planned gift can serve not only as financial support for [ABC Charity] and other favorite nonprofits, but also as a statement about what mattered most during a person's lifetime.
Many donors view a legacy gift as one final opportunity to teach future generations about compassion, responsibility, and community involvement. By sharing your charitable passions with family members today, you have an opportunity to create a tradition of generosity that extends far beyond your own lifetime. And by considering a legacy gift, you can help ensure that tradition continues for generations to come.
Please reach out if you are interested in learning more about including [ABC Charity] as the beneficiary of your will, trust, or retirement account. We would be honored to help ensure that the [ABC Charity] programs your family cares about continue receiving support in the future.
Thank you for helping [ABC Charity] build a stronger future for our community and for the families who call it home.
This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to learn how this information might apply to your own situation.