Time and time again, I hear people tell me that they don’t want to talk about planned giving with their donors because they don’t know enough about it. They worry that they need a full staff of planned giving experts – and make them lawyers while we’re at it – to answer questions raised by their donors.

But here’s the thing: most charities are not writing the will for the donor. And they are certainly not creating complex trust documents.

And another secret: donors aren’t asking us to do that. All they want to know is that the organization they care about is planning on being around for years to come and is willing to accept gifts in forms different than just a check.

Don’t stop your donors from thinking about their long-term legacy with your organization just because you haven’t passed to bar in every state. Yes, it is important to know your limits – don’t give specific information if you don’t know it is true. But don’t hold your donors back just because you have limits.

Allow your donors to feel that their impact can be limitless. Talk to them about their legacy; talk to them about the world they wish to create. It is easier than you think – I promise.

-By Meg Roberts