Two experts recently listed ten considerations for development directors to ask of their nonprofit organization before embarking on a charitable gift planning program. Through a webinar to members of the Memphis, TN chapter of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals, Brian Sagrestano, JD, CFRE and Robert Wahlers, MS, CFRE encouraged the directors to determine whether:

1. Their nonprofit had a mission statement.
2. The mission would still be relevant in 50-100 years.
3. There was a compelling need for charitable support to sustain the mission.
4. Their nonprofit had an effective strategy in place to implement the mission.
5. The staff and Board leadership are interested in pursuing long-term support.
6. The nonprofit is financially stable.
7. The development staff pursues endowments to ensure the long term future of the nonprofit.

8. Individuals regularly give support to the nonprofit through campaigns and programs.
9. There is a group of loyal donors who have supported the nonprofit in the recent past.
10. The development staff can set aside one hour per week for the next year to invest in gift planning.

If you answered, “yes” to all ten items and want to develop a gift planning program, you may contact Brian at brian@giftplanningdevelopment.com or Robert at rwahlers@meridianhealth.com for more information.

Brian Sagrestano, JD, CFRE is an author, public speaker, and thought leader in the gift planning world. After many years running gift planning programs for nonprofits, he formed his consulting firm, Gift Planning Development. Brian is also a principal in Constellation Advancement, a full-service development consulting firm.

Robert Wahlers, MS, CFRE serves as the Vice President of Development for Meridian Health Affiliated Foundations where he leads the gift planning program and oversees the annual giving, grants, and foundation teams. Robert also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University for the Masters in Nonprofit Management Program.