Planned Gifts

The major gifts officer, director of development, or executive director of almost any charity can tell stories of receiving notification of bequests, or other types of planned gifts, from people with whom she or he is not readily familiar.

Always, these notices lead to employees scouring donor lists and files for one small clue as to how this donor was connected to the organization, and what motivated this gift. Most often, no clue is found, or perhaps the donor has supported the organization in days gone by, and the staff members have mixed feelings about the gift—wouldn’t it have been wonderful to know this donor … no doubt the story behind the gift is an interesting one and would have made an interesting addition to our newsletter (with permission) … if only we could have worked with the donor to fully explain our goals and objectives, and learn exactly how she or he would have liked the gift used … and, how sad that we will never be able to thank this donor for her or his wonderful generosity and thoughtfulness. And, similar concerns are raised when a donor known to an organization through annual campaign support leaves a legacy gift without interaction with the charity’s staff or board members.

So, how do planned gift donors choose their gift recipients, and what are some of the motivating factors behind their decisions?

In the textbook case of a planned gift, the donor is someone known to the organization, who has taken time to learn about its services, programs, and methods of operating, and has supported it for years, most often starting with the annual appeal. Usually this person was prompted to begin their support through a personal connection—perhaps she or he used the services, or a family member received good care, or the work of the organization closely matches a strong belief system or speaks to a passion of this individual. Quite often, over the years, the donor has increased her or his giving, perhaps joining the ranks of the “major donors” of the charity. And, in some situations (and ideally more often as legacy giving is more widely discussed), the donor has talked with the charity about this planned gift, for what purpose she or he would like it used, and what type of recognition, if any, is desired.

When the donor is unknown to the organization, we can only surmise the reason behind the gift. But, conversations with family members of such donors have revealed that sometimes these people lived very frugally and felt they couldn’t afford to engage in charitable giving during their lifetimes. In some cases, family members can trace connections from the donors to the charities of choice through a monumental life event, such as an illness and death of a loved one, a mental or physical disability in the family, or maybe a concern for the homeless members of our society. Or, in other cases, the donor had a dream to become a concert pianist, artist, veterinarian, etc., but never had the opportunity to study or train in that field, and wants others to be able to pursue their passions.

Most often, planned gifts come from the heart, and are made carefully with the assistance of trained professionals, such as financial advisors, accountants, lawyers, and notaries public. They help dreams become realities through hard work and careful planning by the donors. And, as a result, they help many more dreams become realities, when the fruits of these labours are used wisely by the charities of choice of these generous and thoughtful individuals, who choose to make their mark by leaving a legacy.

If you would like to leave a legacy to build the future of the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, we can help.

The Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation is able to receive many types of planned gifts, including bequests, securities (or shares), life insurance and remainder trusts.

You should always consult your legal or financial advisor before making a planned gift. However, we are always happy to supply you with information about how you can accomplish your planned giving objective.