Our “Phase In” Approach to Developing Programs
It’s smart to start your planned giving program on a part-time basis and phase in your program incrementally. A national survey among 2,978 planned giving professionals confirms this approach.
Among other things, the survey found that 49% said they spent 25% or less of their time actually engaged in planned giving.
Unless you are in an organization with a long-standing and mature development program, you may not need a full-time planned giving professional on staff as you get started.
Planned Giving Takes Time
The reality is that building a planned giving program takes time. Hiring a full-time planned giving professional as you start your planned giving program may be an unnecessary expense.
Hiring a full-time planned giving professional is an investment. A leading planned giving magazine, Planned Giving Today, reports that the median annual salary for a planned giving professional is $62,500. Is this the price you are willing to pay if your organization isn’t yet ready for a full-time program?
Use Your Organization’s Resources Wisely
Perhaps your organization already has an individual who has the potential to take on planned giving responsibilities in the near future. By using this staff member — plus a consultant to get started — you can save considerable money, time, and resources.
Where to Start?
Most small to mid-sized organizations want to launch a planned giving program, but don’t know where to start. We recommend starting with an experienced planned giving consultant. One practical solution would be to hire in-house consulting support one day a week for the first year of your program.
If you’re ready to get started, please contact us for an initial complimentary consultation.
