Why Tell A Charitable Organization They Are In Your Estate Plan?

Many donors make estate gifts to charities, but only about 20% actually tell those charities that they have done so. Why is this number so low?

First, many feel that once the word gets out that they have left an organization in their will many other organizations will start to hound them for a planned gift as well. There is one very easy fix to this, which is to tell the charity you are leaving a planned gift but that you would like to remain anonymous and do not seek any public recognition.

Some donors fear that if they inform a charity that a planned gift has been made, the charity will start to ask for more and greater gifts. At the Ministries Foundation, we do not ask you for more or greater gifts just because you have told about your planned gift. We consider the planned gift one of the ultimate ways to show your support to our organization and know that you will continue to give what you feel is right for you, as you always have.

Donors also want to remain free to change their mind about the charities they want to leave in their will and thus are reluctant to share their estate plans. Yet, one of the greatest components of planned giving is that most gifts are not set in stone: if you change your mind later on down the road, you can easily change your will as well. A charitable organization will understand if you decide to retract your planned gift.

The last reason donors give for not letting charities know they have made a planned gift is they feel it is not important. But charitable organizations like to have an idea of what their future looks like, and knowing that planned gifts are expected helps them to better financially plan for their future. In addition, charities like to be able to thank donors during their lifetime and to find out what donors would like to see accomplished with that gift.

We would love to hear from you if you have made a planned gift to the Sisters of St. Joseph Ministries Foundation but have not yet informed us of your gift. And we will do our best to honor your wishes.

If you have any questions or would like to talk with someone about leaving the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Ministries Foundation in your estate plan, please contact Lisse Regehr, Planned Giving Officer, at 651.690.7092 or lregehr@csjstpaul.org.