Don’t be an ‘idiot’ when it comes to legacy fundraising?

Warren Buffet, the master of investing once said: ‘What the wise man 🐢 does at the beginning, the fool 🐇 does in the end’.

I agree but perhaps the word ‘idiot’ is a little harsh. Me thinks he can get away with it.

There are three types of investors when it comes to legacy fundraising. 

1. The ‘innovators’ - those few who believed that gifts in Wills income will grow despite low visibility. They’ve experienced significant income growth 📈 from legacies in the last ten years or more.

2. The ‘imitators’ who realise income growth is actually happening by the ‘innovators’ so they start investing.

3. The ‘idiots’ (blame Buffett for the use of this word) who conclude things will get better and start investing too late when the market share 🥧 in their sector has been eaten up. And it becomes harder to acquiesce an enquirer let alone convert a pledger 😤.

Right now, we’re in a stage where there’s huge opportunity 🎈to grow gifts in Wills. 

‘Imitators’ are jumping in today - big round of applause 👏🏾 to them - but there are still many who are still unconvinced. 

Ok, I get there are genuine reasons why investment is not an option for some charities but if deciding to act hinges on feeling uncomfortable 😬 with uncertainty, I feel these doubts can be dissolved if one turns to ‘sector specific innovators’ to see how their proven legacy marketing models have worked.

If your Board or leadership team is still unconvinced show them this diagram I’ve drawn on the back of a napkin.

Tell them that it’s going to cost them greatly if they sit on their hands or reduce their current investment. Perhaps don’t call them idiots ✋. 

Share with them how innovators in your sector who’ve invested in legacy fundraising ten years ago or more, are reaping the rewards now. 

We’re currently sitting in a golden period to grow gifts in Wills. But the longer charities wait to invest, and it doesn’t have to be extortionate sums of money, the harder it will get.

If you’d like to have a virtual coffee ☕️ chat to discuss more, dm me.