Someone once said, “Fund raising is a spiritual exercise,” and that rings true. Whether you are conducting a car wash, a bake sale, the annual canvass, a capital campaign, or building your endowment, fund raising is very personal. It takes discipline, love, perseverance and creativity. It is part art, part science. There is no “one size fits all” plan or guaranteed pattern for success. There are, however, proven techniques, tools, and practices for effective fund raising.

They are:

• Set a goal.
• Find someone to lead the fund drive.
• Recruit volunteers to help and give them clear, achievable tasks.
• Identify who will be asked to make a contribution.
• Meet face to face with donors when you ask for the gift/pledge.
• Say thank you for every contribution.
• Keep careful records of financial support.
• Report how the money has been used.
• Publicly recognize supporters.
• Say thank you again. Thank donors and volunteers (repeat this step liberally).
• Fund raising leaders and volunteers deserve a lot of thanks and public recognition. 
  This is important to recruiting new leaders and volunteers.

All types of fund raising use these basic tools and techniques. Planned giving therefore is not much different than other fund raising activities, in which you may have been involved in your congregation. Yet, unlike the annual canvass or the a capital campaign, planned gift fund raising usually takes more time and personal attention before and after the gift or pledge to give is completed. Organizing a planned giving program can seem overwhelming and complicated. Like all fundraising, it is a challenge. With a bit of knowledge and a lot of willingness to listen, talk and visit with potential donors, you can have a successful planned giving program.

Whatever your circumstances, the most important things to do are these:

1. Identify five or ten people you can visit and ask for a planned gift this year. And do it.
2. Identify five or ten more people you will visit and ask for a planned gift this year or next.
3. Encourage everyone to complete a legal Will and include a gift to our UU future.

Keeping these three simple principles in mind, you are now ready to consider a broader outline for carrying out a planned giving program.