What is...

It might sound like a complicated concept but it isn't; it's really pretty straightforward. A fractional Planned Giving Director is a Planned Giving Director. They sit at the same table as any Planned Giving Director but are not bound by the same limitations as a traditional employee. As a result, they offer a fraction of their time and all of their expertise to each organization they work with. Attorneys and CPAs have been doing this for years and it has slowly branched out as organizations have learned they can have high-quality leadership at a fraction of the cost.

We understand some organizations may be hesitant to hire fractional staff thinking a fractional Planned Giving Director can't offer the same value as a full-time one. However, the reality is entirely the opposite. Experienced fractional professionals provide each organization with as much attention as they need to grow and achieve their goals. The money saved between hiring an equally qualified full-time employee and a fractional Planned Giving Director can then be repurposed for marketing, building the donor pipeline, or carrying out the mission.

Peak 9860 is committed to making planned giving accessible for every non-profit and those who support those good works. Our fractional planned giving professional program makes this uniquely possible.

We have a team of professionals each with decades of experience ready to come alongside of your non-profit and donors. Whether developing the program from scratch or taking existing work to the next level we're ready to help you secure the future through planned giving.

Together we ensure a solid policy foundation, develop realistic marketing, identify likely candidates, and build intentional relationships – all leading to completed planned gifts and everything that means for your mission. Unlike other groups, the donor relationship and information remains with your organization. We act on your behalf as your (fractional) staff.

Our fractional program means that you can afford the highest caliber staff at, well, a fraction of the cost. When you are ready to secure the future of your organization, take a moment and book your virtual onboarding meeting.

This is a long answer and a long video, but it is an important question. We’ll do our best to summarize this written portion.

Not that different from a new hire process you would move through; the biggest difference is we also have a process to better facilitate the back-and-forth and sharing of information.

• Organizational identity items such as email, phone number, letterhead, etc.
• Being part of the team – virtually attending staff meetings, board/committee meetings, etc.
• Expert insight and efforts on planned gift acceptance policies and notification procedures.
• Maintaining the donor relationship at the organizational level, unlike others who do similar work.
• Adhering to your organizational policies and practices.
• Intentional donor cultivation.
• Marketing planning and execution that is appropriate for your organization.

This is only scratching the surface, but to sum it up, you can expect an experience that aligns with your expectations of hiring a professional to lead your planned giving program.

Night and day...the difference is night and day.

I think of consulting as giving you well-informed advice on how to do "it."

Whereas to me coaching is more like guiding you to find how to "it" within yourself.

Of course, training is teaching you how to do "it."

These are all great, and they each have a place. Peak 9860 can and will help with consulting, coaching, and training, but none of these is fractional -- fractional is actually doing "it."

Your fractional planned giving director will be hands-on, leading your planned giving program: reviewing policies/procedures and making suggestions, identifying prospects, crafting marketing, meeting with donors – the nuts-and-bolts of a successful planned giving program done for you...turn-key.

And because it is a fractional relationship, you get a highly skilled experienced professional for the time you need, saving budget for other important work.

Open! Open-minded.

The concept is likely going to be new to the entire organization, so the team has to be open to the concept and its benefits.

Beyond that, the most success is seen in small to mid-sized non-profits that have received the majority of the funds from individual donors for at least five years (the longer the better). This doesn't mean grant-focused or program fee-heavy organizations can't have successful planned giving programs, only that it does require a different approach and a longer runway.

While it isn't necessary, we work best when there is already a full-time development director (at least). The more mature the development efforts, the faster we can ramp up and see success.

We've had success with all sectors: education, human services, churches, advocacy, animal welfare, youth services, senior housing, and others.

Two main reasons:

1. Privacy
2. It doesn't really matter

First, planned giving is rooted in sincere and often confidential conversations, so we naturally keep things "close to the vest." And who we work with is no different; few want to telegraph the depth of the fundraising bench. We won't promote our work with your organization either -- our relationship is private.

Second, but just as importantly, it really doesn't matter. If you've worked with one non-profit, you've worked with one non-profit. Every organization is different -- they each have their own culture, donors, pluses, and minuses. Just because we have been successful with XYZ charity -- who might have a similar budget, staff make-up, or mission -- doesn't mean that it would be a good fit for you. This is why we conduct introduction calls, exploration calls, and onboarding calls. We want the relationship to be lasting and successful; past experience with a "similar" organization isn't really an indication of that.

The difference would depend on who you talk to.

Generally, they are used interchangeably. But of late, some professionals are starting to draw distinctions.

Of them, "Charitable Gift Planning" is the most recent addition to our nonprofit lexicon. Its introduction is rooted in a general dislike of the term "planned giving." "Legacy Giving" has the longest history and can be tracked back for more than two centuries, though the concepts reach back much farther.

While it evolved into the term "Planned Giving," recently we have started to see "Legacy Giving" be refined to basically mean non-split-interest gifts or Will, Life Insurance, retirement assets, beneficiary tools (checking accounts, investment accounts, etc.). This redefinition distinguishes trusts, charitable gift annuities, and pooled income funds as "Planned Giving." I'm not sure the raising distinction is helpful, but we are seeing it more often. Of course, none of these names are helpful to your donors, and we strongly suggest you keep this "insider" language out of donor-facing messages.

Regardless of what you call it, your fractional Planned Giving Director can help you and your donors accomplish their goals in the most effective way.