For many people, making or updating a will sits somewhere between cleaning out the garage and finally organizing the family photos. They know they should do it. They intend to get around to it. But somehow, it keeps slipping to the bottom of the list.
What finally motivates someone to move a long-postponed project from someday to today? Often, it is a clear understanding of why it matters and a little nudge forward.
August is Make-a-Will Month, creating a timely opportunity to bring estate planning to the forefront. But the conversation doesn’t have to begin and end with a will. By asking thoughtful questions, you can help donors consider their broader plans, clarify what they want to accomplish, and explore how charitable giving may fit into the legacy they hope to leave.
Consider the following ways—and questions—to broaden donor discussions this August.
1. Start with priorities.
Estate planning is ultimately about more than distributing assets. It is about caring for people, expressing values, and clarifying a desired legacy. By asking thoughtful, open-ended questions, you can help donors connect their estate planning decisions with the people and causes that matter most to them so they can begin planning with greater purpose. You might ask:
• What experiences shaped your values and goals?
• What difference do you want your generosity to make?
• What is most meaningful to you about our work and mission?
2. Discuss assets that don’t pass by will.
Many people aren’t aware of how many assets do not pass under a will, so beneficiary designations are an important part of your August discussions. This is an opportunity for you to remind donors that there is another simple, flexible way to support your work with no current out-of-pocket cost.
• Does your estate plan account for assets such as life insurance and retirement accounts that pass by beneficiary designation rather than by will?
• Have you considered using IRA or retirement account assets for charitable gifts and leaving other assets to loved ones?
• If you have a donor-advised fund, have you decided what should happen to the remaining balance after your lifetime?
• Do any of your other financial accounts or property offer payable-on-death or transfer-on-death options that could be coordinated with your estate plan?
3. Explore DAF succession plans.
Supporters who use a donor-advised fund (DAF) may not have considered what will happen to it after their lifetime. Depending on the sponsoring organization’s policies, donors may be able to name one or more charitable beneficiaries, appoint successor advisors, direct the remaining balance to an endowed fund, or even combine these approaches. Without a plan in place, the remaining DAF assets may be distributed according to the sponsoring organization’s default policies rather than the donor’s wishes.
Use your Make-a-Will Month conversations to explore questions such as:
• What would you like your DAF to accomplish after your lifetime?
• Would you like those assets to continue supporting our mission or other charitable organizations?
• Would you like family members or others to remain involved in recommending grants?
• What guidance could you leave to help successor advisors carry out your charitable intentions?
• Would you prefer to provide immediate support or establish a fund that continues making grants over time?
4. Encourage family conversations.
August is an ideal time to encourage donors to have an open conversation with family members about charitable gifts in their estate plans. Some donors may hesitate to share these decisions with family, concerned their intentions will be misunderstood or conflicts could arise, but the opposite is often true. Talking about plans and intentions now can help avoid conflicts and misunderstandings after death, when the donor is no longer there to explain the reasoning behind their choices.
• Have you talked with family members about the legacy you want to leave and shared the motivations behind your gifts?
• Have you coordinated your estate and charitable plans with your advisors?
• Do your family members understand how your charitable intentions fit alongside your plans for the people you love?
5. Continue the conversation.
A Make-a-Will Month discussion doesn’t need to end on August 31. Thoughtful follow-up can help donors move from general interest to a completed plan while strengthening their connection to your organization. Before concluding a conversation, consider asking:
• Would it be helpful if I sent you additional information or sample bequest language to share with your attorney or advisor?
• Is there a particular area of our work that you would like to learn more about?
• Would you like to include a family member or advisor in a future conversation?
• If you have already included our organization in your plans, would you feel comfortable letting us know?
• How would you like us to keep you informed about the impact of your support?
Make-a-Will Month may begin with a conversation about wills, but it doesn’t have to end there. By asking thoughtful questions, you can help donors consider their broader plans, clarify their charitable intentions, and take meaningful steps toward the legacy they want to leave.
