Today’s donor over age 65, typically charities’ most generous donor, faces a myriad of financial issues never before encountered. Charities recognizing these struggles have been ‘giving back’ to their donors through an educational seminar experience designed to better equip donors to face these new financial challenges.
April 21, 2015 /AuthorityNewsNetwork/ —
Ten thousand Baby Boomers turn 65 every single day. By 2030, 1 out of every 5 Americans will have celebrated their 65th birthday. In fact, the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is those aged 100 and over.
Retirees, typically, charities’ most generous donors, face significant challenges and obstacles to enjoying the reward for a lifetime of labor and sacrifice.
A recent CBS MarketWatch article, Our Next Big Crisis Will Be The Retirement Crisis, estimates that 1 out 2 retirees are at risk of not being able to maintain their standard of living in retirement. The Wall Street Journal article, Are You Ready For A Long Retirement?, estimates that only 1 out of 3 retirees are financially prepared to live into their 90s.
It’s not hard to see the connection between the financial health of retirees and charities. If charities’ over-age-65 donors are strapped financially, and 80 percent of giving in the U.S. comes from individuals, then helping donors is a way for charities to help themselves by helping their best donors.
Charities that are not turning a deaf ear to donor challenges, have been educating and equipping their donors through a unique donor seminar experience since 1995.
As the donor seminar presentation begins, donors are instructed to breathe in and then exhale, as the presenter tells them, “This may be the only charitable event you attend where there is nothing to buy or give to. Take your hands off your wallets, sit back and enjoy this engaging and entertaining presentation that has been experienced by tens of thousands of folks like yourselves across the United States and Canada.”
The presentation, aptly titled Estate Tax Elimination and Income Tax Reduction, updated annually, has been educating donors of major charities for over two decades. It regularly receives remarks from donors such as “one of the best” or “the best of its kind.”
Retired Real Estate Broker, Caroline Wight, from Toronto, Canada, remarked, “Initially, I was skeptical that the presentation would be all about donating money to the charity or that I wouldn’t learn anything I hadn’t heard from the many other events I have attended. I was delighted on both accounts. It was all about how I and my family can benefit. I learned multiple ways to help myself that I hadn’t heard before presented in a simple and straightforward manner. It was truly an enjoyable and educational experience!”
A charity event with nothing to buy and nothing to give to seems like an oxymoron, but educating donors as a way to say thanks is the philosophy behind The Donor Motivation Program?. The top-rated presentation outlines the major challenges and obstacles that donors face, including running out of money, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and the impact of the increasing tax burden, among others.
“People are surprised to learn that charitable giving tools that allow them to sell stocks, bonds and real estate without paying capital gains taxes, and receive a large income tax deduction and completely avoid estate taxes have been around since the late 60’s,” says Scott Keffer, Founder and CEO of The Donor Motivation Program.
The presentation shows attendees how to use a three dimensional approach to money and how to “redirect” taxes to charity. Solutions are further illustrated using real life donors and actual results, which attendees have found very instructive.
And the approach pays off. Donors who learn how to benefit themselves through creative charitable giving tend to give back larger amounts to the charities that show them how.
Jon T. Trainor, retired Director of Development for Akron Hospital and Akron Museum, who has more than 25 years in development experience, is one of those who rate the program as the best of its type. “After a quarter of a century in development, I’ve seen it all,” Trainor said. “The Donor Motivation Program is the best planned giving program I’ve seen. I was blown away. We were very successful in our very first year. I’d highly recommend it.”
“The response from donors is validation for the charities that the information really hits home, helping donors make sense of the challenges they are facing in retirement and providing real world solutions,” remarks Keith Thomson, Director Of Canadian Operations for The Donor Motivation Program.
In order for donors’ “golden years” to actually be golden, education about options is essential. Research shows that many retirees are in the dark when it comes to their options.
Educating donors about their challenges and options is one of the way many charities are thanking their donors.
Company Name: The Donor Motivation Program?
Contact Name: Sharon Dorbritz, Director Of Operations
Country: United States
Phone: 800-281-1575
Email: Sharon@donormotivation.com
Website URL: http://www.DonorMotivation.com
Source: http://authoritynewsnetwork.com/nonprofits-educate-donors-on-how-to-benefit-themselves-in-retirement-while-helping-charity/
Release ID: 80092
