Stewardship & Planned Giving

35 Hours of Giving is about more than raising money during 35 hours. It is an opportunity to build relationships with donors, help people understand the long-term value of your endowment, and create a stronger base of support for your organization over time.

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Thank Your Donors
Steward P2P Donors
Keep the Relationship Going

Talk About Planned Giving
Identify Potential Donors
We're Here to Help

Thank Your Donors

A thoughtful thank you is one of the simplest ways to turn a 35 Hours donor into a long-term supporter. Your donors should hear from you after the campaign, not just through the automated receipt they receive when they give.

Keep your thank you timely, personal, and focused on appreciation. This is not the time to ask for another gift. Instead, help the donor understand that their support matters and connect their gift to the future of your organization.

A few simple ways to say thank you

Send a personalized email or handwritten note.
Ask board members or staff to make thank you calls.
Share a photo or short story that shows the work your organization is doing.
Tell donors what their support for your endowment will help make possible over time.
Keep notes about donor conversations so your team can build on those relationships later.

Sample Thank You Messages

After 35 Hours:
Thank you for your generous gift of $[amount] during 35 Hours of Giving. Your support is helping strengthen the long-term future of [Organization Name] and the work we do in our community. We are grateful that you chose to invest in our organization.

Talking About the Future:
Your gift to our endowment helps provide long-term support for [mission/program], so our organization can keep serving the community for years to come. Thank you for being part of that future.

Thank You Call:
Hi [Donor Name], this is [Name] with [Organization]. I just wanted to call and thank you for your recent gift during 35 Hours of Giving. We really appreciate your support and your investment in the future of our organization.

Steward P2P Donors

Peer-to-peer fundraisers can introduce your organization to people who may not have known about your work before. These donors may have given because a friend, family member, coworker, or other person in their network asked them to. That makes your follow-up especially important.

Don't assume these donors are one-time supporters. A thoughtful first interaction can be the beginning of a longer relationship with your organization.

Start with a personal introduction

When possible, send P2P donors a message specifically for them rather than treating them exactly like your existing donor base. Mention the fundraiser they supported and give them a short introduction to your organization and the work their gift supports.

Thank them for supporting your organization through [Fundraiser Name].
Briefly explain what your organization does.
Share a photo, story, or example of your work.
Connect their gift to your organization's mission and long-term future.
Give them one simple way to stay connected, such as following you on social media or learning more about your work.

Avoid overwhelming new donors with too much information. The goal is to make a good first impression and give them a reason to stay connected.

Don't Forget the Fundraiser

Your P2P fundraisers helped bring these donors to you. Thank them, too, and keep them involved after 35 Hours. They may be some of your best prospects for future fundraising, volunteering, board involvement, or another P2P campaign.

Keep the Relationship Going

Stewardship doesn't end when the thank you goes out. The goal is to keep donors connected to your organization between 35 Hours campaigns.

You don't need a complicated stewardship plan. A few intentional touchpoints throughout the year can go a long way.

Share stories about your organization's work and impact.
Let donors know when you reach an important milestone.
Share updates about how your organization is growing or changing.
Invite donors to appropriate events, volunteer opportunities, or other ways to get involved.
Ask donors what they care about and listen to their answers.
Keep track of meaningful conversations and interests so you can follow up later.

Most importantly, don't make every communication an ask. Donors should hear from you because they are part of your organization's community, not only when you need another gift.

Talk About Planned Giving

One of the biggest opportunities that comes from building an endowment is helping donors see that they can support your organization for generations to come.

Planned giving allows donors to make charitable gifts through their estate or financial planning. For some donors, a planned gift may make it possible to make a much larger gift than they could make during their lifetime.

You don't need to be a planned giving expert to start the conversation. You simply need to be comfortable talking with donors about the idea of creating a lasting legacy.

Start with the endowment

Keep the conversation simple. Explain what your endowment does and why it matters to the future of your organization.

A Simple Way to Talk About It

A gift to our endowment helps provide long-term support for [MISSION/PROGRAM], so our organization can keep serving the community for years to come.

Planned gifts can take many forms

Depending on the donor's circumstances, a planned gift might include:

A bequest through a will or trust
A beneficiary designation for a retirement account or other asset
A gift of life insurance
A charitable remainder trust
A charitable lead trust
A charitable gift annuity
Other gifts of assets that may be appropriate for the donor

The right strategy depends on the donor's individual circumstances. Your role is not to provide financial, tax, or legal advice. Your role is to identify potential interest and connect the donor with the right people to explore their options.

This Is About More Than 35 Hours

35 Hours happens every other year. Your endowment story doesn't.

Look for opportunities throughout the year to talk about the long-term future of your organization. A donor who cares deeply about your mission may be interested in making a lasting gift, even if they are not in a position to make a large gift today.

Identify Potential Donors

You may already have people in your donor community who could be interested in supporting your endowment through a planned gift. Start by looking at the relationships you already have.

Consider donors who:

Have supported your organization consistently over many years.
Have a strong personal connection to your mission.
Have made significant gifts or have increased their giving over time.
Have served on your board or volunteered with your organization.
Talk about the future of your organization or the community.
Have expressed interest in your endowment or long-term sustainability.
Have a history of supporting organizations they care about for the long term.

You don't need to know whether someone has an estate plan or what assets they have. Those conversations are better handled with the donor's financial, tax, or legal advisors and, when appropriate, Community Foundation staff.

Keep the conversation donor-centered

Planned giving should start with the donor, not the gift. Ask questions, listen to what matters to them, and learn why your organization is important to them. If they are interested in leaving a legacy, that is a good time to bring in additional expertise.