Planned Giving Course Text and Discussion Topics

Major Gifts
What is a Major Gift?
The Characteristics of a Major Donor
What Motivates a Major Donor?
How to Secure a Major Gift

Planned Gifts
What is a Planned Gift?
The Main Features of a Planned Gift
Types of Planned Gifts – General Features
The Canadian Climate for Gift Planning

Factors to Consider in Planned Giving
Is Your Organization Ready for Planned Giving?
Learning the Technical Side of Planned Giving
Ethical & Legal Considerations

Implementing a Planned Giving Program
Planned Giving Programs
Launching a Planned Giving Program
Targeting & Cultivating Planned Giving Prospects

Marketing Your Planned Giving Program
Donor Motivation and the Importance of the Cause
Reaching Prospective Donors

Commemorative Gifts
Memorial and In-Honour Gifts
Planning a Commemorative Program
Donor Recognition

Resources
Bibliography

Course Description and Algonquin calendar

You can review the course descriptions on the Ryerson site.
Fundraising Program Description
Algonquin College Schedule

Course Overview

The overall aim of this course is to present the key factors to consider when planning and implementing a planned giving and major gift fundraising program.

It explores the important factors to consider about planned giving, including organizational readiness; it discusses the definition and features of a planned gift; it examines planned giving programs in detail, including launching and implementation, the role of the Board, marketing the program and donor cultivation; and it describes how to plan a Memorial Program.

The course was designed and managed with the input from Boyd McBride, National Director of SOS Children's Villages Canada, an international child charity that helps with orphaned and abandoned children by giving them homes, mothers and villages