Are You Ready for August’s “Make-a-Will” Month?
Times are bleak. So let’s talk about dying!
No really, getting your house in order (and I don’t mean cleaning, though that’s a good idea too) is more important than you know.
Just ask anyone whose loved one has passed away without a will or trust. Let me remind you of two who didn’t plan ahead and left a heck of a mess: Prince and Aretha.
That’s why planning now for August’s Make-a-Will month is a way you can help your congregation prepare for the future.
You might remember this line from my post 4 Ways to Engage Millennials and Gen Z in Generosity:
Over the next two decades, an eye-popping $124 trillion will
transfer from Baby Boomers to younger generations.
Here’s another jaw dropping stat:
Only 6-9% of all bequest dollars go to charitable organizations.
Do you know why? No one bothered to ask for that legacy gift.
Friends, we call this low-hanging fruit.
There’s no time like the present. August is just around the corner.
Is your congregation ready for Make-a-Will month? Do you have a plan to remind your faithful people of the importance of a legacy gift to your church?
There are five ways you can promote Make-a-Will month:
Insert an informational flier in the bulletin (for the whole month of August)
Create a brochure about planned giving that’s unique to your congregation
Make an announcement in worship
Advertise it in your newsletter
Offer a class with a legal expert who can talk (in plain language) about the steps to make a will or establish a trust
In all these modes of communication, remind your congregation, that your church is worthy of receiving a legacy gift. In addition:
Highlight what a gift might currently fund
Dream about how a gift might impact the community through the church – and share it
Assure people that their gift will be properly handled and used well
Acknowledge that their memory will be honored
Want more ideas? Here’s the aptly named FreeWill webinar, How Make-a-Will month can drive millions to your organization in 2026.
Heck, we’re not even into summer. Now is the time to plan for Make-a-Will month.
There is no downside – only the potential to have people in your congregation decide to give a legacy gift to the place that has fed, nurtured, and challenged their faith.
Photo Credit: ChatGPT
###Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship – helping with capital campaigns and encouraging more generosity. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise millions of dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. Oprah knows: How to Build Your Legacy.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.
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