Planned Giving Days Conference

I spent two days last week at a conference on planned giving. “What the heck is planned giving?” you might ask. Well, according to about.com, “Planned Giving is a set of ways a donor can leave money/assets to a nonprofit at his/her death; or a way to invest money so that the donor receives benefits during his/her life and then bequeaths the remaining funds to the nonprofit.” These are among our most generous donors who are making a real commitment to support the programs of GSH well into the future.

One of the seminars I went to was about “donor-centered” planned giving marketing. The speaker said we should ask our planned giving donors and prospects three questions:

1. Why do you support GSH?

2. What is important to you and your family

3 . How can GSH and I be helpful to you?

So, help me out here. Can you all answer these questions? If so, leave me a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

It is always a bit unnerving to see a newspaper headline about nonprofits losing funders. Today's headline was no exception.

Fortunately, our GSHFS mission fits squarely into their poverty reduction goal. In fact, the United Way of the National Capital Area has been a longstanding partner for us.

Granted, the last few years have been lean, but in this business, you have to be hopeful. I keep rooting for them, wanting to see our local chapter round the corner in the public's eye and return to their previous fundraising levels. Heaven knows there is community need that they can help address!

INVOLVEMENT

Today we have a guest post from our Board President, Rosemary Murray.

Having spent my many-decades-long working life in a demanding, yet uncertain, environment, as I approached retirement, I began to consider how I could spend my new-found “free” time doing something which might better the lives of others. While I hoped to be able to use the skills and knowledge gained over this lifetime, little did I know that I would find a non-profit organization right in my back yard that would not only provide me such an opportunity, but give back to me in ways I had never considered.

Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services (GSH) is not only dedicated to helping hard-working families find stable, secure and family-friendly environments in which to live, but provides budget counseling and guidance with the hope that our clients will be productive members of our communities and one day be homeowners themselves. What a proud day it is for each of us staff, board members, volunteers or contributors to see the smiles of the faces of families, first as we help them through a crisis and then as they graduate to a self-sustained life.

But, the unexpected pleasure of working with GSH and its fabulous board and staff is the real icing on the cake. Regardless of one’s background, there is always a perfect niche for anyone willing to give of his/her time, talent and treasure. What a blessing it has been to get to know the board members who spend so much very thoughtful time on our issues, whether we are discussing ways to raise funds to support our clients, determine a strategic course of action for GSH’s future, or communicate our message to the public. The enthusiasm and dedication of our staff, board and volunteers for our mission and goals is a contagious delight and I encourage anyone who has ten free minutes a week to give us a call. While, of course, we’ll take a full twenty minutes, or twenty hours, you will find the experience as fulfilling to you as it is to our clients.

Come join the bandwagon of wonderful people who give so tirelessly to help so many hard working families in our area. You will be rewarded in countless ways and welcomed warmly into an organization that is a family unto itself.

I've changed a lot since I started working at GSH in late-2005. Besides stopping smoking and losing 50 pounds I've also gotten a lot more frugal. All of my lecturing as the Family Advocate and Budget Counseling Coordinator forced me to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. And, like losing weight, better personal finance is rather simple: save more and spend less. To do this I've made some big changes, such as moving across the street from the office to save on gas money and even temporarily trying car-free living (unfortunately a failed experiment).

Well, recent news items have got me thinking about my spending on food. Being a regular at the Aldi grocery store across the street I'm assuming I am getting the cheapest prices around but then I wonder if maybe buying bulk at Costco wouldn't be a better way to go.

Please take a second to try our first poll.

 Has your food spending changed with the rising prices and the economy?

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  Not at all. "Money ain't a thing, g."


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  A little. "Guilt is the price we pay willingly for doing what we are going to do anyway”


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  Sometimes. “Whatever you do, do it in moderation”


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  A lot. 'No more organics for me. Aldi rocks!'


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  Absolutely. 'I'm hoarding bags of rice and the kids are growing corn in the sandbox.'

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Free vote poll