Dear Friends of LEAVE A LEGACY® Arkansas:

LEAVE A LEGACY® Arkansas is a statewide public awareness campaign which encourages Arkansans from all walks of life to continue their charitable giving beyond their lifetimes by including bequests in their trusts and wills.

I am honored to represent the many hard working volunteers of LEAVE A LEGACY® Arkansas as the Chair of our Statewide Advisory Board. We greatly appreciate your interest in our initiative and hope that you find our web site to be helpful.

Current demographics suggest that a planned giving program should be a priority for all charities that seek long-term financial security. LEAVE A LEGACY® Arkansas seeks to encourage all Arkansans to extend their charitable giving beyond their lifetimes. We also provide assistance to Arkansas charities in cultivating and harvesting charitable planned gifts from their captive donors.

Most people are not surprised to learn that 70% of Americans make annual gifts to their favorite charities. Nor is it surprising that most charities focus their limited resources on promoting annual gifts. The eventual death of a loyal annual donor can leave a significant funding gap.

For most Americans, charitable giving ends when their lives end, as less than 6% leave something at death to their favorite charities. This statistic will become more meaningful (and of greater concern) during the next 50 years, as the wealth transferred between generations is predicted to exceed $41 trillion, and may well reach double or triple that amount. Can our non-profit community afford to sit on the sidelines during this unprecedented transfer of wealth? The answer is a resounding "No!". Charities that wish to survive long term must take heed. It is time to devote attention to planned giving.

While many charities would like to encourage planned gifts from their donors, only a select few charities - typically the larger and more financially successful - have the resources to actively cultivate planned gifts. Therein lies the dilemma. The charities that really need planned gifts don't have the resources to make donors aware of the opportunity. And 94% of Americans, unaware of the opportunity, do not make bequests to their favorite charities.

LEAVE A LEGACY® Arkansas is a coalition of over 140 non-profits and professionals who seek to bring an end to this dilemma by launching a statewide public awareness initiative to inform Arkansans of the opportunity to make planned gifts to charities of their choice. Our grass roots campaign will be implemented locally in six districts - Western, Northwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Central. Over the next three years, volunteers, partners and sponsors in each district will spearhead our public awareness effort.

IF WE ARE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE MUST HAVE YOUR HELP!

You or your organization can provide valuable financial support for our campaign.

BECOME A PARTNER!

An individual or organization can become bronze partner for as little as $100 per year. For those who can be more generous, partnerships also are available at the silver ($250), gold ($500) and platinum ($750) levels.

BECOME A SPONSOR!

Sponsorships are available for financial commitments of $1000 or more per year. Click on "Partner" or "Sponsor" for additional information and listings of those who already are onboard.

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS CAN HOST PLANNED GIVING PROGRAMS

Professionals in estate planning and executives with nonprofits are available to present a community awareness program for your board of directors or for friends or members of your organization, church, or synagogue. The program for general audiences is 15 to 25 minutes and affords ample opportunity for individuals to ask questions.

The more advanced programs are designed to present ideas regarding charitable planned gifts and to provide topical presentations or seminars or workshops for general audiences or professional audiences. These presentations are specially customized for the audience attending and may be one-hour or half-day presentations with continuing education credits.

WHAT'S YOUR LEGACY?

As you contemplate our initiative, please take the time to consider the charities that have touched your life. Every bequest, large or small, is vitally important. You don't have to be wealthy. Take advantage of the opportunity to make your mark. LEAVE A LEGACY® Arkansas!

Cynthia VanWinkle
Chair
Statewide Advisory Board

LEAVE A LEGACY® Arkansas