IRS Applicable Federal Midterm Rate for April 2010 is 3.2%.

The valuation rate for new pooled income funds in 2010 is 4.6%. See an expanded explanation of how this rate is calculated.

In this issue:

• Featured Topic: Exploration of Investment Rate Assumptions
• Quick Tip: Entering Gifts in GiftWrap - The Easy Way
• Help Clip: Context-Sensitive Help in Planned Giving Manager
• GiftWrap 4.0: Online Evaluations Are Now Available
• Charitable IRA Rollover May Be Available Again Soon
• 2009 Webinar Series on CD
• Marketing Corner: Social Media
• PG Calc Designs Custom Educational Opportunity for Martin Memorial Health Foundation
• Upcoming Webinar: Creative Solutions with Combination Planned Gifts
• Group Training Prior to ACGA Conference

Exploration of Investment Rate Assumptions
PG Calc’s Planned Giving Manager (PGM) allows users to specify the investment assumptions employed in "Life Income Projections" (Program 3) and "Lead Trust Projections" (Program 4).  This flexibility allows gift planners to model gift scenarios with assumed values they deem realistic and appropriate to the cases at hand.  This article reviews the rationale for PGM's default investment assumption settings and explores the process for determining investment assumptions that are reasonable within the realm of historical outcomes and future possibilities.

Learn more...

Past topics...

Quick Tip: Entering Gifts in GiftWrap - The Easy Way
Clients who have Planned Giving Manager (PGM) and GiftWrap can save time and minimize key stroke errors by importing saved PGM calculations into GiftWrap.

The GiftWrap user can create and save the GiftWrap Gift Information Files in PGM, or the Development Officer can create the GiftWrap Gift Information File in PGM and either save the files to a shared folder on the network, or email the files to the person responsible for entering the gift into GiftWrap.

When the GiftWrap Gift Information Files are ready, the GiftWrap user can import the gift information into GiftWrap while adding the gift to a person record.  The user simply answers "Yes" to the prompt at the start of the Add Gift Wizard that asks if the user wants to load the gift information from a file created by PGM/Mini/GAM. The Gift Wizard will then walk the user through the screens to complete the gift entry.

Note: PGM may actually create two files when you save a GiftWrap gift information file: one with a .gft extension and the other with a .tax extension. The .gft file contains information that describes the gift and is created for all gift types. The .tax file contains information on payment taxation and is created for gift annuities only.

Help Clip: Context-Sensitive Help in Planned Giving Manager
Have you ever found yourself in Planned Giving Manager (PGM) and not been quite sure what you're being asked or how to proceed? Do you know that the answer is always just a click away? That's because PGM provides context-sensitive help on every field, menu, and button in the software. The next time you have a data entry question in PGM, get it answered instantly with PGM's context sensitive help.

Learn more...

GiftWrap 4.0: Online Evaluations Are Now Available
A pre-release version of GiftWrap 4.0 is now available for free online evaluation. This eagerly anticipated web-based version of our gift administration software is scheduled for full release in May. We encourage our current GiftWrap clients to sign-up for an evaluation copy of GiftWrap 4.0. There's nothing to install, just register and we'll send you your login credentials. Now is an excellent time to become familiar with the new version.

Try it!

Charitable IRA Rollover May Be Available Again Soon
The Tax Extenders Act of 2009 that includes an extension of the charitable IRA rollover passed the Senate on March 10. The House passed a version of this bill last December.  Both versions extend the charitable IRA rollover through the end of 2010, retroactive to January 1. The Senate bill will now have to go to committee to be reconciled with the version of the extenders legislation passed in the House. This does not mean that the rollover has been enacted into law for 2010. The two versions now have to be reconciled and presented to President Obama for signature. While passage is highly likely, donors should not make IRA rollover gifts to charity in reliance on this law until it has finally passed.

The only PG Calc software that will require updating as a result of an extension of the charitable IRA rollover is the "Meet Your Goals with a Gift of Retirement Assets" presentation in GiftStory. GiftStory is Web-based, so we will perform this update for all GiftStory clients automatically.

2009 Webinar Series on CD
We are pleased to offer a CD containing recordings of all twelve PG Calc Webinars delivered in 2009. The 2009 Webinar Series on CD includes a wealth of information on important topics in planned giving, including “Converting Deferred Gifts to Current Gifts,” “Working with Boards and Advisory Committees,” and “Successful Planned Gift Marketing.” This CD includes A/V recordings of all twelve sessions, as well as the detailed outline and slides that accompanied each presentation. Available until April 30 for just $495 (regularly $595), the 2009 Webinar Series on CD is a great educational resource for you and your staff.

Learn more...

Marketing Corner: Social Media
Social media continues to be a hot topic among fundraisers as we explore and leverage the power it has to offer. Getting involved with social media is not particularly hard. There are many online communities where your organization can participate - Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, Stumbleupon, Digg (just to name a few), and of course, blogging. To demystify how social media can help your cause, you must be clear about what you are trying to accomplish and then determine which avenues will take you there.

While the sweet spot in social media for planned giving has yet to be uncovered, our message to anyone who works in development is to start NOW. If your development office isn't involved with social media, a critical component is missing from your marketing plan.

So how do you demystify the complexities of social media?

In September 2009, the Case Foundation interviewed Beth Kantor, a leading expert on the use of social media by non-profits. In this interview she answered some of the most popular questions people have about social media. It's worth a look, whether you are planning your first step or you're already well under way.

Here are some of the questions she tackles:

-  What should organizations ask themselves before diving into social media?
-  How do we tie all our varying social media outlets together?
-  Why are non-profits always playing catch up with social media?
-  How do we measure the effectiveness of our social media efforts?
-  How important is it for non-profits to monitor their brand?
-  What are some suggestions for online fundraising strategies?
-  What is the future for social media in the non-profit world?

Watch the interview

PG Calc Designs Custom Educational Opportunity for Martin Memorial Health Foundation
Martin Memorial Hospital Foundation, a prominent non-profit in Stuart, Florida, recognized the current favorable environment for charitable lead trusts and decided that it was a good time to educate themselves, their key donors, and regional advisors on this useful charitable option. They asked us to provide a day of on-site training involving discussion and coaching for these important stakeholder groups.

After the training, Kelly DeGregorio, Assistant Vice President of the Foundation commented on the specific value it held for each group:

- Staff: The training gave us time to work through questions in an in-depth manner, including our own specific case studies, which was immensely helpful. Our team is energized and I’m very comfortable that they have the level of knowledge they need to discuss the lead trust with prospective donors.

- Donors: A donor who attended the training has already asked for a lead trust proposal!

- Advisors: The training positioned us as a professional partner/resource for gift planning in the community. PG Calc’s Gary Pforzheimer is a ‘rock star’ for these folks. We already have follow-up appointments scheduled to discuss their specific clients’ needs.

PG Calc will work with you to design consulting and educational opportunities that meet your specific needs.

Learn more about our Consulting Services

Learn more about Martin Memorial Health Systems

Upcoming Webinar: Creative Solutions with Combination Planned Gifts
Sometimes a donor's desires cannot be met by a single type of gift. Rather, it takes a combination of gift vehicles to meet all of the donor's goals. This webinar will explore a variety of donor situations where the donor is able to addresses all of his or her needs through the creation of not one, but several planned gifts.

Date: March 25, 2010
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm Eastern
Presenter: Jeff Lydenberg

Register

Group Training Prior to ACGA Conference
We are offering both our Planned Giving Manager (PGM) and GiftWrap training sessions prior to the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA) conference in New Orleans in April. Our sessions provide a solid foundation for individuals who are new to planned giving. These classes may also serve to reinforce the skills and knowledge of experienced gift planners or administrators. The GiftWrap classes will include a sneak peek at GiftWrap 4.0! We will also be offering our PGM training sessions in Boston in May prior to the annual Planned Giving Group of New England (PGGNE) all-day conference.

April 27
Gift Planning with Planned Giving Manager
Introductory
New Orleans, LA

April 26-27
Gift Administration with GiftWrap
Basics, Reporting & Analysis
New Orleans, LA

May 10-11
Gift Planning with Planned Giving Manager
Introductory, Advanced
Boston, MA

For more information or to register

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