Planned Giving Consulting for Canadian Nonprofits
Build a legacy giving program that fits (and grows) with your organization.
“Working with our Global Senior Consultant was an invaluable experience for our team. She provided thoughtful, comprehensive training for one of our staff members who is new to both our organization and the role of Legacy Giving Officer. This has set our staff member up for success, equipping her with the knowledge and confidence to grow our legacy program and identify key areas for improvement.”
Invite your donors to shape the future they care about, now.
Planned giving (also called gift planning or legacy giving) is about something powerful: giving your most committed supporters a way to express the full depth of their belief in your mission. Across Canada
- An unexpected estate gift may have arrived and sparked new curiosity with the board, who are thinking more long-term.
- Donor bases are maturing and thinking about their own legacy in a different way then when they first engaged with your causes.
- Supporters are holding significant wealth (real estate or investments) that isn’t reflected in their annual gifts.
Planned giving strengthens both present and future revenue. Research shows that when donors make a legacy commitment, their annual giving increases by an average of 77%*. That means legacy conversations don’t compete with annual fundraising. They deepen it.
We believe most Canadian nonprofits are more than ready to include planned giving into their portfolio of fundraising options.
Getting started with planned giving
You may have received one or two unexpected estate gifts and realized there’s untapped potential. Or perhaps your board keeps saying, “We should be doing something with legacy giving.” You know this matters, but are unsure where to begin. We can help you:
- Assess your readiness and identify the smartest first step.
- Develop a clear, compelling legacy case for support.
- Create simple messaging that feels natural and donor-centered.
- Build internal confidence so your team knows how to begin.
Finding clarity and focus for an existing program
You see the opportunity planned giving presents. Perhaps a few confirmed bequests have come in, or you’ve experimented with some messaging. But things feel reactive rather than strategic: inconsistent follow-up, siloed teams, or uncertainty about what to prioritize next. We can help you:
- Conduct a practical program audit to identify growth opportunities.
- Strengthen messaging and donor journeys.
- Integrate legacy conversations into major and annual giving.
- Train staff and leadership to build confidence and alignment.
Refining a mature legacy giving program
If you are already making meaningful legacy revenue, your questions and intentions become more nuanced. Are you positioned to accept non-cash assets? Should you strengthen your endowment strategy? How do you align regions, chapters, or internal teams to maximize long-term impact?
At this stage, it’s not about doing more. It’s about doing the right things, intentionally:
- Develop advanced strategy and long-term projections.
- Strengthen non-cash asset and donor advised fund positioning.
- Facilitate cross-team or cross-regional alignment
- Model sustainable. growth that fits your structure and capacity.
Inside Experience. Long-Term Vision. Practical Strategy.
In fundraising has been collectively raised by our team of 44 Senior Consultants
of our Senior Consultants have served as a volunteer on a Board of Directors, and over 76% currently volunteer their time with a nonprofit organization.
organizations large and small from coast to coast to coast, with over 61% returning as clients in 2025.
Our Senior Consultants are planned giving advisors that have led legacy programs from the inside: as senior fundraisers, development leaders, and executive team members within Canadian nonprofits. We understand the governance dynamics, donor sensitivities, and long-term planning required to build a sustainable legacy strategy.
- Unmatched Regional Expertise Across Canada: Legacy conversations in downtown Toronto look different from those in rural Saskatchewan, Montréal cultural institutions, or community organizations in Atlantic Canada. Donor expectations, wealth profiles, and cultural attitudes toward estate giving vary across regions.
- Experience Across Sectors: From healthcare foundations and post-secondary institutions to arts organizations, social services, and community-based charities, we understand how legacy giving plays out differently depending on your sector, donor base, and funding model.
- Strategic Insight Grounded in Real Practice: We’ve supported everything from early-stage legacy programs to sophisticated gift planning strategies involving endowments, non-cash assets, and donor advised funds. We understand the balance between aspiration and operational reality and design programs that reflect both.
- Flexible Engagement, Built Around Your Capacity: Some organizations need a focused legacy audit. Others want help building a case for support or strengthening internal alignment. Some are ready for a multi-phase strategy. We structure our support around what makes sense for you, not a predefined package.
