eGift Success Stories

GiftLegacy users are receiving planned gifts using the GiftLegacy System. We call these gifts "eGifts" because more than 50% of the contact with the donors has been made through electronic means (online, e-mail, eNewsletters, etc.). Below are just a few of the success stories that GiftLegacy users are experiencing. If you would like to share your success story, please contact us.

• Video Testimonials
• Colleges & Universities
• Social Service Organizations & Others

Jennifer Nohelty

Gift Planning Counselor

Gift Planning Services

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Randy Mueller

Planned Giving Officer

Eisenhower Medical Center Foundation

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Jon Rich

Director of Gift Planning

Ducks Unlimited

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Judy Cash

Director of Gift Planning

McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia

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Toni Jernigan Director of Planned Giving

"I want to share with you our delight at getting our first planned gift tied directly to the new planned giving website. We do not have the active link to our university website yet but I have been sharing the planned giving web address with advisors, staff members and board members. Everyone is sending us rave reviews for the site. Last week I met with a board member who said he wanted to learn more about planned gifts. He was totally new to the concept of planned gifts so I explained a few planning concepts, such as lead trusts, annuity trusts, and gifts of appreciated stock or real estate. I showed him briefly the website sitting in his office and suggested he read some of the stories and use the calculator to check out some possible plans using his specific information. Well...two days later he gave me a call and said "Toni, I know just what I want to do." He quoted me the vehicle, unitrust, the term of years, the rate and all the details I needed to reproduce the calculations and prepare the documents. If our Executive Director or Vice President of Development had any doubts before, they don't now. Thanks for helping us open another avenue of education and communication with our donors."

Lynda Jacobson Asst. V.P. of Development - Gift Planning

"Iowa State University Foundation has been actively marketing IRA rollover gifts to our alumni and friends. We always direct them to our GiftLegacy web site for IRA information and motivating donor stories of IRA gifts. We also provide our web address on all of our print publications. As of August 2007 ISU has received 108 IRA Rollover gifts totaling 1.3 million dollars! Thank you Crescendo for partnering with us to make a difference."

Steve Weldon, J.D. Director of Planned Giving

"The Crescendo website, our weekly Crescendo newsletters always led by a story about our students, your outstanding software, top-tier staff and Crescendo teleconferences have been crucial elements in CSUMB demonstrating its commitment to provide exceptional service for our professional friends, their clients and university friends. The results speak volumes: our 7-year old Planned Giving Program has celebrated both immediate and deferred major gifts, including completion of our 5 year work on a CRT where we just realized its $4 million remainder interest--all for scholarships! Thank you to all of the Crescendo crew for your terrific support and work!"

John Watts Gift Planning Specialist

"Thanks to Crescendo and their GiftLegacy services, we are receiving one rollover gift worth $17K and the donor is pledging a similar amount next year in order to fulfill a $50K scholarship fund!"

Mel Friesen Director of Gift Planning

We had two wonderful weeks with GiftLegacy! Last week I wrote a brief paragraph about the GiftLegacy Thought for the Week -Heavenly Gifts - Receiving more than we ask. This very week Grace University received a check for $1,000,000 from an Omaha couple for Chapel renovation and the complete renovation of our Library. Alley-Poyner Architecture P.C. has drawn preliminary plans for these projects and Lund Ross Constructors helped cost out the projects. GU President, Dr. Jim Eckman approached this couple with the need and the check we received in the mail exceeded the amount asked. This week Grace University received a check for $20,000 from IRA custodian, American Funds, from a donor in another city. This woman sends a gift four or five times a year, not always the same amount or in predictable intervals. She is a quiet, private person. She is financially astute and recognized the advantages of the opportunity to make a direct transfer gift from her Individual Retirement Account. She says that the process was fairly simple and the form American Funds provided was easy to follow. This gift will satisfy the Required Minimum Distribution for 2006.

Tom Reynolds Executive Director

"I could not be more pleased with GiftLegacy and the gifts it has brought to Montana State University. What we thought was going to be a $30,000 gift annuity ended up being $156,000 for a single woman age 79. She passed away in August, so this was a very short contract. We have also established two other gifts since we started our eMarketing in February 2004. One is a two-life $540,000 gift annuity for a husband age 78 and wife 79. The second is a CRAT for a male age 67 in the amount of $400,000. In all three cases we were able to receive second gifts from individuals who responded to our GiftLegacy program. I hope to close 3-4 gifts before the end of the year."

Dr. Steve Seelig Director of Planned Giving

eMarketing Works at Point Loma Nazarene University. The first day we sent out the Gift Legacy eNewsletter to our increased audience of 2,000 alumni constituents we received an eResponse that has led to an $80,000 Gift Annuity and future Endowed Scholarship with the remainder. We have had numerous requests for "Wills Kits" from friends viewing our eNewsletter that has given us opportunity to directly contact donors who desire to remember us with a bequest. While attending the Crescendo Internet Marketing Seminar, our third eGift was received when we checked our e mail messages. It is a gift from a donor family who is in the process of selling their home. eMarketing works if you will work it. We are overhauling our entire marketing process so that we can better impact our constituency and reach more donor prospects. We have found that our alumni read our eNewsletter and are glad that we compare favorably with other major universities and charities in offering gift plan options. Since we started using the GiftLegacy Pro system we have closed 4 eGifts. Our first gift was a CRG for $308,000 followed by a gift annuity for $80,000, a KETRA cash gift of $5000, and a deferred trust for $29,000. Thank you for helping Point Loma Nazarene University Planned Giving to "tune up" our marketing efforts. We expect that many more gifts will be forthcoming because of your excellent coaching. I am a happy customer because you are giving me valuable tools that work.

Glenn Pittsford Director of Gift Planning

"Texas A&M Foundation received an eGift as a result of the spring 2004. "Stock Rebound" GiftLegacy Teleconference. A gentleman, Class of 1952, attended the teleconference at our office and indicated that he would like to consider a unitrust. On June 8 he and his wife funded a $300,000 Two-Life Type 1 Unitrust. This gentleman is a very active and influential former student and we believe he will encourage others to follow his example. Every component of the GiftLegacy Pro system has been effective in growing our results."

Dave Miedema Planned Giving Director

"Like many of you, I was hearing about Crescendo GiftLegacy Pro charities that were closing "eGifts" - major direct gifts, large charitable remainder trusts, six-figure gift annuities - all stemming from electronic marketing! I was uncertain whether or not our alumni and friends of the University of North Dakota would respond to this innovative marketing tool. Then it happened. The phone rang. A UND graduate from northern California called and informed us he owned rental property in northern San Diego County. The property had a low basis, high appreciation and was located in a booming market. Plus, the donor and his wife wanted to reserve life income from their gift. It all fit. A FLIP Unitrust was born - a new planned gift totaling nearly $500,000! Some days later, I learned the shocking news. What motivated him to call? It was GiftLegacy!! - our weekly eNewsletter with links to our GiftLegacy web site. He read the gift stories about other UND Foundation donors who funded gifts with highly appreciated real estate. He liked it. He studied it. He did it! Without question, GiftLegacy is having a positive impact among our prospects and donors and blends beautifully with our overall marketing plan."

Dan Ferris Director of Development

"I am pleased to report that Olivet Nazarene University received its first online gift annuity. Less than two weeks after our GiftLegacy site went live. we received an online request for more information about a $50,000 gift annuity! I sent this family an e-mail proposal. They called a week later to say that a check was in the mail. Thanks for all of your help in making this gift possible. P.S. We have also received an inquiry from a known donor about a $200,000 deferred gift plan. This family has been running their own proposals on the web and we are discussing options."

Harry Pittman Director of Planned Giving

"We just received a $12,000 rollover gift, a smaller $3,150 rollover with that same amount next year from the same donor and a $6,300 rollover gift for next year from the other donor. We know of more that will come in during the 2009 year. Next year rollover gifts that are pledged to date total over $56,000. All just from our GiftLegacy program. We are so grateful that as a local church we are well position year-end. "

Pat Bilow Gift Planning Counselor

"A number of people I've worked with have commented about the excellent material in our gift planning website and wonder how I find the time to write so well and so much. Of course, I tell them about the great Crescendo staff that does all the work for me. Thanks, Crescendo! You've made such a difference! I love all the print material that can be customized to LWML. Aside from imparting a boatload of great information to lots of people, you're also making me look good!"

Jon Rich Director - Gift Planning

"We have enjoyed tremendous growth in our Gift Planning program over the last several years. With the help of GiftLegacy we have received over $57 million in new documented deferred gifts as well as matured gifts in the past 18 months. With GiftLegacy and all the great help from Crescendo my work is so much easier! Thanks Crescendo for all you do to support and promote the benefits of charitable estate planning. GiftLegacy is outstanding!"

Randy Mueller Planned Giving Officer

"We have used the royalty-free GiftLegacy literature pieces this past year and a half to promote planned giving to Eisenhower Medical Center. In the last 18 months we have raised over $48,000,000 with more than $33,000,000 of that amount attributed to the use of GiftLegacy literature! Thank you for the support you continue to provide to me. I have a great deal of confidence in Crescendo and you are a terrific partner to us here at Eisenhower Medical Center."

Sarah Lower Development Associate

"I received a request for a Wills Kit a few days after launching our GiftLegacy Website. Two days later a gentleman called me. He had used the Wills Kit I sent and was calling to obtain our Tax ID number so that he could put Kids in Distress in his will!! This was our first bequest DIRECTLY generated from our website. Thanks so much!"

Jim Chaney Assistant to the President

"We recently printed and distributed approximately 500 IRA Rollover brochures, using Crescendo's brochure template. Within three weeks, we received two IRA rollover gifts. In addition to being a great service to our donors, the amount we received (a little over $10,000) is well worth the cost of sending out those 500 brochures!"

Monica Estabrooke Planned Giving Officer

"The GiftLegacy resources that Crescendo has available to their subscribers make communication, advertising, and marketing much easier for gift planners. I don't have to create from scratch. On the other hand, I can add adapt, change, edit, or personalize what they provide. The royalty-free privilege is very cost effective. They are a full-service provider, always looking to do more for their customers. Last, and most important, the entire staff is always responsive, professional, and talented."

Luke Conway Senior Planned Giving Associate

"One of our faithful donors started receiving our GiftLegacy eNewsletter in March. In January I had a good visit with her. She said that she was very happy with the information that she was receiving through the eNewsletters and wished to continue receiving them. A month later I received an e-mail from Carolyn stating that she had left a Bequest to The Salvation Army!"

Randall J. Sweeney Executive Director

"Having just instituted a brand new Charitable Gift Annuity program in January, I can firmly say that the Crescendo services have made a considerable impact on our early success. With the launch of our GiftLegacy website last fall and the use of illustrations provided through the Crescendo Pro software, we are not lacking in marketing or administrative ammunition for our new program. This has been proven to us by the fact that we are currently in the process of closing two new Charitable Gift Annuity contracts, totaling over a half million dollars. It's no coincidence that these contracts have come at the same time we began publicly promoting our new website and software. Additionally, we have seen our GiftLegacy website hits increase in each month since its launch. We haven't even scratched the surface as to what Crescendo can offer, and we are already seeing measurable success!"

J.R. Loofborrow Director of Advancement

"Mount Hermon Association, Inc. recently completed two significant gift-annuities. The largest was $500,000. Crescendo's eMarketing tools not only allowed us to provide illustrations, but also assisted us in answering the donor's specific questions. Thanks Crescendo!"

Steve Totten VP of Planned Giving

"As a result of the GiftLegacy eNewsletter, the YMCA of San Diego County became the beneficiary of an entire estate. Our donor clicked the "Weekly Special Offer" link in his eNewsletter and the GiftLegacy System notified and provided me with his name and e-mail address. I then called him and we met. He is 88 years old and has been involved with the YMCA for many years. His desire was to have the YMCA be the sole beneficiary of his will. But, he did not have a will! As a result of our working together, he now has a will and the YMCA is the sole beneficiary. Thank you GiftLegacy!"

Beth Berger Autrey Planned Giving Director

"I received a call in my office from a woman, age 82, who was interested in a $15,000 Charitable Gift Annuity. As we discussed how Charitable Gift Annuities worked I found her to be very informed and inquired if she had other CGA's. She informed me that she did not, so I asked how she knew so much about them. It was then that she told me that she had learned about them from our web site. While surfing the web she had come across our GiftLegacy site and had been intrigued. She had already researched how CGA's worked, what her benefits would be and had looked at the calculations. We set an appointment and within three days I had met with her and had a signed CGA application. When I returned with her document she was very excited to have become a part of The Salvation Army."

Jennifer Nohelty Gift Planning Counselor

"Gift Planning Services uses the GiftLegacy Postcards as bulletin inserts for quite a few congregations in our area. Then the pastor takes a minute to explain what the Postcard is and the services being offered. People don't always go to our web site, sometimes it is easier for them to just give us a call. The first week we put Postcards in as a bulletin insert, I received two phone calls Monday morning. They both resulted in gifts. The first person completed a 10% of their estate will bequest and the second one resulted in deferred gifts of over $770,000. We are in the process of completing the Donor Advised Fund and the CRUT. Thank you for your help. We look forward to the upcoming Postcards."

Diane Hutson Director of Gift Planning

"In August a donor's nephew e-mailed Union Rescue Mission using the "Contact Us" button on our GiftLegacy web site. The nephew requested information on setting up a $100,000 gift annuity for his aunt, an 86 year old widow living in a nursing home. The woman's husband had died recently and he had left a gift to URM in his estate that was going through probate. The woman was moved to the nursing home shortly after his death. The nephew explained that his aunt needed income to cover the cost of the nursing home and her husband had always thought of URM as a worthy cause. After receiving the nephew's e-mail, I visited with the nephew and set up the gift annuity to begin in September. The aunt received payments from September to December. In January of this year, the woman died and URM received the remaining annuity. Thank you, Crescendo, for providing this invaluable service!"

Jim Secrist Western Planned Giving Director

"Recently, I received an e-mail from an individual in California. She was inquiring about a gift annuity, which she had seen mentioned on our GiftLegacy web site. She had a few questions and I answered those. I then sent her a gift annuity proposal via e-mail. She called the next day with another question or two. She decided that the gift annuity would be a good solution for her. It would allow her to help our youngsters now and at the same time give her the security she needed for the future. She then sent her check for $100,000 to our office. From the time she e-mailed me until we received her check only 4-5 days had transpired. It is also very interesting to note that she had never before made a donation to Boys Town."

John M. Wall Planned Giving Director

"A woman donor age 60 years old was looking for information via the Internet. She typed in "charitable gift annuities" and ended up looking at the sites of a few different charities that issue CGA's. Somehow she ended up on a Salvation Army site and was referred to me since she lived in Florida. The woman indicated she had no children, was not married and was looking to increase her income. She felt this would be a good way to provide for herself and support the local Salvation Army corp. She indicated she had visited the corp on previous occasions and ended up taking out an annuity over $100,000 using cash that was in a CD."

Tom Kapusta Director Planned Giving & Trust Services

"About three weeks ago I received a phone call from Knoxville, TN. The gentleman on the line wanted me to visit with him about an Annuity Trust. I ask what motivated him to call my Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists office and how he learned about the Annuity Trust. He explained that he had been surfing my GiftLegacy web site and learned about the Annuity Trust and the Charitable Gift Annuity. He proceeded to explain the difference between the two planned giving tools and insisted that an Annuity Trust was what he needed. When I began to gather his personal information I learned that my caller was 83 years of age. I set up a personal visit. When I arrived at the donor's home he already had four color Crescendo printouts on his kitchen table that he printed off our web site for me to look over with him. It was a joy to visit with someone who took the time to explore our web site and to be fairly knowledgeable about the various gifting instruments. Working together we finally agreed that a $70,000.00 Charitable Gift Annuity this year and a $27,000.00 outright gift of highly appreciated stock in January 2005 was the best option to fit his needs. I should mention that as soon as we activated our GiftLegacy web site I created a full page, four-color awareness ad that ran in our organization's monthly magazine promoting the new web site. The ad only ran twice when my donor contacted me. Thank you for creating such a wonderful interactive web site that has already more than paid for its self."

Jim Chaney Assistant to the President

"One of our donors, a non-practicing professional, introduced our organization to friends of his by showing them our weekly eNewsletters and our GiftLegacy site. Those friends ended up funding a $35,000 gift annuity! The eNewsletters really work!"

Scott Toncray Director of Communications

"On the third day after GiftLegacy went live on the Wycliffe Foundation Web site, we received a Charitable Gift Annuity application for an amount that paid for the site subscription and then some. This gift was made before we included the site address in any of our marketing or promotional materials. I am looking forward to marketing the site and seeing how many more eGifts we receive as a result of GiftLegacy."

Ralf Stores U.S. Director of Ministry Partnerships

"Our planned giving web site has been up and running for just over 3 months. It often takes considerable time before a major gift is generated. Last week a person who visited our site inquired about a very significant gift annuity. Today Trans World Radio received a check for a gift annuity in the amount of $130,000. Praise the Lord for his wonderful provision!"