SLIDE 1 The Shadow Over The Banquet Hall
Western Regional Planned Giving Conference June 2, 2017
Presented By: Frank Minton Frank Minton, LLC 16538 Beach Dr. N.E. Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 Phone: 206-365-5154 E-mail: FDMinton@gmail.com
SLIDE 2 The Shadow Over the Banquet Hall
SLIDE 3 “The prospect of death haunts
the human animal like nothing
- else. It is the mainspring of human
activity – activity designed largely to avoid the finality of death.” Consider some examples
From The Denial of Dea By Ernest Becke
SLIDE 4
A pyramids of Giza, constructed more than 4,000 years ago
SLIDE 5
Mummy of King Tut, over 3,300 years old Modern preservation - cryonics
SLIDE 6
Tomb in Petra, Jordan, built in 3rd century B.C.
SLIDE 7 Built by Emperor Shah Johan as a mausoleum for his second w Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1632. Located in Agra, India.
SLIDE 8
One of 2,509 libraries built with donations by Andrew Carnegie
SLIDE 9
One of the many buildings bearing the Trump name
SLIDE 10
Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, April 4, 1975
SLIDE 11 Autobiography
Clinton
SLIDE 12
South Dakota was the first unlimited duration trust state. Now there are others, making the dynasty trust possible in a number of places.
SLIDE 13 Projected Value of a Dynasty Trust that Appeared in an Advertisement
Dynasty Trust Funded With $1,000,000 Think of the great, great, great, great grandchildren. How many might there be? And would you like them? After Tax Growth Value of Dynasty Trust After 120 Years 6% 1,088,187,748 7% 3,357,788,383 8% 10,252,992,943 9% 30,987,015,749 10% 92,709,068,818
SLIDE 14 Extending Life Through Science
Imagine a world where aging has been abolished, where you can run a marathon at age 94, and start a new career at age 110, where replacing a heart, liver, or kidney grown from your
- wn body cells is as common as a
knee or hip replacement is today.
SLIDE 15
Religious Answers to the Problem of Death
´ Resurrection to an imperishable body ´ Immortality of the soul, which is our unique immortal essence ´ Reincarnation. An aspect of a living being starts a new life in a different body after each biological death.
SLIDE 16 Premises for Gift and Estate Planning
- 1. There is no escaping the tragedy of life, which is
that our time on earth is limited. While most of us most of the time are preoccupied with the tasks of daily living, we are never fully successful, and awareness of mortality is like a shadow hovering
- ver the banquet of life.
- 2. The desire to overcome the finality of death drives
human activity not only in religion but also in science, the arts, business, politics, and philanthropy.
SLIDE 17 Premises continued
- 3. When awareness of mortality moves to the forefront of
consciousness, individuals are receptive to engaging in estate and gift planning.
- 4. Those of us in gift and estate planning stimulate
individuals to confront their mortality and engage with
- us. Planned giving, more than any other fundraising
specialty plans for death.
- 5. When engaging with our donors, we must remember
that for them death is more than an economic event. We are homo sapiens, not just homo economicus.
SLIDE 18 What Planned Giving Can Offer
An Extension of Life Through a Charitable Legacy
“The capital shall be invested…the interest shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind.”
From the will of Alfred Nob
SLIDE 19
Why do stressed trees often produce an abnormally heavy crop of seeds?
SLIDE 20 They shift resources awa from their own growth a focus on transmitting th genes to a new generation
- f trees – their biologica
legacy.
SLIDE 21
Humans, like these trees, as they approach the end of life also focus on legacy.
Biological Legacy – through provisions for heirs Cultural Legacy – through creations and charitable gifts that perpetuate one’s name, values, and influence.
SLIDE 22 Some people have a bucket list
´ Hike the Himalayas ´ See Machu Picchu ´ Parachute ´ Swim on the Riviera ´ Go on a safari
This list is backward looking
SLIDE 23 Other people have a fountain list
This list is forward looking, as it refers to what will flow from
SLIDE 24
An endowment is like a fountain
SLIDE 25
Example of a person who created 20 Fountain Legacies
Floyd and his late wife, Delores Cotton Picker – Stock Picker – Philanthropist
SLIDE 26
How do you talk to donors about issues that remind them of mortality?
SLIDE 27 Which of the following would you normally choose?
- a. Would you consider including our organization in your estat
plan?
- b. Would you consider including our organization in your will?
- c. Have you ever thought about arranging a legacy gift to ou
- rganization?
- d. Have you ever thought about leaving a bequest to our
- rganization?
SLIDE 28 Questions continued
- a. How long has it been since your husband died?
- b. How long has it been since your husband passed away?
- c. Have you executed all of the necessary documents that
should be completed before the end of your life?
- d. Have you executed all of the necessary documents that
should be completed if something should happen to you?
SLIDE 29 Questions continued
a. If you should predecease your spouse, payments would continue to (her/him). b. If you die before your spouse, payments would continue to (her/ him). c. Payments from the annuity will continue to you for as long as you live. d. Payments from the annuity will continue to you until your death.
SLIDE 30 Guidelines
´ Use sensitivity in language. ´ Take your cue from the donor and use the terminology which that person prefers. ´ However, even if you use softer language, be
- candid. Only then, will the donor be willing to
talk to you about what is uppermost in mind.
SLIDE 31 Many donors will be at various stages
´ Of a place of importance in society ´ Of independent living ´ Driving ´ Of lifelong friends ´ Of hearing or eyesight ´ Of physical activities
They are keenly aware of mortality because impending death keeps taking little bits of them.
SLIDE 32
The Tithonus Dilemma
SLIDE 33 Mortality by Increments
´ Life expectancy increased by two years, but only six months were healthy. ´ Escape cancer and heart attack only to get Alzheimer's. ´ 40% of individuals over age 85 have some degree
SLIDE 34 Guidelines for Talking to the Aging
´ Exercise patience in listening to repetitive stories. ´ Remember that the donor was once young and vigorous like you. ´ Do not be patronizing. ´ Be sensitive to competency issues if a gift is to be arranged. ´ Talk about what they most value and how they would like to be remembered. ´ Respect their religious beliefs whether of not you agree with them. ´ If they have made or will be making a legacy gift, help them visualize how they live on through that gift.
SLIDE 35
What do you do in a situation where the donor is terminally ill?
SLIDE 36
Kübler-Ross’s Five Stages Through Which a Dying Person May Pass
´ Denial ´ Anger ´ Bargaining ´ Depression ´ Acceptance
SLIDE 37 The Story of Hal
Who did ten types
SLIDE 38
What We Can Learn from Tolstoy’s Death of Ivan Ilyich
SLIDE 39 Questions
- 1. Should you visit a terminally-ill donor who may be unde
hospice care?
- 2. What do you say?
- 3. What would you do if the person wants to make will
changes?
- 4. How might you bring comfort?
SLIDE 40
What do you do and say when a donor dies?
SLIDE 41 Questions
funeral (memorial) service?
- 2. Would you be willing to
speak, if asked?
condolence card to the family whether or not you attend?
SLIDE 42 Guidelines for the Condolence Letter
- 1. No platitudes like “He’s in a better place,” or
“At least he died doing what he loved.”
- 2. Refer to a positive memory of an actual event.
- 3. Don’t compare the family’s loss with a loss of
your own. This is not about you.
SLIDE 43 Guidelines continued
- 4. Don’t be afraid to use “d” words – die, death,
dying. Pass on words like “expired” or “passed on.”
- 5. Be real and don’t sugarcoat the loss.
- 6. Use a handwritten note, not an email or a store
bought card. “A letter of condolence is one of the obligations of friendship.”
SLIDE 44 Closing Word
“I expect flowers next spring.” “Why?” “Because I intend to plant them.” Help your donor plant flowers. It will not eliminate all of the pain, fear, and mystery of death, but it will help with the passage we all face.
SLIDE 45 Books Every Planned Giving Officer and Estate Planner Should Read
ü Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich ü Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death ü Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, On Death and Dying ü Stephen Cave, Immortality, The Quest to Live Foreve and How it Drives Civilization ü Sherwin Nuland, How We Die ü Atul Gawande, Being Mortal ü Leonard Hayflick, How and Why We Age
