Planned Giving - How UW NEXT Volunteers are Making an Impact!
Author: Carole Peters, UW NEXT CEO
Over the past year, United Way NEXT relaunched their planned giving support to the local UWs by enlisting 20 planned giving volunteer faculty to help serve across the UW network. Working in partnership with United Way Worldwide, UW NEXT volunteer faculty have provided 1-1 mentorship, hosted five learning sessions where they served as guest speakers and even completed a modified version of a feasibility planning study. Each opportunity for our UW NEXT members to engage with local UW staff has brought tremendous value not only to the individuals served, but to the UW NEXT members who have been taking time to invest in others. Since the beginning of 2023, 19 local UW staff have been assigned a UW NEXT mentor focused on planned giving. These local UW staff appreciate the professional expertise offered by the volunteers and the relationships built. For the local UW staff, knowing that they can make a call to a trusted advisor at a moment’s notice has uplifted their teams and made the staff feel supported in their very important roles.
Recently, Dina Sears-Graves, CEO of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, shared the following thoughts with our UW NEXT volunteer faculty member, Janet Clarkson Davis, who assisted with leading the planning study completed over the summer. “Our United Way was fortunate to work with UW Next. They offer a variety of resources focused on the planned giving area. Each individual is an expert in their field, offers sound advice, and serves as a true mentor to our local UW. Our UW board of directors and staff were able to take advantage of the UW NEXT planning study offered to small and mid-size UWs. We were impressed with the information gathered through the recent planning study. It helped us decide what next steps to take and how best to move forward. The expertise of the UW NEXT team of volunteers allowed us to conduct this in-depth study, that we would never have had the necessary resources to do ourselves. We recognize the time invested by the UW NEXT team of volunteers. This opportunity is a true gift; and for that, we are very grateful”.
Additionally, Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County in Nebraska, shared earlier this year about the impact and importance of building relationships with UW NEXT volunteers who truly care about serving and supporting local UWs who are moving down the path of planned giving. She remarked, “The incredible gift of time and expertise invested by leaders from UW NEXT has impacted our United Way in immeasurable ways; but I fully believe that the results of that investment will be felt across our community for decades to come as we implement the strategies that have been guided by our professional consultants.”
Ed John, UW NEXT Planned Giving Faculty, remarked about his relationship as a UW NEXT mentor. “Having the opportunity to be of service to local UWs has been so rewarding as I serve as a mentor to incredible leaders like Meagan Liesveld. Meagan has been focused on taking the necessary steps to improve her chances of securing a major gift as a result of the work we have done together over the past couple years. A true community champion, Meagan accepts the advice provided, takes the time to do the work to build solid donor relationships, and in the end will receive the rewards with more major gifts provided to her local UW for years to come.”
For local UWs who are considering launching or relaunching a Planned Giving program, reach out to Carole Peters, UW NEXT CEO at [email protected] to connect with a UW NEXT volunteer faculty member. All local UW staff are invited to join the upcoming UW NEXT Planned Giving Learning Sessions & Office Hours. The NEXT session is offered on Thursday, 11/30 at 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET. Register HERE to join the session.
For UW NEXT members who have a passion for serving as a volunteer mentor for local United Way’s be sure to watch for the NEXT newsletter where Carole Peters will share more about our expansion of the CEO Mentorship program in 2024. If you are excited to serve as a mentor, email Carole directly to add your name to the volunteer mentor roster.
Over the past year, United Way NEXT relaunched their planned giving support to the local UWs by enlisting 20 planned giving volunteer faculty to help serve across the UW network. Working in partnership with United Way Worldwide, UW NEXT volunteer faculty have provided 1-1 mentorship, hosted five learning sessions where they served as guest speakers and even completed a modified version of a feasibility planning study. Each opportunity for our UW NEXT members to engage with local UW staff has brought tremendous value not only to the individuals served, but to the UW NEXT members who have been taking time to invest in others. Since the beginning of 2023, 19 local UW staff have been assigned a UW NEXT mentor focused on planned giving. These local UW staff appreciate the professional expertise offered by the volunteers and the relationships built. For the local UW staff, knowing that they can make a call to a trusted advisor at a moment’s notice has uplifted their teams and made the staff feel supported in their very important roles.
Recently, Dina Sears-Graves, CEO of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, shared the following thoughts with our UW NEXT volunteer faculty member, Janet Clarkson Davis, who assisted with leading the planning study completed over the summer. “Our United Way was fortunate to work with UW Next. They offer a variety of resources focused on the planned giving area. Each individual is an expert in their field, offers sound advice, and serves as a true mentor to our local UW. Our UW board of directors and staff were able to take advantage of the UW NEXT planning study offered to small and mid-size UWs. We were impressed with the information gathered through the recent planning study. It helped us decide what next steps to take and how best to move forward. The expertise of the UW NEXT team of volunteers allowed us to conduct this in-depth study, that we would never have had the necessary resources to do ourselves. We recognize the time invested by the UW NEXT team of volunteers. This opportunity is a true gift; and for that, we are very grateful”.
Additionally, Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County in Nebraska, shared earlier this year about the impact and importance of building relationships with UW NEXT volunteers who truly care about serving and supporting local UWs who are moving down the path of planned giving. She remarked, “The incredible gift of time and expertise invested by leaders from UW NEXT has impacted our United Way in immeasurable ways; but I fully believe that the results of that investment will be felt across our community for decades to come as we implement the strategies that have been guided by our professional consultants.”
Ed John, UW NEXT Planned Giving Faculty, remarked about his relationship as a UW NEXT mentor. “Having the opportunity to be of service to local UWs has been so rewarding as I serve as a mentor to incredible leaders like Meagan Liesveld. Meagan has been focused on taking the necessary steps to improve her chances of securing a major gift as a result of the work we have done together over the past couple years. A true community champion, Meagan accepts the advice provided, takes the time to do the work to build solid donor relationships, and in the end will receive the rewards with more major gifts provided to her local UW for years to come.”
For local UWs who are considering launching or relaunching a Planned Giving program, reach out to Carole Peters, UW NEXT CEO at [email protected] to connect with a UW NEXT volunteer faculty member. All local UW staff are invited to join the upcoming UW NEXT Planned Giving Learning Sessions & Office Hours. The NEXT session is offered on Thursday, 11/30 at 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET. Register HERE to join the session.
For UW NEXT members who have a passion for serving as a volunteer mentor for local United Way’s be sure to watch for the NEXT newsletter where Carole Peters will share more about our expansion of the CEO Mentorship program in 2024. If you are excited to serve as a mentor, email Carole directly to add your name to the volunteer mentor roster.
Ed John, UW NEXT Volunteer Faculty and Carole Peters, UW NEXT CEO
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Rebecca Reutingler, Director of Development and Dina Sears-Graves, CEO of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut
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