Planned Giving

Plant sustainable roots
with planned giving

A historic transfer of wealth is currently underway, with $124 trillion expected to be passed on from one generation to the next. With $18 trillion of that anticipated to become charitable donations, legacy and planned gifts will be among a nonprofit’s largest gifts they will ever receive. Don’t leave money on the table—now is the perfect time to leverage the power of planned giving.

Orr Group has the expertise to support you in all areas of planned giving – from strategy to program management and administration. And we’re experienced in a range of creative planned giving approaches to help you get the most out of the present opportunity in philanthropy.

Our Planned Giving Services

Assessments and Strategy

We work with you to uncover the untapped potential in your donor base and develop a roadmap for integrating planned giving into your broader fundraising strategy.

Through data analysis, stakeholder interviews, and prospect identification, we assess your current program and pinpoint opportunities for growth. The result is a tailored strategy designed to align your internal goals and set your team up for long-term success.

Administration

As an embedded partner, we manage the day-to-day operations of your planned giving program with a proactive and sustainable approach.

From building and maintaining your pipeline to overseeing donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship, we handle the details so you can focus on broader development goals. We also refine donor materials and coordinate across teams to ensure consistency, clarity, and donor engagement.

Training & Coaching

We help fundraisers and boards build the knowledge and confidence needed to engage in planned giving conversations. Our tailored training sessions and one-on-one coaching provide practical tools, real-world guidance, and proven strategies. Whether your team is brand new to legacy giving or looking to sharpen their skills, we meet you where you are and support your growth.

Planned Gift Officer

When you need capacity or specialized expertise, we provide a dedicated Planned Gift Officer to join your team. Acting as an embedded fundraiser, they lead prospect cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship while working seamlessly with staff and leadership. This flexible solution helps you expand your planned giving reach without the overhead of a full-time hire.

“Orr Group has helped us see the bigger picture, understand planned giving best practices, and challenged us to integrate that into the life of Niagara going forward, which has been really significant.”

Father James J. Maher, C.M., President, Niagara University

The Power of Planned Giving

Orr Group has helped to design and bolster impactful, multi-million dollar planned giving programs to help our nonprofit partners achieve transformational, sustained growth.

Unlocking $15M+ in planned gifts for Illinois Tech

Having successfully raised $250M in the initial phase of its capital campaign, Illinois Tech partnered with Orr Group to devise a data-driven plan for continued growth. Orr Group recommended a bold move – raising the campaign goal to $1B – with a focus on leveraging planned and blended gifts. As embedded planned giving partners, Orr Group has helped Illinois Tech secure over $15M in blended and cash gifts, identified a planned giving pipeline of $208M+, and trained its major gifts officers and advancement staff on planned giving vehicles and best practices.

Planned Giving Consulting FAQs

What does a planned giving consultant do?

A planned giving consultant provides the expertise and infrastructure needed to secure legacy gifts (e.g., bequests, charitable trusts, and annuities) without overburdening your current team. Orr Group’s planned giving role covers these key areas:

Assessment and Strategy
Program Administration
Training and Coaching
Interim Planned Giving Leadership

What are the benefits of working with a planned giving consultant?

Planned giving requires a distinct and intentional approach. Working with a consultant unlocks access to the specialized knowledge and capacity needed to manage this unique type of fundraising program. You might experience these benefits in particular:

Technical expertise: Planned giving involves tax laws, estate planning, and financial regulations. A consultant provides this high-level technical expertise without you needing to hire a full-time tax attorney.
Additional revenue streams: Planned gifts come from a variety of sources, such as real estate, stocks, and retirement funds. A consultant understands how these revenue streams work and can strengthen your strategies with expanded giving options.
Compliant policies: Planned giving consultants ensure your organization accepts gifts properly and remains compliant with state and federal regulations, reducing legal liability.

How does Orr Group’s approach to planned giving stand out?

Planned giving is a long-term growth strategy, not a one-size-fits-all program. Orr Group partners closely with nonprofits to design, launch, and scale planned giving efforts that align with organizational goals, donor behavior, and internal capacity. We embed ourselves as an extension of your team to understand your mission, development operations, and donor pipeline, ensuring every recommendation is grounded in your reality.

Our approach blends strategic assessment with hands-on execution. We help organizations evaluate readiness, identify the most viable planned giving opportunities, and build a clear roadmap for growth. From program design and messaging to operational support and implementation, Orr Group can support every phase of the planned giving lifecycle. Whether you are launching a program for the first time or strengthening an existing one, we help you build sustainable momentum and secure meaningful, long-term gifts with confidence.

How can we get started with Orr Group?

It’s simple! Just fill out this form, and one of our team members will be in touch to discuss your planned giving goals.