This is the 200th Fundraising Writing Newsletter. If you find value here, please tell a fundraising friend. (Your fundraising friend can ​subscribe here for free.)​

Monday, July 6, 2026

Hi Reader,

My fellow Americans, I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Every lovely one else, I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Ours was richly scheduled.

It rained quite a lot ... yet we were highly pleased to be able to squeeze in 3 of our favorite 7/4 activities: boating, swimming, and fireworks.

They say good things come in threes.

They say 3 is a magic number.

I sure do love the song.

Also: this cover.

3 ways to get more bequests

You could use some bequest magic, am I right?

Here are a few examples of practical ways to promote legacy gifts in your fundraising and marketing efforts:

Example 1: Dedicate space on your website for donors to learn more about why legacy gifts are so important and how they can plan one.

On the National Kidney Foundation’s dedicated planned giving web page, the org provides a simple 3-step plan that outlines the path to making a gift, helping the process feel completely doable.

Example 2: Feature an inspiring donor testimonial in your donor newsletter to provide social proof and demonstrate that legacy giving is for everyday people (like them) who want to make an extraordinary, lasting impact.

In Silent Spring Institute’s 4-page donor newsletter, a side panel showcases a longtime supporter who shares how naming the org as a beneficiary of her estate brings deep personal joy and will create a lasting impact.

Example 3: Create space on your appeal’s reply form to keep planned giving top of mind. Note that it’s difficult to execute this effectively when you use a small reply card/form. Consider using a full-size 8.5” x 11” sheet for your reply form, and this language can be included on the back.

One simple way:

If you have a bequest brochure, you can do something like this:

Ready for more?

----> This Thursday's (July 9th at 1 PM ET) bequest webinar could help you bring in million$$$.

I highly recommend this one.

Your training will be from world-renowned copywriter Tom Ahern and special (unlimited!) Q&A guest star Professor Russell James.

I will be moderating.

Brett will be teching behind the scenes.

It will be a learning-filled, fun-filled, example-filled good time ... and a very nice Thursday afternoon to boot!!

Randomly yours

For your brain, heart, and funny bone...

• Fundraisingly Informative — Five inconsequential decisions that can wreck your next appeal by Mark Phillips (a helpful blog post about 5 potentially dangerous appeal writing/editing decisions such as "swapping the signatory" and "turning the CTA into a statement")​
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• Strangely Sobering — You're weirder than you think (a website featuring 7 quick multiple choice survey questions to rank you against the aggregate polling of survey takers across America; you really might be surprised to find out how weird you are!)
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• Remarkably Synchronous — The American Age Was the Human Age by Noah Smith (a long and fascinating Substack post about how America's track record is tied to its focus on the importance of the individual and why the times they may be a-changing)

Until next time: May your fundraising life and your life life be ever full of magic!

Grateful,

Julie Cooper & Brett Cooper
Fundraising Copywriters​
​FundraisingWriting.com​
​Fundraising Copywriting & Design​​
​100% human, thank you very much.