Your Client's Charitable Giving Calander

While December 31st is behind us, your client's charitable giving begins this month and continues through out the year. Don't forget before December 31st you've got to meet deadlines for clients making charitable gifts. Mark your calander now to avoid the frenzied rush of beating a deadline. Your clients will thank you for it. 1. Cash Gifts: these must be postmarked by December 31st. 2. Charitable Gift Annuities: give this at least 3-5 days for the account to be established and assets transferred. 3. Real Estate Gifts: generally have hang-ups, so allow 6-8 weeks. 4. Securities: by the time you get the DTC number and touch base with your client, allow a minimum of 3 days, 5-10 is better. 5. Mutual Fund Gifts: allow 3 weeks for the transfer to complete. You are busy and know by now that this time of the year is the busiest. By and large, people always wait until the last minute to do things. To make life a little easier on you and your staff, consider sending out reminders to clients with these deadlines every October 31st. It gets them thinking and acting sooner and takes a lot of pressure off of you of and your staff. Gifting over months seems more rewarding and is better planned than the last minute "crunch". Make a difference for your client and for your service to them by planning gifting all during the year.