Million Dollars, Thank You Card

These are fair questions, and they unravel the moment you tug on the loose thread. Planned gifts are essentially long-distance promises that might not materialize for decades. Some fade away entirely, never making it to the bank. Meanwhile, the fundraiser who made it happen is left wondering if they’ll ever get more than a polite “Good job” and a half-hearted handshake from the nonprofit board’s president. 

This curiosity cracked open a door onto the strange, shifting world of fundraiser crediting. Some organizations stick with strict, data-driven metrics, while others—believe it or not—credit a conversation scribbled on a cocktail napkin (we wish we were kidding). In a field supposedly defined by ethics and genuine human connection, how we measure “success” can get weird. Really weird.

The Tussle Between Ethics and Reality

In theory, fundraising is about people and relationships, not commissions or quotas. In reality? It’s about as transparent as a smudged window. Some organizations only reward fundraisers after gifts are fully realized—fair enough. Others cut corners, giving partial credit for vague promises or scaling credit based on the donor’s age (because, apparently, the older the donor, the closer to “the real deal”?).

Consistency? Let’s just say that in the nonprofit galaxy, each planet has its own gravity. Fundraisers doing the same work—building trust, nurturing relationships, guiding donors—might find their efforts valued wildly differently depending on who signs their paycheck.

The Planned Gift Puzzle

Planned gifts add another layer of complexity. A will might promise a multi-million dollar donation, but should the fundraiser count that right away? Some organizations say, “Sure, if the donor is over 75 and provides ironclad documentation.” Others treat a heartfelt promise on the back of a coffee-stained receipt like it’s money in the bank. And then there are those that refuse to acknowledge anything until the gift is actually realized, no matter how sincere the donor’s pledge might have been.

Picture a dedicated fundraiser who spends years nurturing a relationship: calling on birthdays, sending handwritten notes, visiting when times are tough. After all that human effort, if the gift isn’t instantaneous, the acknowledgment might be minimal. It’s a bit like finally finishing a marathon and hearing, “Good job, we’ll tell you your time… maybe in a decade or two.”

Different Worlds, Same Uncertainty

At well-established universities and big institutions, the rules are often strict and money talks loudly. If the funds aren’t physically there, it’s a no-go for credit. Smaller organizations or those under pressure to meet ambitious campaign goals can be more, let’s say, flexible. They might do figurative cartwheels for a promise scrawled on a napkin—because when you’re struggling to make ends meet, even the scent of future cash can feel comforting.

One hospital confided: “If our board chair scribbles a $1M pledge on the back of a dog-eared menu, we’ll celebrate like it’s New Year’s Eve. Some unknown prospect makes a similar promise? Eh, maybe we’ll file it under ‘Nice Thought’ and move on.”

Rethinking Rewards

Then there’s that awkward elephant in the room: Should we offer bonuses to fundraisers landing massive planned gifts? Suggesting anything that sounds like “commission” can ignite heated debate. But could a tiny, ethically acceptable incentive encourage these frontline relationship-builders, giving them more than just a pat on the back?

On the other hand, would rewarding big planned gifts overshadow the importance of smaller, more immediate contributions, or put undue pressure on donors and fundraisers alike? The nonprofit world is all about balance—finding that sweet spot between fair recognition and not accidentally turning generosity into a high-stakes hustle.

The Need for Clearer Guidelines

These strange, shifting norms highlight a bigger gap. Fundraisers are the connectors—the people who guide generous souls toward making the world a better place. They deserve clear, fair, and consistent standards for how their efforts are recognized. They deserve something more human than “Just wait a few decades and see.”

And if all else fails, maybe we really should embrace the cocktail napkin method. After all, nothing says “I value your future generosity” like awkwardly scrawled promises, a wink, and maybe a half-eaten olive for good measure.

In the end, let’s remember that behind every gift, every donor, and every fundraiser is a human being—someone who has invested trust, time, and heart into making the world a better place. They deserve standards that truly honor their contributions, not just a formal acknowledgment. They deserve genuine, heartfelt recognition. And yes, it should be more than just a “Thank You” card.