LEAVE A LEGACY^®

LEAVE A LEGACY is the public awareness campaign of the National Committee on Planned Giving^®. The LEAVE A LEGACY mission is to increase the quantity (and quality) of charitable planned gifts, with a special emphasis on bequest giving.

LEAVE A LEGACY operates through dozens of local programs nationwide, Each of these programs is affiliated with an PPP member planned giving council. Through LEAVE A LEGACY, people who have made charitable bequests and other types of planned gifts share their experiences in the hope of encouraging others to give.

LEAVE A LEGACY is a broad-based community campaign that involves all types of nonprofit groups, including social service and arts organizations, churches, hospitals and educational institutions. The program is conducted by professionals who assist donors with charitable estate planning. These partners help promote the message that people from all walks of life - covering a wide range of ages and income levels - have the ability to "make a difference in the lives that follow" by leaving a charitable legacy.

LEAVE A LEGACY does NOT solicit gifts for any particular organization. The web site and materials explicitly state, "We want you to choose the charity that has touched you for any future donations you wish to give. It is simply our mission to encourage bequests to charities you deem deserving."

Program History
The LEAVE A LEGACY program first began as a grassroots effort in Columbus, Ohio, in 1994. Since LEAVE A LEGACY was established, a strong army of dedicated and skilled volunteers has launched community programs to help raise awareness about bequest giving in every way possible, Along the way, thousands of people have written wills, and learned what steps to take to leave a bequest to charity.

After an amazing level of public interest and program growth, the National Committee on Planned Giving stepped in to conduct a more far-reaching LEAVE A LEGACY program, Under PPP's guidance, the initiative has expanded across North America, with programs operating in 165 communities in the United States, and 24 in Canada. On January 1, 2005, LEAVE A LEGACY rolled out its new national advertising campaign, which is currently being seen in dozens of cities across the United States, and includes advertisements, posters, billboard ads, brochures, newsletter templates, bus ads, and PSAs. To check these out go to www.leavealegacy.org.