FreeWill

What’s going on in the nonprofit world this week? Our FreeMinute series continues with Patrick Schmitt sharing major updates and learnings impacting the sector. This week’s highlights include: 🗣️ A dispute over interest rates between President Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell continues to escalate, contributing to more uncertainty over the markets. 🙏The passing of Pope Francis at age 88 may result in an outpouring of interest and support especially for Catholic organizations—we recommend taking a gentle approach to accepting and stewarding these gifts. 📚Harvard University pushed back on demands from the Trump administration, resulting in a clash over the validity of the demands in the first place. Check out this week's video for what you need to know for the week of April 21st—and subscribe to receive the FreeMinute in your inbox weekly on Mondays: https://lnkd.in/e-jPSNES

FreeWill is excited to be a sponsor of this year’s AFP ICON conference! Will we see you there? Let us know by completing this short survey (https://lnkd.in/eX_X7RGG) and be sure to visit us at our booth (#1320). Our team will also be leading a Learning Lab session on April 27th at 4pm focused on how to win more grants with AI – be sure to check that out and also stop by our booth to learn more about how our newest product, Grant Assistant, can help your organization win more grants faster. #AFPICON

August’s National Make-A-Will Month is one of the most impactful times of year for legacy fundraising — just last year, FreeWill partners raised over $350M in bequest commitments during the campaign. To help nonprofits make the most of this opportunity, we’re excited to share our 2025 Make-A-Will Month Success Toolkit! Inside, you’ll find campaign strategies, templates, and proven next steps inspired by successful efforts from more than 1,900 FreeWill partners. Now is the time to start planning — download the free toolkit to jumpstart your campaign: https://bit.ly/4jrCxnA

THRILLED to be prominent in a supplemental piece from The Chronicle of Philanthropy of Philanthropy that offers prescriptive advice for the coming Great Wealth Transfer, "How to Position Your Nonprofit for the Wealth Transfer"!   The article offers essential strategies for nonprofits preparing to capture their share of the Great Wealth Transfer, and we're honored that our co-CEO Patrick Schmitt was quoted as a key expert throughout alongside our partners Julia Masucci, MPA, CNP of SPCA International and Trish Davis, CFRE of Susan G. Komen.   A few highlights from Patrick's insights:   💡 "Someone who is giving you $20 a month may be living in a $1.5 million house"! 💡 Estate assets grow over time 💡 Will-making software can help make sure giving is part of the planning process   As competition for legacy gifts intensifies, having the right digital tools makes all the difference. We're committed to helping nonprofits position themselves effectively for this historic transfer of wealth.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eAJkUWfh

Recent cancellations of USAID grants have created significant challenges in the international development sector. In response, we’ve outlined seven actionable steps to help organizations diversify their funding sources. Download our guide to learn how to safeguard your programs against funding uncertainties: https://lnkd.in/egNMRSDD

Have a FreeMinute? FreeWill Co-CEO Patrick Schmitt is covering all things impacting the nonprofit sector in just a few minutes. Here are this week’s highlights: 📈📉 The markets continue to fluctuate as a trade war unfolds between China and the United States. It’s important to note that the S&P is still up 7% over the past 12 months, which means appreciated asset gifts can still be a driver of nonprofit growth. 💰 Consumer confidence is slower to re-rise, which means you’re likely to see a decline amongst small-dollar donors this year. 🖌️ As AI-generated art continues to go viral, it signals that AI is becoming more accessible and understandable to the wider population — and could permeate into the workplace soon. Check out this week's video for what you need to know for the week of April 14th—and subscribe to receive the FreeMinute in your inbox weekly on Mondays: https://lnkd.in/e-jPSNES

FreeWill is excited to be a sponsor of this year’s Animal Care Expo, taking place April 15 - 18 in Las Vegas! The expo brings together animal welfare professionals and volunteers from across the world for over 100 workshops, an extensive exhibit hall and networking opportunities! If you’ll be at this year’s event, let us know by completing this short survey: https://lnkd.in/ewHRW_HT. #AnimalCareExpo 2025

Grant Assistant by FreeWill is partnering with TechChange to offer a free workshop on leveraging AI for grant writing, fundraising, and business development. If you or your organization has been impacted by recent funding cuts, this workshop will empower you to move forward with confidence.

Have a FreeMinute? After a busy and challenging news week, FreeWill Co-CEO Patrick Schmitt is covering all things impacting the nonprofit sector. In lieu of this week’s highlights, we invite you to join our “How to recession-proof your nonprofit" webinar tomorrow (April 8) at 12 pm ET. This webinar will cover: 📉 Changes in the market and economic landscape, and what it means for nonprofits 💡 Alternative nonprofit funding models 📊 Strategies for generating revenue in 2025, even in the face of economic uncertainty Check out this week's video and sign up for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/eQy3PPjp

We're happy to share that Charles ("Chuck") Borek Borek, our General Counsel, has published his first column "Revocable Living Trusts: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" in Kiplinger, offering a balanced take on a frequently overused estate planning tool.   In the estate planning world, revocable living trusts (RLTs) are often presented as the universal solution. However, as Chuck explains, the reality is often more nuanced:   ·       RLTs can effectively avoid probate, but creating and maintaining them can be costly and complex ·       Contrary to popular belief, RLTs don't offer special tax advantages ·       For many people, probate can actually be a simple, efficient, and useful mechanism   Read Chuck's full article here: https://lnkd.in/gAwn_nWT   #EstatePlanning #FinancialEducation #Kiplinger #TrustPlanning #WealthManagement