Article Touting Some New and Not So New Techniques

I try to keep up with new options in the planned giving/fundraising world by glancing at the titles, scanning through interesting ones, and eventually reading closely important stories. This most recent article on the Planned Giving Design Center would have just remained in my "scanned" category but for discussion of a new approach to lead trusts. Any interest? Here is the story: http://www.pgdc.com/pgdc/shark-fin-clats-vs-bears-charitable-giving-down-times

As an aside, the article struck me as not being in touch with reality. The author quotes someone as saying that lead trusts are "poised to explode in popularity." What a load of you know what. Check out my primer on lead trusts that you can click through on the right column. There is no way lead trusts will become the popular vehicle like the author says. Unfortunately, if lead trusts really do increase in popularity, the only explosions will the law suits of unhappy families sold on false promises by either charities or advisers - most of whom are typically inadequately knowledgeable about the multitude of pitfalls that come with these trusts.