A Conversation with LSSNCA’s Chief Development Officer
August is Make-a-Will Month, a time to reflect on the future—both for your loved ones and the causes that matter most to you. Creating a will isn’t just about distributing assets; it’s an act of kindness, clarity, and vision. It ensures your loved ones know your wishes, reduces uncertainty, and can make a lasting impact on the world you leave behind.
Planned giving is a powerful way to extend your values beyond your lifetime. By including Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) in your estate plan, you can help sustain a mission that has empowered neighbors, strengthened families, and fostered hope for over a century.
Below, LSSNCA’s Chief Development Officer Nikki Salzman answers some of the most common questions about planned giving and how you can make LSSNCA part of your legacy.
Q: What is planned giving?
Nikki: Planned giving is part of the broader estate planning process—it’s about ensuring that the people and causes you care about most are provided for after you’re gone. Making a will is one of the kindest and most empowering things you can do for your loved ones. It removes uncertainty, makes your intentions crystal clear, and can ease the emotional and logistical burden for loved ones.
It’s also a way for you to continue making an impact. You may not realize that you can include charitable organizations, like LSSNCA, in your will or estate plan. Whether through cash gifts, appreciated assets, or other non-cash resources, planned giving can align your values with your legacy—sometimes even relieving your beneficiaries of tax burdens that come with certain assets.
Q: Why should I consider LSSNCA for my planned gift?
Nikki: When you give to LSSNCA, you’re helping to sustain a mission that has served our neighbors for more than 100 years—and will continue for the next 100. Our work is focused on ensuring that individuals and families have access to opportunity, stability, and the tools for self-sufficiency.
A planned gift to LSSNCA is more than a donation—it’s a promise that our mission will live on. Whether you establish a named fund or leave a bequest, you are building a permanent mark on the lives of the people we serve. And gifts can be of any size—every commitment matters.
Q: Is planned giving only something that happens after I’m gone?
Nikki: Not necessarily. While many planned gifts are made through wills and estates, they can also happen during your lifetime. For example, you might choose to create a named fund now or donate appreciated assets in a way that benefits both you and the organization today.
We can help you explore options for gifts of all sizes, whether you’re looking to make an immediate impact or plan for the future.
Q: What’s special about “Make-a-Will” Month?
Nikki: This month is a reminder that having a will is a gift in itself—to your loved ones and to your peace of mind. You decide who will manage your estate, which family members and organizations will receive it, and how your values will be reflected after you’re gone.
For me personally, making my own will was empowering. I know exactly where my estate will go, and I find reassurance in knowing that both my loved ones and the causes I cherish will be supported.
Q: How does LSSNCA recognize planned giving donors?
Nikki: We deeply value those who choose to include LSSNCA in their legacy. If you’ve already made that decision, we want to honor and thank you—during your lifetime. Please take a moment to let us know by filling out LSSNCA’s Declaration of Intent. Your generosity deserves to be celebrated.
Your legacy can be more than a memory—it can be a living force for good. This Make-a-Will Month, consider making LSSNCA a part of your story for the generations to come.
Contact development@lssnca.org today and schedule your consultation
