--- title: "Believe in \"The Fantastic Four\" if you want to market planned gifts the right way" description: MarketSmart's Major and Planned Giving Fantastic Four for fundraising --- ### Get weekly nonprofit marketing ideas straight to your inbox ** [301.289.3670](tel:+1-301-289-3670) / [888.618.2015](tel:+1-888-618-2015) [**Contact](http://imarketsmart.com/contact-us) [**  Careers](http://imarketsmart.com/careers) - - - [![Imarketsmart](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/logo-basic-300x451.png?width=300&height=45&name=logo-basic-300x451.png "Imarketsmart")](http://imarketsmart.com/) [Get a Demo](http://imarketsmart.com/request-a-demo/) # Marketsmart Blog # Believe in "The Fantastic Four" if you want to market planned gifts the right way **When it comes to marketing planned gifts, always remember that you want your supporters to think about how they can find meaning in their lives by leaving a gift to your charity. ** Here are "The Fantastic Four"— Four ways to help your supporters get past the avoidance response that usually gets triggered when they receive end-of-life messages. These are also known as death messages. The following is based on research from my pal [Dr. Russell James](http://imarketsmart.com/resources/ebooks/words-that-work-ebook/). 1. Help them visualize their life story while realizing how their mission aligns with your organization's mission [Visualized autobiography] 2. Facilitate an experience that allows them to see themselves as the hero in their own life story [Autobiographical heroism] 3. Enable them to feel that they can live on in the hearts and minds of others [Symbolic immortality] 4. Provide a way for them to honor, pay tribute to or recognize others [Commemorative immortality]   [Feel free to share this little reminder below.](http://imarketsmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/MarketSmarts-Major-Planned-Giving-Fantastic-Four11.pdf) Also, please consider posting a link to this blog post in order to start a discussion on LinkedIn or industry group websites.   - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) **Posted by**Greg Warner May 15, 2015 [** Next](https://info.imarketsmart.com/blog/7-quotes-pg/) [Previous **](https://info.imarketsmart.com/blog/number-one-reason-people-give-not-think/) Search this site on Google Search Google #### Get Weekly Tips ![](http://11034n4348rz28bwol8ogod8.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/majorgiftmotivatorCTA-e1438624761470.png)Get captivating motivational quotes~*hand-picked for major and planned giving fundraisers*~delivered via email every Tuesday.![](http://11034n4348rz28bwol8ogod8.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/majorgiftmotivator-tile-sidebar-image-e1438802110804.jpg) [![Get Motivated](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1716178/3152951d-d234-4e33-8af5-19882b865e06.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1716178/3152951d-d234-4e33-8af5-19882b865e06) ### JOIN THE CLUB Become a better fundraiser! Enter your email below for tips and tricks guaranteed to help you raise more money and keep more donors at lower costs. ### DOWNLOAD OUR FREE EBOOK [![eBook Image](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hubfs/images/Hardcover-Book-FundraisingIsBroken-e1438787940530.png)](http://imarketsmart.com/resources/ebooks/fundraising-is-broken-ebook/) **A Fundraising Guide for Nonprofits**[![Get My Copy](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1716178/3f31af11-258f-4651-911c-07db0c7c1785.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1716178/3f31af11-258f-4651-911c-07db0c7c1785) ### Connect with MarketSmart ### Our Awards [![](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hubfs/images/2015_score_award1-1.jpg)](https://www.score.org/success-stories/marketsmart) [![](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hubfs/images/winner-1.png)](http://scoreawards.score.org/entry/8856382) ### Press Releases [![](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hubfs/images/washingtonpost.png)](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2015/05/06/business-rx-how-to-manage-a-rapidly-growing-team/) [**](https://info.imarketsmart.com/blog/believe-in-the-fantastic-four-if-you-want-to-market-planned-gifts-the-right-way/#top) ![](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hubfs/images/LogoWithSlogan.png) [![](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hubfs/images/winner.png) ](http://scoreawards.score.org/entry/8856382)[![](https://info.imarketsmart.com/hubfs/images/2015_score_award1.jpg)](https://www.score.org/success-stories/marketsmart) ©2015 MarketSmart | 9658 Baltimore Ave., Suite 360, College Park, MD 20740 | [301.289.3670](tel:+1-301-289-3670) | [Privacy Policy](http://imarketsmart.com/privacy-policy/) | [Anti-Spam Policy](https://info.imarketsmart.com/anti-spam)