---
title: "Manage Bequest Opportunity"
slug: "bequest-opportunity-and-planned-gifts"
updated: 2026-10-26T14:33:38Z
published: 2026-10-26T14:33:38Z
canonical: "docs.powerworker.com/bequest-opportunity-and-planned-gifts"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.powerworker.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manage Bequest Opportunity

## Overview

PowerWorker Engage supports the management of bequests, also known as gifts in wills, from initial identification through confirmation and estate administration.

A **Bequest Opportunity** represents the relationship and fundraising process while the prospective donor is living. It enables fundraisers to record the source of the opportunity, qualification outcome, stewardship preferences, intention, expected gift information, and confirmation that the organisation has been included in the donor’s will.

When a Bequest Opportunity is closed as won at the **Confirmed in Will** stage, PowerWorker Engage creates a related **Planned Gift** record. The Planned Gift record supports the subsequent estate-administration lifecycle, including notification, probate or administration, distribution, financial commitments, receipts, and finalisation.

**Important:** A Bequest Opportunity and a Planned Gift are related but separate records. The Opportunity manages the prospective and confirmed intention. The Planned Gift manages the estate-administration process.

| Record | Purpose | Process stages | Completion point |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bequest Opportunity | Manage the potential donor relationship and confirmation of a gift in a will | Identify, Qualify Bequest, Cultivate, Intention/Pledged, Confirmed in Will | The opportunity is closed as won when the organisation is confirmed in the will |
| Planned Gift | Manage the confirmed gift through estate administration and receipt | Pending Maturity, Estate Notified, Probate & Administration, Distribution, Realised & Finalised | The estate administration is finalised after the related financial transactions have been recorded |

A won Bequest Opportunity is handed over to the Planned Gift lifecycle. The Planned Gift is connected to the originating Bequest Opportunity. Financial commitments are subsequently recorded against the Planned Gift, with receipts recorded as Transactions against those commitments.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7abff6c0-4eeb-4bb0-a6a4-8718bf640435/Images/Documentation/BPF Bequest Opportunity.png)

# Work with a Bequest Opportunity

# Create a Bequest Opportunity

A Bequest Opportunity can be created from the Opportunities area in PowerWorker Engage.

1. In the navigation pane, select **Development**.
2. Under **Prospecting**, select **Opportunities**.
3. On the action pane, select **New**.
4. Enter an appropriate **Topic.**
5. In **Opportunity Type**, select **Bequest/Gift-in-Will**.
6. Select the **Potential Donor**.
7. Enter the applicable origin or enquiry information.
8. Select **Save**.

The Opportunity Type determines the applicable Business Process Flow. The Opportunity Type and Potential Donor must be completed before the Opportunity can progress from the initial stage.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7abff6c0-4eeb-4bb0-a6a4-8718bf640435/Images/Documentation/image(809).png)

## Progress a Bequest Opportunity

The Bequest Opportunity Business Process Flow guides users through the stages required to identify, cultivate, and confirm a gift in a will.

**Identify the opportunity**

Use the **Identify** stage to record the prospective donor and establish how the opportunity originated.

Complete the following key information:

- **Opportunity Type**
- **Potential Donor**
- **Topic**
- **Origin Source**
- **Identified By**, when applicable
- **Enquiry Source**, when applicable
- **Enquiry Date**, when applicable

LAI and RFM scores are displayed as read-only values when corresponding information is available for the related Contact or Account.

**Qualify the opportunity**

Use the **Qualify Bequest** stage to determine whether the Opportunity should continue to active cultivation.

1. Review the prospective donor and source information.
2. In **Qualification Status**, select the applicable status.
3. If the Opportunity is disqualified, click on “Close as lost” and select Status Reason as “**Disqualified**”.
4. Progress a qualified Opportunity to the **Cultivate** stage.

Qualification Status values include:

- Identified
- Qualified

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7abff6c0-4eeb-4bb0-a6a4-8718bf640435/Images/Documentation/image(810).png)

**Cultivate the relationship**

Use the **Cultivate** stage to manage the ongoing relationship with the prospective donor and record appropriate stewardship requirements.

1. Record the **First Contact Date**.
2. Select the current **Intention Status**.
3. Record the donor’s **Preferred Stewardship Approach** and **Legacy Contact Cadence**.
4. Select any applicable **Sensitivities**.
5. Use **Stewardship Notes** to provide relevant additional context.
6. Record the **Last Contact Date** and **Next Action Date**, where applicable.

The Intention Status can progress through:

1. **Considerer**
2. **Committer**
3. **Completer**

A Completer represents a donor who has included the organisation in their will. The Intention Status journey is recorded within the Cultivate stage and is separate from the Business Process Flow stage.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7abff6c0-4eeb-4bb0-a6a4-8718bf640435/Images/Documentation/image(811).png)

**Record a bequest intention**

Use the **Intention/Pledged** stage when sufficient information is available to record the expected gift.

1. Select the **Bequest Type**.
2. Enter the **Estimated Value**.
3. Enter the applicable **Probability**.
4. Record the **Expected Realisation Timeframe**, where known.
5. Enter any **Designation / Restriction**.
6. Identify whether the gift is conditional.
7. Link the applicable Campaign, where relevant.

Bequest Types include:

- Pecuniary or specific gift
- Residual gift
- Percentage or fractional gift
- Whole of estate

The Estimated Value and Probability support forecasting of the expected gift.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7abff6c0-4eeb-4bb0-a6a4-8718bf640435/Images/Documentation/image(812).png)

**Confirm the organisation is named in the will**

Use the **Confirmed in Will** stage when the donor confirms that the organisation has been included in their will.

1. Set **Confirmation Received** to Yes.
2. Enter the **Confirmation Date**.
3. Confirm the **Charity Legal Name Used**.
4. Confirm the **ABN Used**.
5. Identify whether the organisation’s standard bequest wording was used.
6. Review all information before closing the Opportunity.

Confirming the correct legal name and ABN helps identify whether the organisation has been correctly named in the will.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7abff6c0-4eeb-4bb0-a6a4-8718bf640435/Images/Documentation/image(813).png)

**Close a bequest opportunity**

**Close as Won**

Close the Bequest Opportunity as won when confirmation has been received that the organisation is named in the donor’s will.

Before closing the Opportunity, confirm that:

- **Confirmation Received** is set to Yes.
- The **Confirmation Date** has been entered.
- The **Charity Legal Name Used** has been verified.
- The **ABN Used** has been verified.
- The applicable won close reason has been selected.

A won Bequest Opportunity is handed over to the Planned Gift lifecycle. The Planned Gift begins in the **Pending Maturity** stage.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/7abff6c0-4eeb-4bb0-a6a4-8718bf640435/Images/Documentation/image(814).png)

**Close as Lost**

Close the Opportunity as lost if the proposed gift will no longer proceed.

Applicable reasons can include:

- Will changed or revoked
- Deceased with no gift
- Disqualified
- Other