The process of reaching out to donors and securing gifts from alumni and other community members presents its share of challenges for community colleges. But, as funding experts Richard H. Morley and Mike Gaudette of the Council for Resource Development write in "Gift Planning: You Can't Afford Not To," there exists a huge financial incentive for community colleges to build strong, lasting relationships with important constituents. This article presents an edited excerpt from their report, first published December 22, 2008. In this excerpt, the authors provide tips on how community colleges can reach out to donors and secure gifts from alumni and other individuals. Different types of planned gifts are also explained.