Two Approaches to Estate Planning: Comparing Trust & Will and Giving Docs

When it comes to planning your legacy, there are more choices than ever before. Two popular options families can consider are Trust & Will vs. Giving Docs. While both platforms share the goal of helping people prepare for the future, they approach estate planning in different ways. Understanding those differences can help you decide which solution best fits your needs and values.

Trust & Will vs. Giving Docs: Differences in Approach

Trust & Will offers a full-service platform built specifically to help individuals create comprehensive, legally valid estate plans. Our tools include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and related documents. The emphasis is on guiding users through a unified end-to-end process—from decision-making, to document creation, to storage and upkeep—so their estate plans reflect a wide range of personal and family needs. Trust & Will products feature the option to create a planned gift and partners with a variety of nonprofit organizations.

Giving Docs, on the other hand, is more narrowly focused around enabling charitable giving as part of estate planning, specifically through partnerships with nonprofits. Its platform gives individuals tools to create or update wills, beneficiary designations, and other basic estate planning documents. Individuals can only access these services with an invitation from a nonprofit partner. 

The primary difference is in approach: Trust & Will empowers anyone to create a personalized estate plan, making the process affordable, accessible, and built to evolve with life’s changes. Giving Docs starts with nonprofit organizations, inviting existing or potential donors to utilize planned giving as a way to extend their legacy.

What is Planned Giving?

Planned giving is a way to make a charitable gift as part of your estate or financial plan, often through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation. It allows you to support causes you care about while also managing your legacy, taxes, and family needs. 

Trust & Will vs. Giving Docs at a Glance

Here’s a clear breakdown of the key differences between Trust & Will and Giving Docs:

• Core Purpose: Trust & Will empowers anyone to create a comprehensive estate plan, while Giving Docs focuses primarily on planned giving, helping donors include charitable gifts while estate planning.

• Planned Giving: Giving Docs is built around planned giving—encouraging donors to pledge or formalize charitable gifts to partner organizations. Trust & Will includes the option to add charitable gifts within a broader estate plan, if desired by the user.

• Scope: Trust & Will offers full estate planning solutions, including probate support, attorney consultations, and ongoing plan updates. Giving Docs focuses primarily on basic estate documents like wills, beneficiary designations, and healthcare directives.

• Audience: Giving Docs focuses directly on nonprofit organizations, who then choose to invite individuals to use their estate planning resources. Trust & Will serves individuals and families directly, while also offering a partnership program to employers, financial institutions, and nonprofits. 

How Trust & Will Supports Nonprofits and Planned Giving 

Trust & Will supports nonprofit organizations by making estate planning more accessible and approachable for their members, donors, and communities. Through partnerships, nonprofits can offer their supporters a trusted, attorney-approved way to create wills and trusts, while also educating them about the lasting impact of legacy gifts. This collaboration helps nonprofits engage supporters during meaningful life moments, when estate planning and charitable giving naturally align.

For individuals, Trust & Will makes it simple to include charitable gifts within their estate plans. Whether through a Will Plan or a Trust Plan, users can easily designate a portion of their assets to a nonprofit of choice—ensuring their legacy extends beyond family to causes they care about. Clear, guided prompts walk users through the process so giving is intentional, legally valid, and tailored to their wishes.

By integrating planned giving into a modern estate planning experience, Trust & Will bridges personal legacy with community impact. Nonprofits benefit from deeper donor relationships and increased long-term support, while individuals gain the peace of mind of knowing their estate plan reflects both their loved ones and the values they want to carry forward.

Finding the Right Fit for Your Estate Planning Goals

Trust & Will is built to empower everyone with the tools and guidance they need to create a complete, legally valid estate plan. With accessible Will and Trust Plans, users can protect their loved ones, outline healthcare preferences, and make informed financial decisions—all in one seamless platform. For those who wish, Trust & Will also makes it simple to incorporate charitable giving, ensuring that your legacy reflects not only your family’s needs but also the causes and communities you care about. By combining comprehensive planning with the flexibility to include planned gifts, Trust & Will helps individuals create estate plans that are truly personal and enduring.

In contrast, Giving Docs is primarily designed to serve nonprofit organizations by providing their donors with tools to pledge or document charitable gifts. While this model supports nonprofits in cultivating legacy donors, it doesn’t offer the same breadth of estate planning services or direct accessibility for individuals starting from scratch. For anyone seeking a holistic, easy-to-use solution that balances family priorities with the option of philanthropy, Trust & Will stands out—delivering peace of mind today and a lasting impact for generations to come.

Are you a nonprofit exploring estate planning solutions for your donors? Our Partnerships Team is here to help. We’ll walk you through our nonprofit offering and show you how we support giving programs like yours. Contact us to schedule a demo and find out how we can create a unique planned giving program for your nonprofit.