Planned gifts can be very different from other charitable gifts. For instance, a planned gift can be (and often is) received without the charity knowing anything about it. Normally, the charity solicits a gift through a direct mail campaign or special event. However, many planned gifts are structured with the help of financial advisors (lawyers, accountants, and financial planners) with very little or no input or assistance from the charity.

Another distinguishing feature of a planned gift is that it may be made with non-cash assets. Once again, donors do not normally give a piece of land in response to a direct mail solicitation. The gifting of non-cash assets brings with it tax matters that financial advisors are comfortable handling. However, many charities are ill prepared to deal with the tax issues that arise from non-cash gifts. Conversely, many advisors are reluctant to suggest to their clients how to make planned gifts to charity because they are uncomfortable with how the rules for such donations work.

Hence, planned giving has been described as the marriage of the financial, for-profit community with charitable (not-for-profit) one.