Kimberly Lauth, a consultant who specializes in nonprofit endowments, offers three tips to fund raisers who want to convert annual donors into those who make endowment gifts.

Ms. Lauth, owner of Nonprofit Outfitters, Community Benefit Consulting, a Knoxville, Tenn., was one of three experts who took questions from Chronicle readers today during a live discussion.

Among her suggestions:

• “Make sure that all your marketing materials and appeals mention the endowment.”

• “Start an endowment-giving recognition program. Encourage people to let you know when they have made a bequest.”

• “Ask— sometimes I think we spend all of our time relationship building and forget that we need to actually ask for the gift.”

For more suggestions, read the transcript. of the discussion.