The Fundraiser's Legacy

When we get the opportunity to speak to donor's about the future we often invoke terms like legacy or (more recently) "paying it forward". The goal of these discussions is to encourage our donor friends to think about the longer-term impact of their giving. Planned giving often means annuities, wills, trusts, insurance policies. These are, however, the technical instruments by which the donor implements their desires. The fundraiser, however, can help flesh out some ideas that the donor might have. We can ask questions like:

1. What are your big ideas or ambitions for the school - maybe 10 years away?
2. What do see being your role in those plans - assuming that all of the resources are in place?
3. What would have to be happening now and in the near future to begin to put these plans in place?

These kinds of conversations give donors permission to dream, something they don't often get to do. For example, a donor and parent told me that they would like to see Tall Oaks do something in the area of special education. We started to talk about what would be required to add this dimension (without specific commitments) and we did some structured brainstorming.

Now, how about us? Do we look five to ten years in the future and think about what we could envision?

If the Lord gave us capable people, do we have a plan for multiplying ourselves through them? What are the plans for connecting with the community and building long-term and cooperative relationships? Have we thought about endowments for scholarship, teacher training and benefits, facilities, and additional offerings?

Thinking about legacy causes us think more proactively than reactively, which is better for the long-term health of the school.