I recently met with a major donor to a rescue mission who has given over $25 million to his favorite charities over the past few years. Amazingly, he’s 80 years old and still working every day. In fact, he travels to China every month to oversee one of his new manufacturing companies. It seems the older he gets, the more he works.
Over dinner, I thanked him for his support, his tenacious hard work, and most importantly, his special heart. Then, I shifted to listening by asking him one simple question, “Why?”
Why would a man in his 80s continue traveling and consistently logging 60+ hour work weeks? Why hadn’t he retired, sold his company, slowed down, and just managed investments?
He paused, and with a steely resolve, he explained…
“Footprints.”
I interjected, “Oh, you mean like that Jesus poster I’ve seen; one set of footprints when things get tough because Christ is carrying you?”
He laughed and said, “You don’t get it.”
“You see, when you get to my stage in life, you start thinking about how little time you have and what you’re doing with it,” he continued. “It’s not about what you keep, but what you can give away. It’s not about how much money you make, but how much you can invest to keep impacting the world after you’re gone. You have to leave some footprints. I want to see my footprints all over the face of this planet before my time is up.”
This man refuses to retire. Why? So he can expand his impact on the world! He continues to work so he can expand his footprints.
I walked away with a deep respect for him, and a clearer understanding of legacy giving, planned giving, and capital campaign naming opportunities.
He made such an impression on me that I had to ask myself: how many other “footprint donors” are in my file? How many people see themselves as a vehicle to pass on resources to build a legacy—a footprint on the planet—before they leave?
When working with “footprint” donors, it is critical to have your offer or case for support clearly defined, with the ask spelled out in writing. These donors want to know how their gift will continue to impact lives for generations. They’re not just looking to have their name on a building. They want to know what impact the building will have—how many people it will serve, and how many lives will be transformed.
They want to see the lives impacted by what they give. They want to hear stories of lives changed forever, children returning to school, parents being empowered to work again, and communities being lifted up.
Author Patrick Renn said it best in his book, Finding Your Money’s Greater Purpose:
“Each of us, through our contributions as volunteers and benefactors, holds the power to change the course of society for the better. We can leave our mark on this world with the time and resources that we dedicate to others. That is what becomes our legacy.”
“Footprint donors” are looking to leave a mark on this planet that is distinctly part of their legacy.
At Fit Fundraising, we specialize in helping you connect with “footprint donors” who want to leave a lasting legacy. Let us help you craft the perfect message and build a strategy to create impact for generations to come. Contact us today to start expanding your organization’s footprint.
