(Cleveland Jewish News) Individuals don’t have to be wealthy to give back to organizations close to their heart.
According to Dave Stokley, legacy gift officer at the Cleveland Orchestra in Cleveland and vice president of the Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners in Brunswick, and Diane Strachan, director of planned giving at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, making a difference is possible without breaking the bank.
“Organizations tend to highlight people who have made transformational gifts, as those gifts make a tremendous impact at an institution.” Strachan explained. “However, here at the museum, we do that as well and shine the light on those individuals making more modest gifts. Those gifts are just as meaningful. Many more modest gifts add up to create an impact of their own. It’s important to highlight donors who may not be as well known, perhaps my neighbor or your neighbor. I want people to say ‘if my neighbor was able to make a gift, I can make a gift too.’”
Stokley said organizations appear to focus on larger gifts for many reasons. This tends to suggest organizations only care about these larger gifts.
“In some ways, it’s a failure on our part as charities that we leave that impression,” he said.
Both professionals noted how smaller gifts can impact in a big way.
“A lot of smaller gifts add up to a bigger one, and it’s always been that way, especially at The Cleveland Orchestra,” Stokley noted. “When we built Severance Hall, John Severance made a big gift, but it was matched by many small gifts in the community. All we ever ask our supporters to do is give what they’re comfortable with. If everyone does that, the world could be a much better place.”
Strachan explained the art museum has over 25,000 annual members who donate $90 or less.
“That is huge,” she stated. “An average of less than $100 over 25,000 people, that adds up and provides critical operating support to the museum. Those members are stepping forward and saying I support the mission of this organization. While $90 may not be a significant sum for many, that $90 may be a significant gift for them.”
Strachan said donors with lower incomes can also look into legacy giving.
“We’ll see those $90 donors who have been giving to the museum sometimes for decades and who don’t have the capacity to give of their current assets, but through their estate plan, they can make a gift of $10,000 or more,” she said. “That is truly a gift of importance.”
Gifts of various sizes also allow organizations to recognize where their impact is.
“We exist to serve everyone, not only the wealthy,” Stokley explained. “So every gift, regardless of size, is not just a gift to the Orchestra, but a gift to the entire Northeast Ohio community and generations to come. It’s a way for people to give back in their capacity. It’s about leaving a personal legacy and the size of that isn’t terribly important. By doing what you can, you set an example for other people. It’s all cumulative and it snowballs together.”
Strachan said, “These smaller donors are the foundation of institutions. They are the bedrock of why we’re able to maintain our mission to create transformative experiences for the benefit of everyone. They are making an investment and helping to provide great art for the next generation.”
Stokley added, “With every gift, you can tell it’s meaningful. And helping someone accomplish their (philanthropic) goals is meaningful in itself.”
