Inspired Legacies

Welcome to Inspired Stories from Legacy Mentors, our quarterly newsletter. The Inspired Legacies team, and many Legacy Mentors share their experiences, wisdom, and resources to advance the highest ideals and best practices of legacy, financial, and philanthropic planning. Each issuecontains a View from the Founder by Tracy Gary and also explores powerful Legacy Partnerships. Letters to Loved Ones provides insight in working with families through personal accounts. In Transitions we honor those who, in life and death, have enriched the lives of others through their support. We share our Legacy Mentor Tools and highlight amazing nonprofits in Making Change Happen.

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Volume 17, Summer 2010
In this issue:

U R MAD--Making a Difference before vacation or graduation? See here loads of ideas for just how.
In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary describes actions to take about the Gulf Oil Spill DISASTER, and ways to support Inspired Legacies this summer and groups you love.
Inspired Partnerships points to Seasons Fund for Social Transformation, Bolder Giving, Criterion's Women's Effect Investments, Media Equity Collaborative, and Funders of LGBTQ Issues.
In our Featured Team Member, we share about Lisa Parker, of Family Circle Advisors, and Jeff Stys, of Strategic Decision Associates, two of our IL Board members, whose service we appreciate.
Inspired Products highlights Legacy Cards from 21/64, Bolder Giving's monthly teleconference series, We Add Up's Clean it Up benefit for the Gulf, & John Robbins', The New Good Life, book review
Gratitudes and Transitions honors the passing of Elaine Dallman and Dr. Henry Jordan, and thanks for the leadership of Sara Gould, Katherine Acey and Kavita Ramdas.
Our resources list includes Inspired Legacies' July 9-10th, Co-Creating the Future of Progressive Philanthropic Advising conference in Philadelphia hosted at the offices of the Philadelphia Foundation.
See also our Making Change Happen, environmental groups serving the Gulf Coast.

Volume 16, Spring 2010
In this issue:

Inspired Recovery -- you are it! Spring Forward with Tracy Gary's Team Terrific & Breakthrough Projects
In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary describes 3 awakening messages and her adjustments and commitments
Inspired Partnerships points to Seasons Fund for Social Transformation, Bolder Giving, Criterion's Women's Effect Investments, Media Equity Collaborative, and Funders of LGBTQ Issues.
In our Featured Team Member, we share about Ruqayya Gibson, our new Program Consultant for Marketing, Youth Giving Circle Tools, and Coordinator, Inspiring Our Communities: Leaders of Color and Donor Partners Collaboration (Houston pilot).
Inspired Products highlights Women's Giving Circles: Reflections from the Founders and Women, Wealth and Giving, The Virtuous Legacy of the Boom Generation.
Gratitudes and Transitions honors the passing of Rachael Kessler.
Our resources list includes The Big Five, a great tool for planning and priorities for those who want to fund and support women.

Volume 15, Winter 2009
In this issue:

Let us Accelerate the Innovation Economy!
We wish our readers a happy holidays and encourage you to shine your light, because it might be someone else's path.
In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary describes the state of the nonprofit sector and offers 7 Year-End giving recommendations.
On the theme of 7, Tracy also describes 7 outcomes Inspired Legacies strives for in the coming year.
In our Featured Team Member, we share about Pat Tiller, our newest staff member.
Gratitudes and Transitions thanks the people involved in Inspired Legacies in the past year.
Our resources list includes links to Story of Stuff and a new project, Thrivable.org, started by co-founder Jean Russell.

Volume 14, Fall 2009
In this issue:

"Can our sector thrive this Fall?" ponders Tracy in View From the Founder. Read about Jean Russell's thrivable.org and defining thrivability.
Inspired Legacies announces a teleconference call with Seasons Fund as well two options for teleconference calls about using our Youth Giving Circle tools.
Inspired Partnerships shares briefly about our fundraising work, describes our recent downsizing effort, provides a map of our work around the country and announces an event for women donors in our new office space.
Letter to Loved Ones shares a letter of intention for bringing family together near the holidays to connect and plan.
We thank and celebrate Joanne Reich in our Gratitude and Transitions section. Joanne has and continues to be an amazing board chair for Inspired Legacies as well as leading in other endeavors.
Photographer, Feminist, Philanthropist, and Friend describes our Featured Team Member Cindy Ewing, a founding board member of Inspired Legacies.
Legacy Tools offers 7 key suggestions we have for you for this FALL.
We point out David Gershon's Social Change 2.0 as well as our Youth Giving Circle tools in Inspired Products.
Making Change Happen offers organizations making a difference, specifically: KidThrive, Games for Change, Mama Cash, Foundation for Midwifery, Advisors in Philanthropy.

Volume 13, Summer 2009
In this issue:

We share breakthroughs!
In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary reminds us of the current reorganization and breakdown opening up space for consciousness and collective wisdom.
We announce our forthcoming Inspiring Youth to Bring About Change - youth giving tools with invitation to register to receive them - free at this time thanks to generous lead donors.
Inspired Partnerships briefly describes our event: Unleashing Strategic Generosity in Greater Houston with Jeff Stys of Strategic Decisions, and Jonita Fair-Payton.
Letter to Loved Ones shares Marion Moore's approach with her children.
Inspired Products points to excellent resources for economic discussions: The Guide to Intelligent Giving and Generosity Rules!: A Guidebook to Giving. As well as a quick reference guide for donors.
Making Change Happen offers organizations making a difference, specifically: Berkana, Acumen Fund, and National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers.

Volume 12, Spring 2009
In this issue:

We announce our new Associate Director, Jonita Fair-Payton, M.S., M.B.A.
In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary reminds us that we have to move, as well as sharing the concrete actions Inspired Legacies moves forward with this spring.
Legacy Tools highlights an adaptation of Inspired Philanthropy tools.
Inspired Products points to excellent resources for economic discussions: Agenda for a New Economy, For the Greater Good, Seven Rules for Talking with your Kids about the Financial Crisis, and the new edition of Your Money or Your Life.
Inspired Partnerships briefly describes our: coaching collaboration with InKnowVision called Inspired InKnowVision, ongoing partnership with Bolder Giving, and weaving around Texas women's giving.
Letter to Loved Ones posts a letter and pledge to President Obama.
Making Change Happen offers organizations making a difference, specifically: Inequality and the Common Good, The New American Dream, and The Algebra Project.

Volume 11, Winter 2008
In this issue:

Counting our blessings from Tracy Gary shares an exercise around gratitude including a gratitude tree for downloading. Additionally Tracy shares 8 things we can do to make an impact at this crucial time.
Legacy Tools offers a one page worksheet to help become (more) strategic in creating the community you want.

Volume 10, Fall 2008
In this issue:

In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary shares progress on partnerships, the evolution of our field, and our summer event. She also tells a personal story about lessons learned from a bear encounter.
Legacy Tools highlights our evolving description of transformative philanthropy.
Inspired Products serves up several fabulous book on giving, including Inherited Wealth by John Levy.
Inspired Partnerships expands upon our partnerships with Bolder Giving, our progress on youth giving circle materials, and 6 keys learnings from the Training of Trainers in June.
As this issue's Letter to Loved Ones, a letter from a grandparent making a challenging gift.
Making Change Happen offers several organizations working to make a difference.

Volume 9, Summer 2008
In this issue:

In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary asks us to put out collective wisdom to work with community making change. Inspired Legacies responds to the challenge by creating learning communities for transformational philanthropy.
Legacy Tools highlights our upcoming training of trainers for donor partners, social justice donor educators, legacy educators, and philanthropic advisors. Additionally, a slideshow about Inspired Legacies as well as valuable maps of our Field Building work.
Inspired Products offers our Legacy Mentor questionnaire to help you get a sense of where you are.
Inspired Partnerships continues on the theme of building community by sharing more about our learning community aspirations.
As this issue's Letter to Loved Ones, a letter from a grandfather to his grandson making a challenging gift for his 21st birthday.
Making Change Happen offers several organizations working to make a difference.

Volume 8, Spring 2008
In this issue:

In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary shares our new mission. She also offers an opportunity to redirect the government tax "rebate" through our Tipping Point Fund projects.
Legacy Tools highlights how we answered some core questions that you can answer for yourself too, brings attention to the powerful 12 Elements of Inspired Mentors and Leaders, and offers resources on a vital option for successful planning, Inspired Wealth Coaches.
Inspired Products points to our wealth of help available through Inspired Philanthropy: Creating A Giving Plan and Leaving a Legacy including a link to the online resources.
Inspired Partnerships lays out key partners to Inspired Legacies and progress made on collaborations, especially Women Moving Millions and The Tipping Point Network.
As this issue's Letter to Loved Ones, a letter from a workshop attendee reveals the impact of the work of Inspired Legacies and Tracy Gary on one participant.
Making Change Happen offers several organizations working to make a difference and a link to find out what the government is doing with our tax dollars.

Volume 7, Winter 2007
In this issue:

In View from the Founder, Tracy Gary shares her hopes for generous giving with statistics on our abundance, urging readers to make Black Friday Binge Day into Giving Day.
Legacy Tools, Inspired Products, and Featured Resources highlight strategic offerings from the third edition of Inspired Philanthropy.
And Partnerships and Featured Team Member focus on the gifts Phil Cubeta provided for Inspired Legacies and Inspired Philanthropy.
A letter from the Inspired Legacies Board Chair makes clear the offerings of Inspired Legacies to a better world and challenges all of us to contribute to making a difference as this issue's Letter to Loved Ones.
Making Change Happen offers five organizations making a difference, including one for profit that helps young people and teachers with their tools.

Volume 6, Fall 2007
In this issue:

Meet our newest Board Members, Joanne Reich, Ernest McMillan and Stan McDonald! Inspired Legacies is expanding its leadership.
Join us for telecalls reviewing "Inspired Philanthropy, Your Step by Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan and Leaving a Legacy" and how you and your organization or company might use it for donor and legacy education with clients and donors.
Explore donor impact with powerful questions, examples, and tools.
Look to new products, like Blessed Unrest and Bill Clinton's new book called Giving for how we can collectively change our world.
Find links to interesting and inspiring website resources helping you make change today.
Read about the impact of Inspired Legacies partnerships!

Volume 5, Summer 2007
In this issue:

Meet our newest Team Member, Luis Gilbert Rivas, Operations Manager!
Inquire about your family and your legacy with powerful questions, examples, and tools.
Look to new resources, like Classified, for action plans.
Find links to interesting and inspiring websites.
Find out about Inspired Leader calls with impactful organizations.
See Inspired Legacies latest photos from partnership events!

Volume 4, Spring 2007
In this issue:

Celebrate the evolution of Inspired Legacies in our successful first year!
Read about the soon to be published third version of Inspired Philanthropy - Your Step by Step Guide to Creating a Giving Plan and to Leaving a Legacy; How to be an Effective Donor During Your Lifetime and Beyond
Consider the difference between Change and Charity with our Legacy Tools
Honor your loved ones through the Inspired Legacies Memorial Fund
See Inspired Legacies' latest board and staff photo

Volume 3, Winter 2006
In this issue:

This holiday season... learn how to join the Generosity Generation and give up giving stuff!
Meet Michael Shaughnessy, IL Board Member, teacher and community leader.
Peruse and print our Sample Holiday Shopping List and a template for you own shopping list in Legacy Tools
Explore our recommendations for teaching generosity to kids in our Inspired Products
Use our Letters to Loved Ones as a template to introduce your family to generosity for the holidays!

Volume 2, Fall 2006
In this issue:

Read about our client's giving intentions, planning techniques, and best practices
Meet Flora Moon, IL Board Treasurer and Jean Russell, Communications and Coaching Consultant
Explore and download useful materials in Legacy Tools, including Ten Ways to Intentionally Leave a Legacy
View the new IL PowerPoint and IL brochure
Learn What We Do and How We Do It

Volume 1, Summer 2006
Welcome to the premier issue of Inspired Stories from Legacy Mentors!
In this issue:

Discover the origins of Inspired Legacies
Meet Bob Belkin and Lorrie Lampson
Explore the missing piece, breakthroughs, and the seismic shift in the legacy planning field
Read the Legacy Mentor definition
Take the Are You a Legacy Mentor? questionnaire

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