Celebrating a Great Founder during National Make-A-Will Month
In 1789 Benjamin Franklin established a 200-year endowment by leaving money in his will to educate youth in trades and applied science. The initial gift equaled over $160,000 in today’s dollars and, by the 1990s, the endowment had grown to almost $10 million.
Franklin was a strategic philanthropist. For the first 100 years after his death, he wanted his gift used to make low-interest loans to young tradesmen getting their start in business. He further stipulated that after 100 years about one-quarter of the sum should continue to be used to make loans, while the remaining three-quarters could be used for public works in Philadelphia and Boston.
His lasting legacy created The Franklin Institute of Philadelphia and has provided countless scholarships and other good works over the last two centuries.
Following Franklin’s example, Americans today continue to believe in the power of charitable bequests. According to GivingUSA, bequests made up 10% of all charitable giving in 2025, amounting to more than $61 billion for nonprofit causes.
As we enter August and National Make-A-Will Month, let us be inspired by Franklin’s example and take an opportunity to refresh our own estate plans and share this powerful example with our donors.
Discuss planned giving options with donors with a sense of joy and possibility, rather than awkwardness around the topic of mortality. Your legacy program gives donors an opportunity to pass on their values and legacy to future generations.
Ben Franklin said, “I wish to be useful even after my death, if possible, in forming and advancing other young men, that may be serviceable to their country.”
Let us encourage our donors this August to join the ranks of Ben Franklin and create a lasting legacy.
