Chrissy Washburn, Planned Giver

“My Values will be Supported”

Interview by Orion Lumiere

Since planned gifts are increasingly important to non-profit organizations’ sustainability, and because the idea is a little nontraditional, the process that Chrissy went through to move from Sisters’ friend to planned giver was intriguing to me.  But when we sat down and talked about it, I discovered that her planned gift was just a natural extension of her living a meaningful and good life, and carrying her values into the future.  The following interview explains:

Sisters (SOTR): How did you first learn about planned giving?

Chrissy: My church (First Unitarian) had been talking about it forever.  But until you’ve accumulated something, you can’t really think about giving it away.  I had always thought about planned giving when I daydreamed about winning the lottery.

SOTR: Why did you decide to give a planned gift Sisters?

Chrissy: I love Sisters, and I love thinking about making it more sustainable.  I wish all nonprofits had endowments, where they could use the interest to support their work and have a steady source of income.  Even with a two-million-dollar endowment making just 5% interest, Sisters would make $100,000 a year.  Just think how much that would help sustain Sisters in the long-term!  It’s fun to think about.

SOTR: What does your family think about your planned gift?

Chrissy: My kids said ‘that’s cool” . . . but I wonder what they would say if we had given even more! (laughs) But, they’re not expecting . . . I mean, they’re making their own way in life.  They’re not waiting around for money.  I don’t hardly believe in inheritance, anyway . . because how much do you really need?  My kids are individuals with their own resources, and they hold the same belief in sharing that we do, so what they get in inheritance they would probably share, anyway.

SOTR: So, you mentioned you compromised with your husband in your planned giving?

Chrissy: Yes, and once we found we were able to do it, we both got to choose a couple places to give to, and that process was fun.  Who knows, maybe in five years we’ll have even more money, and get to both make more choices!  (laughs) Or maybe we’ll just give more to Sisters.  That’s always hard . . .do you give more money to one group, or less money to more groups?  I go through spurts of doing one, then the other.

SOTR: Do you use an overarching philosophy to guide you? 

Chrissy: Yes, it has to be an organization that helps people in need, here and now.  But that’s what’s so neat about planned giving:  your values and spirit get to live on, and continue to contribute to the world after you die.  It’s just one way you can do that, but it’s a good way.  Because what’s important to me today, will continue to be important tomorrow.

SOTR: Was it easy or hard to become a planned giver?

Chrissy: Well, the will process was discouraging, because the lawyers ask you a bunch of “what-if” questions that are no fun, and of course, you have to start thinking about dying!  But, the planned giving part isn’t like that; in fact, the lawyers encourage you to set up funds and trusts and start giving it away, because it saves you from paying more in taxes.  That’s the whole goal of estate planning, to save you from paying taxes!  When you think about it, that’s how the rich get richer, and I’m not sure I agree with that.  Although, I would rather give it to Sisters and my church than to the government.

SOTR: Why is that?

Chrissy: Because I know what SOR is going to do with it, and I love Sisters and believe in its work.  The government does all kinds of things with it, and they’re getting enough of my money already! (laughs).  And I know that when I give it to Sisters, that my values will be supported.

Thank-you Chrissy!