In a world where the most time-sensitive issues often dominate public discourse, it can be challenging to keep our focus on advancing end-of-life autonomy. The polarized nature of today’s political landscape makes pushing forward, breaking through the noise and making meaningful progress challenging. Yet amidst these challenges, we continue to make unprecedented progress in every aspect of our mission. 

This progress comes for a host of reasons — the demographic shift within our country that exposes the large baby boomer population to the travesties of how we die; the evidence and data demonstrating the need for and benefits of our policies; and of course I would be remiss if I did not mention the incredible work of the Compassion & Choices team, and our partners and collaborators.  

Most importantly, however, we succeed because of our supporters. You understand the profound significance of our mission — not only improving how we live but also ensuring that we die with dignity and humanity on our own terms.  

While every movement has supporters, ours give us a unique strategic advantage. Given our universal commitment to embracing the inevitability of death, this means we are far more likely to have conversations about the legacy we want to leave behind. 

From Generation to Generation: Securing the Future 

Consider the Van Dorn family, a testament to the power of legacy and the impact of a shared commitment. Betsy Van Dorn served on our board for many years and tirelessly advocated for Compassion & Choices. She was not just a leader but a force of nature whose influence resonated deeply within our organization and beyond. Known for her razor-sharp wit and twinkling eyes, Betsy had a unique ability to blend pragmatism with playfulness, making her both an effective leader and a beloved colleague. She inspired everyone around her with her infectious enthusiasm, often saying, “We have such interesting supporters; how can you not want to get to know them?” 

Betsy’s passion and leadership were not confined to her lifetime; they live on through her family. One of her sons continues to give generously in her honor, recently making five times her average annual gift. Her other son volunteers his time on various high-level projects. And her sister has made herself available to talk with people who would benefit from learning more about Betsy’s death. This kind of intergenerational commitment is not only heartening — it makes our movement flourish. 

As we look to the future, it’s clear that our strength lies in this continuity. When supporters pass on their dedication to their families, they ensure that the values we uphold — dignity, autonomy and choice at the end of life — are preserved for future generations. This isn’t just about sustaining our movement; it’s about expanding it and creating a legacy that will endure long after we are gone.

Securing Our Future: The Strategic Importance of Leaving a Legacy

Legacy gifts have also played a crucial role in our movement. Over the past six years, our legacy giving program has grown by 600%! Of course we get legacy gifts from our major donors. However, what is most surprising is that it is not uncommon for people whose lifetime combined giving is modest — and sometimes they have never given! — to leave us six- and seven-figure gifts as part of their will or trust. We get everything from outright cash to houses, life insurance, IRAs and more. The generosity of our legacy donors has fueled our growth, and subsequently our progress, over the past decade. These gifts are more than just financial contributions; they affirm the belief that our work matters, that it should continue and that it can shape the future. They are our strategic advantage. 

Leave Your Legacy: Steps to Make a Difference

August is National Make-a-Will Month!!!! If you don’t have a will, please take a few minutes to create one. In addition, I invite you to consider the legacy you want to leave to the end-of-life choice movement. There are several ways you can make a lasting impact:

1. Make your support of Compassion & Choices an intergenerational affair: Invite your family — parents, children or siblings — to join our movement. Start by engaging them in a conversation about your own end-of-life plans. These discussions are vital for personal preparedness and help normalize discussing end-of-life choices. Some of our supporters even encourage sending birthday and holiday gifts directly to Compassion & Choices. 
2. Consider a legacy gift: Whether you make a gift now or include Compassion & Choices in your will, your support will help sustain our movement. This is an opportunity to ensure that your values live on and continue to influence the future of end-of-life care. Legacy gifts can also provide tax advantages, and there are ways to give now while still receiving regular income. Click here to learn more about our legacy giving program. 
3. Share your story: If our work has impacted you or your loved ones, consider sharing that experience. Your story can inspire others to take action, join the movement or make a legacy gift. Personal narratives are powerful tools for change, and we’d be honored to amplify your voice. Please click here to share your story. 

Together, we can continue to advance end-of-life choice and care, building a future where everyone has the right to make their own choices at the end of their journey. Your legacy and the legacy of those you love can be a cornerstone of Compassion & Choices’ future. 

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