Think about the tables you've gathered around throughout your life. Your family dinner table, a table surrounded by friends, or perhaps a picnic table with grandkids overlooking the lake.
The people around those tables have likely changed and grown over the years. So have the conversations, challenges, and opportunities. And what was needed at one table may have been very different from what was needed at another.
Sometimes someone needed your experience or advice. Other times, they needed encouragement, generosity, or simply someone willing to listen. And perhaps there were times when what was needed most was a person or perspective that wasn't yet at the table.
I think there's something meaningful in recognizing that we don't always have to bring more. Sometimes we need to become more curious about what's already there and what might be missing.
The same is true when we think about charitable giving.
When you consider the causes and organizations you support, what draws you to them? Is it a personal experience, a family tradition, or someone who made a difference in your life?
For many of us, our generosity is deeply connected to our stories.
Maybe you grew up spending summers at the Iowa Great Lakes, and some of your most treasured memories involve time on the water with family. Perhaps a local organization helped someone you love during a difficult season. Or maybe you believe strongly in giving young people opportunities to learn, grow, and discover what they're capable of accomplishing.
Those experiences shape what matters to us. And what matters to us often shapes what we hope to leave for others.
But there's a question worth considering.
What might be missing from the table for the next generation?
Will the places and experiences you treasure today still be here for your children and grandchildren? Will the organizations that strengthen our community have the resources they need? Will future generations have opportunities to experience the things that have made the Iowa Great Lakes so special to you?
These aren't questions any one person can answer alone. But they are questions worth asking.
Because when we begin to understand what our community might need, we can start to recognize how our own gifts, experiences, and resources might help make a difference.
October is National Leave a Legacy Month, a time to reflect on the impact we hope to have on the people, places, and causes that matter most to us.
When we hear the word legacy, it's easy to think about what we'll leave behind financially. But I believe legacy begins with something much more personal. It begins with understanding what we value, remembering the people who helped shape our lives, and considering how we might do the same for someone else.
Your legacy doesn't have to look like anyone else's. It might include a gift to a favorite nonprofit organization, support for a cause close to your heart, or a charitable fund that continues giving to the community for generations.
The important thing is that it reflects what matters to you.
So, as you gather around your own tables this fall, I'd encourage you to start a conversation. Ask your family what they hope will always be part of the Iowa Great Lakes. Share the stories behind the causes you care about. Talk about the people and experiences that have shaped your generosity.
And then ask yourselves:
What does our table have to offer, and what might our community need?
At the Okoboji Foundation, we help individuals and families connect what matters most to them with opportunities to make a lasting difference in the Iowa Great Lakes region.
This National Leave a Legacy Month, I invite you to take one step toward creating the legacy you envision. Whether you're considering a charitable gift through your estate, exploring ways to support a favorite cause, or simply wondering where to begin, I'd welcome the opportunity to visit with you.
You don't have to come with all the answers. Sometimes the most meaningful thing we can bring to the table is a willingness to begin the conversation.
And I'd be honored to have that conversation with you.
By Mindy Gress, President, Okoboji Foundation