Walter Cronkite - Journalist, Sailor, Philanthropist

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

My nightly news hero, Walter Cronkite, died yesterday. We all watched as "Uncle Walter" guided us through many events of the Twentieth Century--murder of John F. Kennedy and the Apollo landing on the moon as two outstanding examples. Fewer people knew him as a consummate sailor on his yacht Wyntje.

In 2006, Cronkite gave Wyntje to the Norfolk Associated Marine Institutes, an organization that uses the sea to positively impact the lives of troubled youth. This organization, in recognizing the gift, acknowledged the following individuals for making it happen:

Walter and Betsy Cronkite, obviously the donors;
Buddy Payne, AMI Marine Specialist, for building the relationship of trust that opened the door to the donation;
Chris Burns, for making the donation effortless, high impact. and flawless;
Al Gundry, InterYacht, Annapolis, MD, for making the initial introduction to Cronkite; and
Mike Ashford, owner of McGarvey's Saloon in Annapolis, for being a mentor to the cadets and supporting the credibility of AMI and its staff.

No gift of this importance happens simply. People do give to people through people. This beautiful yacht will continue to do good work well beyond the life of Walter Cronkite because of a number of caring individuals who made it happen.

How can you make a special gift happen for a wonderful organization near and dear to you?

Boating & Fundraising

Image by yewenyi via Flickr

In my "down time," my wife and I like to spend quality hours in our boat Georgia Lady. Studying boat handling, seamanship, and navigation over the years, I have learned some things useful in fundraising. First, you must have a clear plan and share that plan with your crew; even if that plan just addresses docking and undocking and the crew's responsibilities.

Second, if you're headed out, do you know where you are going and how long the trip will take? Is it a cruise or a day trip? Chart, supplies, fuel?

Third, you should always be prepared to make mid-course corrections in case of weather, traffic, low water, or other challenges.

Finally, again fully communicate with crew and others your plans, changes, and goals. A voyage with a fully-trained crew can be a beautiful day on the water. The opposite can be disaster! The same can be said for a campaign. PLAN, COMMUNICATE, AND EXECUTE!

Classic Book, Timely Thoughts

Robert L. Payton, in 1988, published an instant classic in philanthropy, Philanthropy: Voluntary Action for the Public Good. Now over twenty years old, the words are now more relevant than ever. Payton has been called by many as the "guru of contemporary American philanthropy." Part One of his book brings together his reflections on the place of voluntary action, association, and giving in American life. Part Two explores the most important problems and issues facing philanthropy. Bob writes that "philanthropy is simply essential to the survival of [America] as a free and open and democratic society."

I highly recommend placing this treatise on your reading list if you missed it before now. It should be mandatory reading for all students of the third sector, democratic society, and the place of nonprofit organizations in the world.