Have you ever thought about what Indy would be like in 100 years? Or even what anything would be like in 100 years? It’s kind of an odd thought process. First, you realize that you won’t be here in 100 years. Then, you wonder who will. You might wonder what will change; what won’t be around anymore. What will remain the same? And if you’re like me, you wonder what you can leave behind.
There’s a project happening now called the Ben Franklin Funds that touches on this idea of legacies and the future of our city. In 1790, Ben Franklin left 1,000 pounds to the city of Boston and and 1,000 pounds to the city of Philadelphia. He then requested that the funds not be touched for 200 years. Fast forward to 1990: those cities had a gift of 7.5 million dollars. How incredible is that?
This year, Indy is doing the same thing. The Indianapolis Foundation, the Marion County fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, is celebrating its 100th birthday. In true philanthropic fashion, they are celebrating by raising what will become a $200 Million gift to Indianapolis in 2116. How? By finding 1,000 people to donate $100 and 100 people to donate $1,000. Then locking it away for 100 years. Easy, right?
The cool part – beyond being a part of a 200 million dollar gift – is that all donors get their name listed in a book that will be published and put in a time capsule. 100 years from now, Indy residents will gather and open the time capsule to find a publication with the names of over a thousand people who gave a century ago; the people who cared enough and believed enough in the future of their city to donate. That’s powerful.
All Ben Franklin Fund donors are invited to a dinner conversation and celebration, hosted by different people around the city. Over multiple nights in June, the 1,100 donors will attend 1 of 100 dinners to share and discuss their wish for Indy in 2116.
So, what will change 100 years from now? What will remain? What is your wish now that you can contribute to for tomorrow? The community we are today started taking shape a century ago. The community we’ll be in 100 years starts with you.
Be one of the ones who gave. Learn more and sign up to give today. Questions? Want to host a dinner? Email me at Mali@Cicf.org.
