Jeff Chaddock and his husband Mark Morrow are long-time philanthropists who broadly support the southeastern Ohio community, and readily admit that prioritizing environmental conservation in Athens County is crucial. “Stewarding the environment surrounds everything we believe in and care about,” Chaddock explains. “Conservation in Appalachian Ohio has become the ‘envelope’ for all of our other giving. In our simplest words, the resources of the land, the trees, and the hills that make Athens County special form the foundation for most other charitable initiatives to reach their potential.”
Inspired by their commitment to local conservation, the couple have pledged to leave a legacy gift of $1,000,000 to Athens Conservancy, in support of the local land trust’s efforts in land acquisition and stewardship, and community engagement, education, and programming.
“Our commitments to charity provide a strong backdrop to our lives, and Athens Conservancy has become a prominent part of our legacy plan in Appalachia,” he adds. “There is no better way to give back than to give back to the Earth. The Conservancy’s mission to preserve the precious lands in Athens County – now and for generations to come – is especially critical today as climate changes.”
The legacy gift from Chaddock (at left in photo) and Morrow represents the largest planned gift to date directed to Athens Conservancy, and marks a transformational moment for the small, nonprofit land trust.
“Jeff’s and Mark’s enduring belief in Athens Conservancy’s mission, their unwavering support and engagement, and most of all, their ongoing friendship mean everything to us,” says Donna Goodman, president of the board of the Conservancy. “This extraordinary gift strengthens our mission for the future, and is a philanthropic legacy that helps ensure long-term sustainability of our efforts to protect local lands for our community. For that, we are deeply grateful.”
Chaddock, who is founder and CEO of Envisage Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, regularly commutes between his offices in Columbus and Athens. “I’ve never minded the drive,” he explains. “It’s therapeutic, especially starting just north of Logan and continuing along to Athens. It always feels like our local community is gentler and kinder than most non-urban environments. The land and trees and hills are key elements that make Athens County so special.”
Chaddock and Morrow are staunch proponents of the power of planned giving, and decided to make their intentions public in the hope that their gift inspires others to consider legacy gifts, too. “Ninety-four percent of large giving to nonprofit organizations occurs through planned giving, helping to sustain the organizations’ missions for future generations,” Chaddock explains. “This kind of transformational giving is often done with charitable bequests through a will or trust. Personally, I think this should be considered sooner than later in life. Having it in place in your 50s and 60s is a wonderful way to support the work and mission of community nonprofits that mirror your interests and passions.”
Giving along the way – with regular, annual donations – is critical to nonprofits to carry out their day-to-day work. But, says Chaddock, “Ensuring the nonprofit has substantive and consistent income via an endowment funded at death becomes transformative and enduring for the long-term. It is an investment in the future.”
Athens Conservancy protects more than 3,000 acres of mostly forested land in the spectacular Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio, with more than 2,000 acres open to the public. The nonprofit land trust maintains 12 miles of foot trails for hiking, bird-watching, and exploring, attracting visitors and boosting the local economy. Its 16 nature preserves and 12 conservation easements are nearly all in Athens County.