The giving season

With our focus on family, it’s no coincidence that this also marks the time when many of us turn to our end-of-year financial and giving strategies. It’s important to take the necessary steps to protect your family, today and in the future. And when I say family, I’m talking about our blood relatives as well as the family we find in our aviation community and those around us every day.

And while we celebrate the traditional holidays, we also commemorate two other red-letter days that benefit our communities: National Philanthropy Day and GivingTuesday. Doing what’s right for others and leaving a legacy are the hallmark of these two observations, reminding us of the tangible steps we can take to make today better and ensure a bright tomorrow for all.

Americans are a generous bunch. Supporting causes close to our hearts boosts our morale and offers a sense of fulfillment. And contrary to what some may think, the majority of giving comes from average citizens of moderate income. And GA pilots are some of the most giving people, with both their time and money.

One of AOPA’s main pillars is to ensure GA remains viable for generations to come, and that means working to create a brighter future for our industry. The AOPA Foundation does just that. The foundation funds AOPA’s You Can Fly program and the AOPA Air Safety Institute, both of which are vital to building a stronger and safer pilot community.

Last year, ASI’s safety courses, videos, and reports were used more than 12 million times. ASI has become the largest provider of free aviation safety content in the world. Meanwhile, our You Can Fly program is introducing aviation to those who may never have considered it. The AOPA Foundation’s You Can Fly high school aviation STEM curriculum has reached more than 300 schools in 44 states, fueling the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals. I’m proud that the program has made strides in diversity, with 20 percent of students being female and 45 percent people of color.

And in this end-of-year financial season, I encourage those who would like to include GA in their financial plans to consider the AOPA Legacy Challenge. The challenge supports the AOPA Foundation’s Legacy Society, which provides donors with the opportunity to offer a gift to general aviation in their estate plans.

And what’s even more special is the fact that a very generous gift from an anonymous donor is allowing Legacy Society members to unlock incremental gifts and see their donations to the foundation take greater flight (see “Fly With AOPA,” p. 102).

Joining the Legacy Society today is a win-win: it allows you to solidify your current and future financial plans, while generating additional gifts for the AOPA Foundation now.

As much as AOPA charitable initiatives have been fruitful, they’ve also been conducted with respect for ethics and efficient use of donations. In fact, the AOPA Foundation was honored with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the world’s largest guide for philanthropic decision making. Each donation to the AOPA Foundation is making a difference for the future of our industry.

So, in the spirit of the giving season, I’d encourage all of us to do our part to ensure that the future of aviation remains vibrant. AOPA’s Foundation has many tools to help you get started and as cliché as it may sound, every dollar counts.

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