A Legacy Society Member and a "Classical" Case of Altruism

A bust of Ludwig von Beethoven sits in the corner of Brian Burke's Davenport office, looking over his shoulder as he works. On the desk to his left, a Bose system softly fills the office with classical music from public radio. Even his coffee mug is imprinted with the images of long deceased composers. People passing by his office might not realize it, but this young man is uniquely ahead of his time.

Brian, a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual, is currently the youngest member of the Legacy Society, a group that recognizes people whose planned giving includes the Community Foundation. Brian plans to give half his estate to the community through CFGRB.

"I was preaching to people about planned giving," he says. "Estate planning is something I talk to clients about. I'm single - I don't have dependents - but that doesn't mean I can't do the same thing."

Brian earned a music degree from the University of Northern Iowa and moved to the Quad Cities right out of school. He's been involved in the local music scene as a musician, as the director of Big River Brass and as a community leader. Organizations that he's involved with have made substantial donations to local nonprofits, including the symphony.

Personal relationships launched his interest in the Foundation. He met former President Tana Odean at Sacred Heart Cathedral, where he was playing music. Then, as a member of the Kiwanis Club he met Susan Skora when the club decided to divest some stock and start a fund at the Foundation. He came to know CFGRB as an organization he could trust.

"People need to know that working with the Community Foundation is easy," Brian says. "You should have a cause that you care about. But if you don't have specific causes or organizations you want to support, you can still help the community through the Foundation's Community Impact Fund and the gift will be distributed as needed."

Brian has done well, but his work in philanthropy is far from over. Besides planned giving and civic philanthropy, he also invests "sweat equity" as a volunteer.

"I try to do more during life instead of doing it all through deferred giving, because that requires me to not be around," he laughed.

"It's nice to make an impact," he says.