Ruth Tupper, 84, of Bossier City, LA, seems an unlikely donor. She never earned more than $20,000 a year in her long career as a bookkeeper. To supplement her small income from Social Security and an annuity, she resells errant golf balls that fall into her yard. She also collects aluminum cans for sale to the local recycling plant.
But Tupper knows how to save. She bought her home for $5,000 forty years ago. With no dependents, she put half of every paycheck and all of a small inheritance into CDs and government bonds.
One of her biggest joys is nature--tending her organic garden and enjoying the birds of the season. While reading National Geographic, she came across a story on the Nature Conservancy. She was so inspired she has donated nearly $300,000.
We stumbled across Tupper's story while reading the Spring 2005 issue of Imagine, a beautiful four-color magazine on philanthropy in Louisiana.
You can read Tupper's story, "New Faces in Philanthropy," by downloading a PDF version of the entire issue; her story can be found on page 9. (NOTE: The PDF file is 42 megabytes, which is quite large. We recommend that you only try to download this if you have a fast Internet connection.)
Tupper's story provides a lesson in so many ways--saving, simple pleasures, and the impact one person can make in the world. But it also speaks volumes on the hidden treasure that is out there for nonprofits that learn to connect with donors who are passionate about the organization's mission. We tell our alumni that they never know who's going to be their next big donor, and Ruth Tupper is a classic case of this. The important thing is to get your story out in front of people who care.
