The Nature Conservancy - Leaving a Legacy

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Roger Grigg is a long-time Nature Conservancy volunteer and former Idaho trustee. He lives in Coeur d'Alene.

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Visit a Preserve
Roger Grigg first connected to the Conservancy at a preserve. Learn about how you can experience the finest of Idaho nature with our preserve access guide.

Outside of Soda Springs, Idaho set amongst juniper trees at the base of the Aspen Mountains sits the 195-acre Formation Springs Preserve. The springs have created unique travertine terraces and an underground cave, and the wetlands provide important habitat for waterfowl, elk and deer species. It was at this place where Roger Grigg’s relationship with and support of The Nature Conservancy began.

As Human Resources Manager at Monsanto’s Soda Springs plant, Roger was responsible for coordinating the company’s corporate philanthropy. In the early 1990s, Roger led groups of dedicated volunteers and Conservancy staff for weekend work days on the preserve. Roger speaks fondly of those days; of rolling up his sleeves with his family and friends, and investing sweat equity into cleaning up the preserve and making substantial improvements to the site, including building nearly a mile of buckrail fence. Roger still smiles, and shakes his head in disbelief at the completion of this monumental task and the commitment of the volunteers.

After a few years of volunteering with the Conservancy at Formation Springs, Roger was asked to join the Idaho Chapter board of trustees where he served from 1995 – 2004. During this time, Roger and his family continued to volunteer, bringing their work gloves and energy to the Flat Ranch on Henry’s Lake planting willow trees, and of course, putting up more fence. During a trustee meeting at the ranch he heard a presentation on bequests and the Nature Conservancy’s Legacy Club.

Leaving A Legacy

Roger had supported the Conservancy through annual contributions, but he felt his level of financial support did not reflect his passion for the conservation that needed to be done. He and his wife were raising two sons and they needed to think about the family’s future and the boy’s college education. Roger was committed to conservation and the Legacy Club perked his interest.

As an avid sportsman, Roger and his wife raised their sons with a strong conservation ethic. Through fly fishing trips and hunting excursions, they instilled in their sons the need to sustain wildlife resources for the future. In fact, today, one of his sons works as a professional fishing guide and the other is a Conservancy member. Before making a commitment to the Legacy Club, Roger discussed the plan with his children. Because the boys understood their parent’s passion for conservation, they supported the decision to leave the Conservancy a legacy gift, knowing that it would affect their inheritance.

"Supporting My Belief in Conservation"

In Roger’s own words: “Have you ever thought when you write your annual contribution check, I wish I could do more? Well, this is a way that you can. Evaluate your estate plan (on a regular basis) and see if you can continue to support the Conservancy with a substantial bequest. When I re-wrote my will I considered my family first and the organizations I have been supporting and I thought ‘Why should your philanthropy stop just because you are gone?’ I thought why not leave a gift large enough to invest in an endowment that generates income that sustains my contribution at the level it was at my passing. In that way you do not have to be ‘replaced’ as a donor to what you feel passionately about now. No one likes planning about what should happen at your death but the time to do it is now. I have peace of mind that I have done what I can to support my belief in conservation. One other comment: Be sure to contact the state office to insure the wording is right to support any specific efforts you have for your bequest.”

Now retired and living in Coeur d’Alene, Roger continues to support the Conservancy with annual gifts and remains an active volunteer. Last year Roger and some friends helped during a clean up day at the Cougar Bay Preserve, and the North Idaho staff is planning to recruit Roger to row a drift boat for future field trips.--Steve Grourke

To learn more about the Legacy Club and planned giving with The Nature Conservancy please contact Perry Pleyte, director of major gifts, at 208-788-8988 ext. 25 or ppleyte@tnc.org. Or visit us on the web at nature.org/legacy.