If you believe in the organization, there's no reason not to do it," explains Bob Macleod '57, a former long-term member of the board of trustees who has generously made two planned gifts to Nobles.

But why give to Nobles? "It was one of the first important steps along my life and I formed a lot of friendships there," he says. He was part of a small class of young men who still gather often to maintain those "early and long-lasting relationships." He says, "I feel fortunate having been part of the Nobles community, and it's been a big part of setting the stage for my life."

The many thoughtful and generous graduates who have supported Nobles have done so because, as Macleod explains, "Nobles has been sound in making graduates and others aware of the importance of fundraising... It's a way of life in good organizations now."

As an active member of multiple nonprofits, Macleod has seen firsthand the difference between successful and unsuccessful organizations. He has become, as he says, "fascinated with leadership, and how simple good leadership is." He explains, "The skill of leadership is to communicate to the organization and the constituency where you're going." That explains the success of Nobles, and gives reason to support it: "The last thing you want to do, and the last thing I want to do is give to an organization that's sort of sputtering. Sound organizations deserve support, as far as I'm concerned. And the ones that don't have strong leadership, don't deserve to survive. It's as simple as that."

Giving is a personal decision and Nobles offers a variety of ways to support the passions and interests of those hoping to help. Macleod was particularly impressed by all the options Kurt Somerville '75 gave in a recent corporation meeting. Somerville discussed gifts for the present, including gifts of cash, of appreciated securities, from an IRA, or of tangible personal property. He also talked about gifts for the future, including bequests at death, life insurance, charitable lead trusts, retirement assets and real estate.

Macleod decided that planned giving best suited him. His first planned gift was part of the class of 1957's fiftieth reunion gift. "We were trying to get the whole class organized to make much higher gifts than any of us had previously done," he says. "We used planned giving as a way to help attain that objective." His second planned gift was to honor the leadership of former Head of School Robert P. Henderson, Jr. '76.

Bob Macleod '57 is a former member of the Nobles board of trustees. He has served as a class agent throughout the years and was a member of his class's 50th and 55th Reunion Committees.