Doug and Grace Schroder Scott Give to Live and Live to Give
If lives well-lived can be described as a confluence of passion, calling, mission and philosophy, then Doug Scott and his wife, Grace, are indeed living well. Not only do they spend their days advancing the causes of their respective colleges through philanthropy, but they also live their mission. The Douglas H. Scott and Grace Schroeder Scott Endowed Scholarship for sociology majors at Augsburg is just one example of their generosity.
"Grace and I have made a commitment to giving. We enjoy giving to live and living to give. What that means to us throughout our lives is that we give so that the community, and the people and organizations within the community, can reach full potential and live better and fuller lives," says Doug, who has been director of leadership gifts at Augsburg for more than eight years. Grace has a similar role as senior development officer, planned giving, at St. Olaf College, where she has served in advancement for 32 years.
A sociology major from Buffalo, New York, with degrees from Eastern University and Palmer Theological Seminary in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Doug was always fascinated by humankind and enjoyed studying the ways in which people behave and interact. Early in his career, Doug served as a parish pastor for six years. During that time, he was particularly interested in the motivations that encourage giving.
Over the next 35 years, Doug realized his vocational call by serving in non-profit advancement offices. Philanthropy and generosity became his mission, one he shared with Grace, whom he met during a professional institute in Memphis. Both are deeply committed to their professional roles as well as to personal giving.
"It’s my way of answering that vocational call," Doug says about his current position, which fits very well. “For some people, one job is the stepping stone to the next. But here at Augsburg, we have remarkable longevity of staff in the advancement office. It is such a privilege to work with people who are committed to staying in one place and who understand the passion for a cause.”
Doug and Grace believe that true philanthropy is defined not by the amount of a gift but by whether it comes from the heart, especially in today’s world, where the proliferation of nonprofits has created an extremely competitive environment.
“Higher education is our passion,” Doug says, “and we are very blessed to be able to align our passions with our philanthropic vision. Endowing a scholarship is an expression of gratitude, faith, and paying it forward, as someone did for us.”
Augsburg is a very special place, he adds, because it is authentic, relevant and grounded in its mission.
“Every day I see students whose lives are being impacted. Giving is transformational because it affects such a broad array of students. When you think of diversity at Augsburg, you think of academic, economic and spiritual diversity, as well as race and color. This campus embraces the fullness of diversity, and that resonates with both of us.”
It is important for givers to find their own niches, just as Doug and Grace have found theirs.
“When it comes time to start thinking about the blessings that have been bestowed upon you, how do you decide what to do with what you have accumulated? How do you effectively distribute it to continue to make a difference in the world? What legacy will you create that will continue to make a difference?” These are questions Doug suggests potential donors ask. “For us, education makes a difference. We give because we believe lives will be enhanced. Our hope is to encourage others to live to give.”
Provide Support for Future Generations
To learn about the many ways you can make a future gift to benefit Augsburg students, contact Amy Alkire at 612-330-1188 and alkirea@augsburg.edu.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.