It’s Never Too Early to Think About Your Legacy

The Internet Archive has cultivated thousands of planned giving supporters over the years who have decided when making their legacy plans to include the Internet Archive in them as a nonprofit of choice. Tim, who turned 40, made that decision and decided it was time to think about the organizations that reflect what matters most to him and how he could help sustain their work.

He named the Internet Archive as one of his primary beneficiaries, making him a member of the Internet Archive Legacy Circle.

Growing Up Alongside the Internet

Tim grew up alongside the early internet. He built homepages, joined web rings, learned HTML, and eventually turned that early curiosity into a career working with Linux and open-source technology. “The internet, for me, is like a forest that I’ve grown up in, and I’ve seen change over time.”

Today, the Wayback Machine allows Tim to revisit some of the websites, blogs, and projects he created when he was younger. He also helps preserve the web by running Archive Warrior projects on his own server and regularly uses the Live Music Archive.

Tim, Internet Archive Legacy Circle Member and Monthly Giving Circle Member

Sharing Knowledge With Others

Throughout his career, Tim has often been the person on his team who documents how systems work and shares that information freely with others.

He even wrote a technical book, The Linux Sysadmins Guide to Virtual Disks, to provide the clear, practical guidance he felt was missing. By uploading the book to the Internet Archive, Tim has helped ensure that it remains freely available to anyone who may find it useful.

Tim also recently created famoe.ly, a project that uses the Live Music Archive’s API to analyze concert set lists and help listeners discover recordings.

Giving for Today and Tomorrow

For Tim, planning for the future also inspired him to give today. In addition to including the Internet Archive in his plans, he recently began making a monthly donation. “No reason I can’t start helping while I’m still here.”

Perhaps the most meaningful part of the experience was the peace of mind that came from putting his wishes in place. Tim shared that he now feels less worried after he is gone and less pressure to accomplish everything right now. “I know that if I can’t make the impact I want to while I’m here, I have left a meaningful contribution behind to organizations that are deeply important to me.”

Start Building Your Legacy

Tim’s story is a wonderful reminder that planned giving is not only something to consider later in life. It can begin at any age, with a simple decision about what matters to you, what you can do today, and what you hope will continue far into the future.

The Internet Archive’s estate planning program was established to provide an option for patrons who wanted to leave a legacy by donating assets and investments. Over the next decade, two to three trillion dollars of estate assets will transfer from Baby Boomers. Nonprofits have a lot to gain from such a wealth transfer. Therefore, a planned giving program was launched at the Internet Archive in 2022 to leverage this immense giving opportunity.

In 2026, Joy Chesbrough, the Head of Philanthropy who launched the program, decided to hire Janet Glaze to build on the accelerated growth and momentum. “Making patrons and supporters the center of our work is extremely important. Planned giving is an important cornerstone in philanthropy, and a strategic opportunity to establish long-term loyalty with our most trusted supporters”, commented Chesbrough. “I am confident that Janet Glaze will do a great job establishing new opportunities for Legacy Circle members.” By joining the Legacy Circle, supporters become part of a community committed to protecting knowledge and ensuring it remains accessible for generations to come.

If you have already included the Internet Archive in your estate plans, or are considering doing so, we would be grateful to hear from you. Sharing your intentions takes only a minute, and there is no obligation.

Please contact Janet Glaze, the Internet Archive’s Planned Giving Regional Officer if you are interested in leaving a legacy gift. If you have questions or would like to talk through your options, please fill out our Legacy Circle form, email donations@archive.org or leave a message for the Philanthropy Department at 415-561-6767.

We couldn’t do this work without your generosity. Thank you for helping preserve knowledge for generations to come.

Janet Glaze, Planned Giving Regional Officer
Internet Archive Philanthropy