Interview Questions

Each interviewee for The Gift of All: A Community of Givers was asked essentially the same questions in order to provide continuity between interviews. The basic question list, which may have been extensively modified for any particular subject, follows.

Early Life/Formative Years

• Tell about the family you were born into, including where and when you were born, parents, siblings, important extended family.
• Tell about your early schooling.
• What childhood experience had a powerful impact on you?
• Who had great influence on you in your youth? Parent, other family member, teacher, minister/church experience? Did you have a mentor?
• Were there any words that had particular power over you as a child or youth?
• Was there any advice you were given as a youngster that really stuck with you?
• Who were your heroes growing up?
• Did you have any particular difficulties to overcome as a child?

Beginnings of Adult Life/Making of Fortune

• What first made you feel like an adult?
• What were your first thoughts about a job or career?
• As a young person, did you have a vision for your future? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific in life? Did you have a particular goal in mind as you started out in life on your own?
• What was your first job?
• Proceed through subsequent jobs, concentrating on position/job that you were most successful with, both from a satisfaction/ happiness stand point and a monetary one.
• What's your favorite story to tell about your years in business (or other career)?
• What was the toughest lesson you learned in business?

Charitable Giving/Philanthropy

• Tell how you first came to make a large philanthropic contribution to the community. What was it? What was your motivation?
• Tell how your charitable giving evolved.
• Did you have a philanthropic mentor? Did you get together with other philanthropic leaders to discuss projects, vision of Grand Rapids, the institutions/causes you supported?
• What's the best advice you received from other people of wealth?
• When did you first make a plan/organize/prioritize your giving? Did you make a conscious decision to concentrate on one or a few areas?
• List/tell about the various uses you've made of your money.
• What leadership positions did you hold on any particular projects? Who did you work with?
• What do you feel has been your most important contribution to the Grand Rapids area?
• Who do you admire for their philanthropic work in Grand Rapids? Besides yourself, who else do you feel has made significant contributions to the quality of life in Grand Rapids?
• Describe how Grand Rapids has changed in your lifetime (or time living here).
• Are you leaving a legacy/foundation after your death?

Advice/Inspiration for Future Generations

• Looking back, what were a few milestones in your life?
• What is your overall guide for living?
• What advice would you give young people trying to make career decisions today?
• What wisdom can you share about money?
• What blessings have you received from your giving?
• Do you have a favorite quotation or prayer?
• What doubts or questions trouble you?
• What would you like people to remember most about you?
• Do you have any goals you'd still like to accomplish?