Champion of Philanthropy’s first postage stamp dies

Milton Murray, a maverick fundraiser who worked diligently for two decades to get a postage stamp honoring philanthropy, died Dec. 9. He was 87.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued the “Giving & Sharing” stamp in 1998, featuring a bee with flowers back when First Class postage was 32 cents. Murray pushed for 27 years for a philanthropy-inspired postage stamp.

In 1973 Murray founded the Seventh-day Adventist Church Philanthropic Service for Institutions (PSI). For nearly 20 years he served as director of PSI, which provides philanthropic education and resources to enhance development programs to members within the church and its related colleges, universities, healthcare systems and other members.

Gene Tempel, president and chief executive officer of the Indiana University Foundation, said Murray was “one of the icons of the sector.” He described Murray as thoughtful and thorough with his work, and very approachable for such a luminary in the sector. “I always looked to him for leadership,” said Tempel.

“He was one of those persons who saw that fundraising could be a noble and honorable profession,” said Tempel. “He nurtured and encouraged many young people in this field.” James B. Closser, vice president for advancement and alumni at Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia and director at the Milton Murray Foundation for Philanthropy, described Murray as “my teacher, mentor and friend” in the 30 years he knew him.

“A consummate professional – he always had the best of the profession in mind and a representative with incredible integrity, transparency and tenacity. He was all about the institution and the cause – it was never about Milton Murray,” said Closser.

The Milton Murray Foundation for Philanthropy in College Place, Wash., is a grant-making organization that sponsors nonprofit executive leadership and fundraising management fellowship programs, the crux of Murray’s mission in life.

Karen Johnson, president of Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation and president of the Milton Murray Foundation, would not be working in fundraising today without Murray’s influence and mentorship. Johnson said that Murray’s work with PSI “immensely” changed the philanthropic work of some Adventist organizations.

Murray also received awards for this work advancing philanthropy, including the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s (AHP) Si Seymour Award in 1980 and University of Indiana’s Henry A. Rosso Award in 1992. He was named Outstanding Fundraiser in 1991 by The National Society of Fund-Raising Executives.

Murray’s life was profiled in the book, “The Makings of a Philanthropic Fund Raiser: the Instructive Example of Milton Murray,” written by Ronald Knott and published in 1992, the same year Murray retired.

Murray was a certified member of the National Society of Fundraising Executives, now known as the Association of Fundraising Professionals, as well as a Fellow of the AHP.

“I think that he went to his rest feeling very good about what he accomplished, but he was the kind of person that would tell you what else you could do,” said Johnson.

Contributions can be made to the Milton Murray Foundation for Philanthropy, P.O. Box 521, College Place, WA 99324.

Source: Nonprofit Times