From Donor to Mentor, Storyteller, & Legacy-Builder

“I became a great leader based on things I learned in my past and things I didn’t do. I always find that people who have made mistakes -- and my own mistakes -- are my biggest teachers. That’s why I love dealing with young entrepreneurs and young leaders and helping them figure things out.” - SBIF Supporter Jon Brandt

Mentor

At SBIF, a supporter’s unique story and experiences bring just as much value as their finances. Jon, for example, freely acknowledges that his career has been built as much by his three failed companies as his five successful ones. This awareness of the struggles, pitfalls, and need for resilience has equipped him to powerfully mentor and support the next generation of leaders. As he describes it: “I’ve been able to directly relate something I’ve been through to something they’ve been through. I’m giving someone that ability to go, you know, Jon’s gone through this too.” In a world where generational gaps are touted as a big social divide, Jon has found it organic and natural to connect with and support the exceptional young leaders in SBIF’s orbit.

Storyteller

A donation can be just a check; SBIF provides the opportunity to go deeper. Through SBIF, a supporter becomes part of young leaders’ stories -- and add some powerful new chapters to their own story as well. For Jon, giving time and money to a close-knit, specialized foundation like SBIF feels much more impactful and meaningful than giving to a larger and more bureaucratic charitable organization. Being a donor to a big foundation has felt to him like giving in a way that is “a mile wide and not really deep with anything.” With SBIF, on the other hand, he is creating a profound and wonderful story: “I can go deep with my time and my financial investment. You can really affect someone and see it.” 

Legacy-builder

Investing in SBIF is a profound way to both give back to others and create an incredible legacy of one’s own. Jon observes that his time with SBIF’s young leaders gave him “a lot of energy” and led him to the realization “I know a lot more than I thought I knew about life!” Jon’s investment through SBIF, from attending a young leaders’ conference to providing seed capital for an up-and-coming organization, has expanded his legacy across continents. Investing in these highly intelligent and motivated young people has allowed Jon to tangibly change the world.