A wish
A wish for the future
This is not a plan. It's a wish. I'm writing it down because I think you deserve to know it, even though I can't promise today that it will come true.
I'm in my early forties. TributeMap is only a few months old. People entrust us with their loved ones in the quiet expectation that the spot where granddad liked to sit will still be one click away in twenty years. A promise like that needs to look further than today.
What I wish for
That TributeMap continues to exist, long after I am gone.
Not as a big company. Not as an investment product. Simply: that the place still stands quietly and reliably, even thirty or fifty years from now.
Honest about where we are
We're in the startup phase. First TributeMap itself has to prove it works: that enough people find it meaningful, that we can carry the costs, that we can grow slowly without losing the quietness of the place. That's the first few years.
Only when that foundation is firm can I really begin on continuity-after-me. I'd rather do that calmly and well, than hastily and shakily.
What I want to set up in a few years
If TributeMap keeps helping enough people, I want to work towards:
- A foundation with its own board that takes custody of the domain name and platform, so it doesn't hang on one person
- A continuity fund large enough to cover the yearly hosting and technical costs from its return, even when I'm no longer there to arrange it
- A succession structure so someone can continue the actual stewardship, technically and humanly
These are directions, not promises. They depend on whether TributeMap gets enough traction to carry them.
My children
Honestly, I quietly hope one of my children will want to take this on someday. I don't want to impose anything on them. They need to be able to lead their own lives, and it matters more to me that they have the freedom to say no, than that they feel a promise weighing on their shoulders.
But if one of them at some point thinks: "I want to take this on", the structure will be ready. And if none of them wants to, I will make sure there are others who can.
What this means for you
Today, nothing special. Your tribute runs as usual, with the retention period you've purchased.
For the long term, I hope it means something to know: there has been thought. There is a direction. It isn't a forgotten promise.
Contributing, if you'd like
Some people ask if they can contribute to this direction now already. You can, with a few honest caveats.
- The foundation doesn't exist yet. A contribution legally goes to me personally, not to a charitable institution. I'll keep it separate in a 'for later' reserve so it can be transferred to the foundation when it exists.
- It's currently not tax-deductible. Only when the foundation exists and gets charity status (ANBI in the Netherlands) can future contributions be deducted.
- When the foundation ever comes to be, you'll receive notice so you know what's happened with your contribution.
You can contribute via Ko-fi or through personal contact via info@tributemap.com.
No pressure, no expectation. It fits the tone of TributeMap that we keep this quiet.
If you'd like to think along
No pressure, no request, no acquisition. But if you know someone with experience in foundations, digital legacy, or asset management and you hear: "I'd like to think along when the time is right", feel free to email info@tributemap.com. I'll put your name somewhere safe on a list for a few years from now.