Foundations of Legacy Projects and Ethical Wills

A legacy project is the non-financial gift you leave behind: the story, the values, the wisdom that future generations cannot inherit through a bank account. Done thoughtfully, such projects become meaningful for both the writer and the family. This foundational course explains the forms. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the main types of legacy projects, distinguish an ethical will from a legal will, evaluate which forms fit your time and energy, and identify pitfalls that often derail these projects. What you will learn: - The main forms: ethical will, life story or memoir, oral history, letters to family, recipe and tradition books, photo legacy, and value statements - How ethical wills differ from legal wills in purpose, structure, and audience - How memoir, oral history, and ethical wills overlap and where they diverge - How to think about audience: spouse, children, grandchildren, future descendants - How tone, vulnerability, and honesty shape the value of the project - How religious and cultural traditions shape ethical will conventions - Common pitfalls: aiming for too much, hiding difficult truths, never finishing, writing for the wrong audience The course uses readings, examples drawn from historical ethical wills, and reflection prompts. Each module ends with a small writing exercise that begins building toward your own project. This course is written for adults at any stage of life who want to leave something more than assets. By the end you will have replaced a vague intention with a clear sense of which form fits you, what audience you are writing for, and what a realistic first version looks like.