This summer, we said goodbye to one of our longtime supporters, Bernice “Bernie” Joyce. She was a founding member of St. John Neumann Church in Eagan, Minnesota, which hosts a Giving Tree each Advent for Mary’s Pence. She was also part of our monthly donor community, a Compañera, giving every month for 17 years. Monthly donors are essential to sustaining and building capacity for nonprofits; with pledged funds, organizations can plan for the future and, in our case, be ready to support our grantees when they need it most.
But Bernie’s generosity didn’t end there. She surprised us with an extraordinary gift from her estate, which propelled us toward this year’s goals. We increased our discretionary funds so we can respond to grantee partners facing funding challenges, while also investing in an evaluation to help us measure the impact of our ESPERA program.
Legacy gifts extend organizations’ impact into the future, providing flexibility, sustainability, and opportunities for growth. We’re so grateful to supporters who are committed to supporting women even beyond their lifetime. We have received bequests from people who couldn’t give from their pocketbook while living, but could gift us stocks or a life insurance policy as part of a bequest.
Gifts like these provide financial resources and the confidence and reassurance that our work matters and that our donors believe in the future we are building together. Including Mary’s Pence in your will or estate is one way to ensure your values continue to support
women and communities for generations to come. Does your estate planning include charitable giving?
What impact could you give beyond your lifetime? What will be your legacy? If you would like to learn more about planned giving, reach out to our Finance and Operations Manager, Nadine, at [email protected] or call our office at 651-788-9869