Planned giving & sustained giving

At Holy Wisdom Monastery, we aspire to achieve sustainability in all our essential resources. Our planned giving and sustained giving donors help us reach this goal and leave a legacy for current and future generations.

To honor these important donors, we created three societies:

1. Benedict Society

Donors who have notified us that they have or will leave a planned gift to the monastery as part of their estate

2. Scholastica Sustainers

Donors who have given monthly for 36 consecutive months or $10,000 or more in lifetime gifts

3. Sophia Circle

Donors sharing a monthly, recurring gift

More information

For more information about the planned giving & sustained giving societies contact Nick Traxler, interim director of mission advancement, at ntraxler@holywisdommonastery.org, 608-836-1631, x124 or Lara Dulin, development coordinator, at ldulin@holywisdommonastery.org, 608-836-1631, x120.

Benedict Society: Planned Giving

Benedict Society is a group of long-term supporters of Holy Wisdom Monastery who have notified the Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. about their support for the sisters through a planned gift. Members of Benedict Society have chosen to have their legacy tied to the long-term legacy of Holy Wisdom Monastery for generations to come.

Benefits

The main benefit of joining Benedict Society is knowing that you are supporting the long-term vision and mission of the Benedictine Women of Madison at Holy Wisdom Monastery. Notifying the Benedictine Life Foundation of your intentions and enrolling in Benedict Society also offers the following benefits:

Acknowledgement of your gift on our website and in our other printed and electronic materials (if desired—Benedict Society members can also remain anonymous to the public).
Annual gathering with the sisters and other Benedict Society members at Holy Wisdom Monastery.
Occasional special communications for Benedict Society members.

Join the Benedict Society

If you have already designated the Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. in your estate planning documents (bequest in a will, life insurance policy, retirement plan beneficiary, etc.), please notify Nick Traxler at 608-836-1631, x124, ntraxler@holywisdommonastery.org or click Join Benedict Society button.

Join Benedict Society

FAQ

What are examples of planned gifts?

Some examples of planned gifts include:

bequest through a will or trust
charitable gift annuities
charitable remainder trusts
charitable lead trusts
real estate
life insurance
retirement accounts plan, or a life insurance policy, you can designate the Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. (EIN 39-1830847) as a primary or secondary beneficiary of the plan. You need to contact the administrator directly of your retirement plan and ask for a beneficiary form, fill it out, and return to the administrator. You may then wish to notify the Benedictine Life Foundation of your intent in order to receive the benefits of membership in Benedict Society.

Why make a planned gift?

Making a planned gift to support the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery can be a way for your legacy to live on in support of the ecumenical monastery whose mission is weaving prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth into a shared way of life as an ecumenical Benedictine community. If your values line up with the sisters’, then it can be a wonderful way to ensure that future generations can participate in our mission and ministries receive the benefits of membership in Benedict Society.

How do I designate the sisters in my will or trust?

If you are interested in designating the sisters in your estate plans, please contact your attorney or other agent that can help you get started. If you are interested in bequeathing a percentage or specific dollar amount in your will or trust, please refer the following language to your attorney or other agent who is helping to prepare your will or trust:

I give, devise, and bequeath (insert amount of gift or percentage of estate, or residuary of estate) to the Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. (EIN 39-1830847), or its successor organization, located in Middleton, Wisconsin, to support its activities in Wisconsin.

How do I make the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery a beneficiary of my retirement plan or life insurance policy?

If you have a 401k or other retirement plan, or a life insurance policy, you can designate the Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. (EIN 39-1830847) as a primary or secondary beneficiary of the plan. You need to contact the administrator directly of your retirement plan and ask for a beneficiary form, fill it out, and return to the administrator. You may then wish to notify the Benedictine Life Foundation of your intent in order to receive the benefits of membership in Benedict Society.

How can I get more information about Benedict Society and planned giving opportunities?

Is my gift to Benedictine Life Foundation tax deductible?

Do I need a receipt to claim a tax deduction?

Under IRS rules, you cannot claim a tax deduction for a contribution of cash or other property unless you maintain a record of the contribution in the form of either a bank record (such as a canceled check) or a written communication from the charity (such as a receipt or a letter) showing the name of the charity, the date of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution. In addition, for a single gift of $250 or more, you are required to have a receipt from the charity to substantiate your claim prior to filing your tax return.

If you make a quid pro quo contribution — that is, when you receive goods or services in exchange for a portion of your gift — the institution is required to issue you a receipt specifying the amount of the contribution and the value of the goods and/or services received. For example, if you attend a benefit dinner and your charitable contribution includes the cost of the dinner, then the fair market value of this dinner must be subtracted from your charitable deduction.

Does the receipt have to be a physical note?

When will I receive my receipt from the Benedictine Life Foundation?

Do I need to provide a receipt to the IRS?

What is the last day I can make a contribution in 2022?

It depends on your gift. If you’re contributing by credit card at Holy Wisdom Monastery’s online giving page, you have until midnight on December 31. Your credit card must be charged in the same tax year that you want to claim a deduction.

If you are sending a gift by mail, the donation is effective on the date mailed as indicated by the postmark. If the envelope is postmarked by December 31, the gift is credited to 2022 even if it is physically received in 2023. The postmark is the key to your deduction and not the date on the check or the date a security certificate is signed over.

A large number of individuals donate securities at year-end. Many of these gifts are electronically transferred Benedictine Life Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. directly from the donor’s broker. In the case of electronic transfers, the gift becomes effective the date the funds are reflected on the charity’s bank or brokerage account, not the date you instructed your bank or broker to make the transaction.

Electronic transfers can be greatly affected by volume. As we get closer to December 31^st, it may take several days to move your gift from one account to another. Make sure you have given yourself sufficient time to make a gift of securities.

Current members
of Benedict Society

We are grateful for the following members of Benedict Society for their expression of commitment and support toward the long-term vision of the Benedictine Women of Madison at Holy Wisdom Monastery:

Anonymous (7)
Jane Ayer
Larry Brown
Rev Dennis Crowley
Bill Diederich
Howard Fenton
Renee Forrest
Miss Susan-Ellen Gilmont
Mary Jane Gogan
Tim Jeffery & Terrie Thompson
Alice Jenson
Sue Koleczek
Shere-Ling Fraus-Yao
Gail Lamberty
Phyllis Lobdell
Abbie Loomis
Norma and Doug Madsen
Dr Gary Maier
Nell Mally
Mary McEniry
Marylynne Mehl
Liz Murray
Jayne Neuendorf
Janet Neurauter
Judy Nolde & Pastor Kenneth Smith
Rev Jon Olson
Martha Pelkey
Steven Powell
Rev. Carol Shaffer and Otis Laurberg
Nancy Smiegowski
Neal and Diane Smith
Ron and Paulette Smith
Margaret Sommers
Mike and Erica Sweitzer-Beckman
Moira Urich
Janine Veto
Tom Zanzig

Scholastica Sustainers: Sustained Giving

Thank you to our supporters who have chosen to sustain the sisters’ mission. Your generosity helps them continue to provide experiences that fulfills their mission of weaving prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth into a shared way of life.

We honor a special group of committed supporters with automatic induction into the Scholastica Sustainers community. Scholastica Sustainers have given 36 or more consecutive monthly gifts, or $10,000 or more in lifetime giving.

Barb and Dan Abbott
Doreen Adamany
Sandy Adams
Jane Ahlstrom
Chris and John Ainslie
Mary Alberts and Don Spencer
Phil and Carol Andersen
Anonymous (16)
Greg Armstrong and
Cheryl Bauer-Armstrong
Rajai and Chickee Atalla
Jane Ayer
Patricia Ball
Ann Baltes and Bill Rosholt
Camille Banks
Jane Belongie and
Michael Belongie
Cynthia Bender
Ron and Linda Bodien
Catherine Bonnard Sullivan and
Tom Sullivan
Paul Boutwell and Berdell Nielson
Charles and Sue Bradley
Tom Braunger
Stefanie and Onno Brouwer
Mary Brown
Linda and Robert Bruck
Linda Calkins
Carol Cloutier
Janice and Dennis Collier
Judy Collins
Sandra Collins
Cathy Cornell and Paul Knitter
Joan Crawford
Marie and Mike Crawford
Rev Dennis Crowley
Jody Crowley Beers and
Rev Bill Beers
Judith and Bill Davis
Mary and Jack Davison
Kate Delaney Jolin and
James Jolin
Victor and Jean Delisle
Jeannine and Edouard Desautels
Bill Diederich
Paula and Bob Dinndorf
Hildegard Dorrer
Jan and Griff Dorschel
Janine Edwards
Amy Fallon
Colleen and Bill Feist
Roberta Felker
Howard Fenton and
Sally Bowers
Jean Feraca
Catherine and Lawrence Fey
Heather Field
Rev Dr Jerry and
Kathy Folk
Gerri Framburg

Ellen Geishirt
Tony and Sarah Gibart
Susan-Ellen Gilmont
Mary Jane Gogan
Louise Googins
Mary Gordon
Nancy Hair
Sherri Hansen
Colleen and Kent Hartung
Mary Jon and Tom Hauge
Steve and Susan Hawk
Reverend Al Heggen and
Mrs Helen Christiansen
Keith Heimforth
Lila Hemlin
Kathy and Neil Heskin
Mary Hoddy
Ann Huggett
Mike and Rosie Hughes
Shari and Jim Intagliata
Rev Joseph Jackson
David Jarecki
Thomas Jeffries
Jerome and Christine Jendrisak
Alice Jenson
Louise Johnson
Pamela Johnson
Terry Jones
Chris Junkins
Kathleen Kelly Shanovich and
Ronald Shanovich
Vicky and Dr Bill Knoedler
Kenny Kohberger
Sue Koleczek
Joan Kollasch and
Kurt Hohmeister
Lois Komai
Constance Koopmans
Marcia Krater
Carole Kretschman
Meg and Richard LaBrie
Patti LaCross and
Jim Penczykowski
Sue and Terry Larson
Joan and Allen Liegel
Jean Lindsay
Phyllis Lobdell
Karen Lohmeyer
Abbie Loomis
Peg Luby
Joan Lundin
Rev. Brad S. Lutz

Norma and Doug Madsen
Karen Majkrzak
Eric Maravilla and
Kelley Hutchison-Maravilla
Rev. Melissa and
Rev. Paul Markquart
Jeanne Marquis
Ann McBride
Sally and Thomas McCoy
Michel and Patrick McGettigan
Car McGinley
Hildy McGown
Alison and David McKee
Charles McLimans and
Richard Merrion
Eileen McNamara
Gordon and Kristy Meicher
Julie Melton
Dianne Meyer
Michael Michaels
Dr Cathy and
Mr Ralph Middlecamp
Donna Miller and
Mary Kaye Radtke
PC Moisan-Thomas
Carolyn Moynihan Bradt
Steve Mueller
Helene Nelson and James Arts
Rev Lisa Nelson
Jayne Neuendorf and Al Reichenerger
Janet Neurauter
Marjorie Nixon
Jerry and Beth O’Brien
Rev Jon Olson
Barbara Parsons
Elaine and
Elaine and Christine Pasinski Thomas
Paul Patenaude and Peter Hoff
Bob Pellegrino and Gloria Boone
Ed and Mary Louise Peters
Lou Ann Petersen-Noltner and
Edward Noltner
Kathleen Phelan OP
Diane Pittman and
Lawrence Krantz
Jess Powell
Steven Powell
Bill and Linda Preboski
Marian and David Quade
Frank Ranallo
Peg Rasch
Shiela Reaves
Richard Rehm
Ruth Reinl
Everett and Maureen Rice
Pleasant Rowland and Jerry Frautschi

Diana and Donald Ryan
Dean Ryerson
Pastor Carol Shaffer and
Mr Otis Laurberg
Dan and Gail Shea
Susan and Thomas Sheridan
Nancy and Michael Shinners
Wayne Sigelko and Nancy Didion
Bob Smith
Diane and Neal Smith
Jay and Pat Smith
Sister Lynne Smith
Suzanne Smith
Margaret Sommers
Grant Sovern and Lara Sutherlin
Aggie Steichen
Michael Stier
Joan Sullivan
Rev Jan Summers
Margaret and
Rev Myron Talcott
Tom and Kathy Tarpey
John Thompson
Nancy Thompson and Paul Slota
Chris and Jon Todd
Steve and Jeanie Tomasko
Nancy and David Topp
Judy and Sal Troia
Rev Dr Frederick and
Mrs Louise Trost
Daniel Uhlrich and Karen Manning
Cindy Uhrich
Maureen and John Van Dinter
Janine Veto
Dick Wagner
Roleen Walgenbach
Kathleen Wessels
John J Whalen
Louise and
Dr Joseph Wiesenfarth
Lynn Willkom
Joyce and Gary Wodka
Sandy Wojtal-Weber
Kathy Woytych
Mary Zaborski
Betsy and Stuart Zadra
Steve Zwettler and
Barbara Brummer
Meicher CPAs
Thompson Investment Management LLC
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation
John C Bock Foundation
High Wind Association, Inc

Introducing Sophia Circle: Sustained Monthly Giving

Sophia, an Ancient Greek word meaning Wisdom, sets the feel for our new monthly giving society.

Sophia Circle is comprised of donors sharing a monthly recurring gift via credit card or bank account. Together, you’ll offer a sustainable practice that reduces administrative cost and helps the sisters plan with confidence.

In partnership, you’ll directly help the sisters achieve sustainability in all their essential resources:

Continue to be innovative, bold, and courageous in our mission
Develop a future generation of monastic and lay leaders
Become operationally and environmentally sustainable
Cultivate broader contributions for all the monastery’s essential resources
Create and provide organizational transparency
Maintain, enhance, and expand he monastery’s facilities and property, as necessary

Would you consider helping the sisters achieve sustainability through Sophia Circle?

Join Sophia Circle

Thank you to our current Sophia Circle donors:

Anonymous (3)
Barb & Dan Abbott
Doreen Adamany
Sandy Adams
Mary Alberts & Don Spencer
Amy Alstad
Rajai & Chickee Atalla
Jane Ayer
Patricia Ball
Ann Baltes and Bill Rosholt
Camille Banks
Anne & Ken Basken
Naomi & Andrew Bernstein
Gordon Bertagmoli
Catherine Bonnard Sullivan &
Tom Sullivan
Charles & Sue Bradley
Stefanie & Onno Brouwer
Mary Brown
Eric & Michelle Bunch
David & Mary Butterfield
Lynne Cleeland
Catherine Cleveland
Carol Cloutier
Judy Collins
Marie & Mike Crawford
Jody Crowley Beers &
Rev. Bill Beers
Meena Dalebroux
Mary & Jack Davison
Jeannine & Edouard Desautels
Paula & Bob Dinndorf
Jan & Griff Dorschel
Diana & Bill Ducett
Russ Faulkner & Brei Hasenzahl-Reeder
Roberta Felker
Howard Fenton &
Sally Bowers

Jean Feraca
Heather Field
Gerri Framburg
Ellen Geishirt
Tony & Sarah Gibart
Mary Jane Gogan
Mary Gordon
Deanna Grahn
Rev. Sonny Graves &
Elliot Tebbe
Daniel & Ann Halbach
Cassandra & Ryan Hall
Sherri Hansen
Colleen & Kent Hartung
Barbara Heidecke
Lila Hemlin
Kathy & Neil Heskin
Mary Hoddy
Mike & Rosie Hughes
Shari & Jim Intagliata
Rev. Joseph Jackson
Thomas Jeffries
Alice Jenson
Louise Johnson
Ellen Joyce
Chris Junkins
Warren Kmiec
Sue Koleczek
Joan Kollasch &
Kurt Hohmeister
Constance Koopmans
Joanna Kramer Fanney
Marcia Krater
Patti LaCross &
Jim Penczykowski

Kathleen Larson
Sue & Terry Larson
Phyllis Lobdell
Karen Lohmeyer
Alison & Nelson Long
Abbie Loomis
Joan Lundin
Rev Brad S Lutz
Norma & Doug Madsen
Eric Maravilla &
Kelley Hutchison-Maravilla
Rev Melissa &
Rev Paul Markquart
Margaret Maroney
Jeanne Marquis
Sally & Thomas McCoy
Alison & David McKee
Charles McLimans & Richard Merrion
Edward & Melanie McManus
Julie Melton
Donna Miller & Mary Kaye Radtke
Kevin & Barbara Moeller
PC Moisan-Thomas
Carolyn Moynihan Bradt
Sharon & Mark Nash
Rev Lisa Nelson
Lisa & Matt Netkow
Janet Neurauter
Roberto Osorio & Bethany Wilson
Jon Parker
Elaine & Christine Pasinski Thomas
Bob Pellegrino & Gloria Boone
Ed & Mary Louise Peters
Ryan Pierce
Rex Piercy

Jess Powell
Mark Powers
Sunil Rao & Rebecca Meier-Rao
Mary Rathert OP
Dan Roelke & Jayne Oberle
Amy L Ryan
Sandra & Warren Schmidt
Dustin & Alicia Schneider
Sharon & James Schwarz
Steve Schumacher & Phil Schleicher
Dan & Gail Shea
Bob Smith
Margaret Sommers
Grant Sovern & Lara Sutherlin
Aggie Steichen
Cory Steinmetz
Michael Stier
Nancy Thompson & Paul Slota
Chris & Jon Todd
Steve & Jeanie Tomasko
Patrick Turski
Dione & Dan Tyler
Eric Udelhofen
Maureen & John Van Dinter
Janine Veto
Reena Vyas
Monica Walker
Rev Ryan Wallace
Elizabeth Watson
John J. Whalen
Joyce & Gary Wodka
Kathy Woytych