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. Sophia Circle

Donors sharing a monthly, recurring gift

2. Benedict Society

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

3. Scholastica Sustainers

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

More information

For more information about the planned giving & sustained giving societies contact Lara Dulin, director of donor services at ldulin@holywisdommonastery.org, 608-836-1631, x120.

Sophia Circle: Sustained Monthly Giving

The Sophia Circle is comprised of donors who give a monthly recurring gift via credit card or automatic bank account transfer. Members of the Sophia Circle are essential to the foundation and future of Holy Wisdom Monastery. You give because you feel a personal connection to this community and this land. You want confidence that Holy Wisdom Monastery will continue on as a sacred refuge for generations to come.

Sophia is the ancient Greek word for Wisdom. It also carries meaning for some as the feminine aspect of divine knowledge. We chose this name for our recurring donor society because it calls to mind two things at the core of our community: the ancient Benedictine wisdom tradition, and the sisters.

By making a foundational monthly gift to the Wisdom Fund, you give us security and flexibility to respond with wisdom to a challenging, changing world – guided by our Benedictine values.

Join over 175 donors who love and cherish Holy Wisdom Monastery as recurring donors.

Set up your gift via credit card at the link below, or call Lara Dulin, director of donor services, at 608-836-1631, x120 to set up your automatic bank transfer.

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

Join Sophia Circle

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 Lara Dulin Perez at 608-836-1631, x120, ldulin@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 to provide experiences that fulfill the 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.