THANK YOU!

You did it! You helped us achieve our #GivingTuesday goal of $100,000 and 150 donors –

We exceeded our goal and raised $104,911.74 from 152 donors!

The global generosity movement, #GivingTuesday, is a time for joy and celebration. Join Holy Wisdom Monastery for the 24-hour giving event on November 30, 2021.

If you haven’t already, would you consider helping us reach our goal of $100,000 and 150 donors? Don’t forget that this year #GivingTuesday donations are doubled dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000, thanks to a generous, anonymous donor!

Please give by midnight on Nov. 30.

Donate today!

#GivingTuesday
Strategic Aspirations & Giving Examples

These aspirations and examples offer a glimpse of past needs and an ideal future for what Holy Wisdom Monastery and the community of communities need to achieve their aspirations and to serve the people of your community.





We aspire to be a beacon of Benedictine spirituality. The Rule of Benedict envisions a community that supports each person’s relationship with God and others.  The Rule highlights a balance of daily work and prayer.  All work is valued, provides service to others and is an opportunity for personal development.

The examples below offer a sample of areas your gifts will bless:

  • $16,500 provides spiritual experiences for young women interested in monastic life
  • $3,600 covers tuition for two sisters to participate in professional development conference
  • $1,000 maintains organ and piano for the year
  • $500 per week provides AV technology and maintenance for live streaming
  • $100 provides a stipend to a Sunday Assembly presider




We aspire to be sustainable in all of the monastery’s essential resources – human, natural, financial, and facility, which means that the monastery and prairie will be here for you as well as succeeding generations.  This includes the sisters’ community, Sunday Assembly, Oblates, Friends of Wisdom Prairie, coworkers, neighbors, and all supporters of the monastery and the sacred grounds.

As we look to the past needs and future aspirations, these areas depict a sampling of areas your gifts will bless:

  • $20,000 allows for purchase of a previously-owned work truck
  • $3,000 provided two touchless eco-friendly water bottle fountains for guests and volunteers
  • $1,000 per month allows us to acquire and maintain equipment, as well as supplies for worshiping and gathering spaces
  • $600 provides funding to replace each Retreat and Guest House mattress
  • $125 provides custodial supplies each month




We aspire to live ever more deeply into diversity, inclusivity and equity, so all may be one.  We can truly become one by living in right relationship with each other and the earth.

As we look to the past needs and future aspirations, these areas depict a sampling of areas your gifts will bless:

  • $1,900 supports four orphans in India through the SARTHI child-rights organization
  • $500 provides a retreat experience to leaders through our new social justice initiative: Community Respite & Resiliency fund
  • $350 provides 150 meals to Luke House guests
  • $300 supports one family in the Hispanic Family Christmas Sharing Project




The Monastery without Walls brings liturgies, prayers, presentations, concerts and other programs to the comfort and safety of your home. Access to the deep well of the Holy Wisdom community becomes accessible wherever you are.

As we look to the past needs and future aspirations, these areas depict a sampling of areas your gifts will bless:

  • $6,000-$150/retreat or event covers speaker fees for local, national and international speakers
  • $500 sponsors one month of musical concert offering
  • $400 covers one year of One License, a liturgical music copyright license for Sunday Assembly and daily prayer
  • $130 covers a weekend retreat scholarship
  • $80 provides one month of worship streaming and license




The 192 managed acres of prairie, woodlands, and Lost Lake, provides a natural environment which refreshes and deepens your spirit. The natural setting is also a serene outdoor learning lab for ecological education.

  • $15,000 provides controlled annual burns of the prairie lead to renewed growth
  • $10,000 sustains maintenance of our 4+ mile trail system
  • $5,000 covers quarterly repair and replacement of restoration and preservation equipment
  • $2,500 offers brush clearing and oak savanna restoration for one month
  • $1,500 provides installation of informational kiosk at prairie entrance
  • $1,500 provides snow removal per snow event (typically 35-40/season)
  • $1,150 provides a controlled burn for 10 acres (60 acres are scheduled in the 2021 land management plan)
  • $250 covers cost of educational lecturer
  • $170 provides one week of lawn care for the monastery grounds

Donate today

2021 #GivingTuesday Charitable Leaders

Thank you to our generous donors who helped us surpass our #GivingTuesday goals!

Sandy Adams
George Affeldt
Phyllis Andersen
Peter Anderson
Anonymous (7)
Michele Bacsik
Richard Baker
Ann Baltes & Bill Rosholt
Rev. Heather Barta
Candy & John Barthel
Jody Crowley Beers &
Reverend Bill Beers
Debra Bendis
Sarah Best
Sarah Blair
Amy (Ryan) Bonomie
Joan Brock
Carroll & Larry Bross
Linda & Robert Bruck
Nancy Burke
Barbara Clark
Sandra Collins
Frank Court
Peg Davey & Tom Zanzig
Deborah DeManno
Jeannine & Edouard Desautels
Paula & Bob Dinndorf
Patricia Donovan
Jan & Griff Dorschel


Lara Dulin
Judy & Jack Ellickson
Nancy & Gordon Enderle
Joahanna Fabke
Roberta Felker
Jack & Janet Finney
Leslie Fischer
Jane Gogan & Gordon Hamnett
Ingrid Gordon
Mary Gordon
Toby Grabs & Jennifer Kobylecky
Deanna Grahn
Brian & Carol Grannon
Nancy Hair
Colleen & Kent Hartung
Lila Hemlin
Neil & Kathy Heskin
Peter Hoff & Paul Patenaude
Kim Hogan
Ellen Joyce
Lyndsey Kirk
Mary Kohlman
Kerry & Steve Koopmann
Carole Kretschman
Jeffery Kuchenbecker
Joan Leannah-Brumm
Sharon Leinen
Sharon Lindner
Betsy & Nick Liotus


Efrat Livny
Phyllis Lobdell
Alison & Nelson Long
Janet Lynch Forde
Maureen Martin
Sally & Thomas McCoy
Michel & Patrick McGettigan
Car McGinley
Terry McGinley
Charles McLimans &
Richard Merrion
Maia McNamara
Gordon & Kristy Meicher
Julie Melton
Nancy Meyer
Brooke Miller
Susan & Dan Miller
Shelley Moffatt
Marjorie Monaghan
Colleen Mortell
Rev. Lisa Nelson
Jayne Neuendorf
Jane Niebauer
Rev. Laura Norby
Rod Nordby
Christine Olson
Lou Ann Petersen-Noltner &
Edward Noltner
Kristin Plucar


David & Marian Quade
Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation
Rev. Elaina Salmon
Dennis & Elaine Schenborn
Douglas Schiller
Romilia & John Schlueter
Heather Lee Schmidt
Sharon & James Schwarz
Kathleen Kelly Shanovich &
Ronald Shanovich
Reverend Mike A Smith & Jie Wu
Tim Stadelman
Kate Stel
Therese & Michael Stevens
Michael Stier
Pam Sulima
Maureen & John Van Dinter
Meena Vyas
Marian Wasierski &
Pastor Ronald Ballew
Elizabeth Watson
Kathleen Wessels
John J. Whalen
Dr Joseph & Mrs Louise Wiesenfarth
Joyce & Gary Wodka
Mary Zaborski