I worked in development for more than 13 years as director of advancement at Burr and Burton Academy Manchester Center and began a nonprofit consulting business with a colleague after “retiring” in 2019. While fundraising is a challenging business at times, the rewards of matching donors with causes they are passionate about is unbelievably satisfying.

I joined the board of the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation in 2016 when it was first getting started, and I have been so impressed by the growth of the foundation and the dedication of the staff. Ellen Kane, the executive director, has worked tirelessly to set up the foundation, creating a worthy and inspiring mission, building a dedicated board of directors, growing the funds under the foundation’s management, engaging new donors, sharing the inspiration and stories behind the funds, working to engage the parishes in supporting the foundation and so much more.

As a member of the board, I have seen first-hand how the careful and ethical management of the foundation’s funds has provided financial resources to the many diocesan ministries, our Catholic schools, scholarships and parishes throughout the state.

This involvement inspired me to think about the legacy I want to leave as a Vermont Catholic. I recently made a planned gift by simply adding the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation as a beneficiary to my IRA. This is one of the easiest ways to execute a planned gift, but more importantly, the sense of satisfaction knowing it’s done and that I’m supporting something that is extraordinary gave me a peace of mind I haven’t felt in a while. Large or small, we can all do something to support the work of the Church.

I encourage the readers of the Vermont Catholicmagazine to visit the foundation’s website at vtcatholicfoundation.org/legacy-society and read about the ways you can support God’s work by creating your own legacy in the Catholic tradition.

The mission of the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation is to support and serve the apostolic activities of the Church and make grants to nonprofit organizations in the statewide Diocese of Burlington that reflect the compassion of Christ in service to the community.

—Cynthia Gubb is a board member of the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation, a former fundraising professional and current partner in Gubb and Bongartz Nonprofit Consulting LLC in Londonderry.

—Originally published in the Fall 2021 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.