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August is Make a Will Month
August is Make a Will Month 1707 1707 admin

Why Do We Work Our Whole Lives to Build Financial Security—But Not Plan How It Will Reflect Our Values After We’re Gone?

By Dennis Kempf, Director of Philanthropy

Many of us spend a lifetime earning, saving, and giving back. But when it comes to what happens after we’re gone, too often we leave our legacy to chance. Why Do We Work Our Whole Lives to Build Financial Security—But Not Plan How It Will Reflect Our Values After We’re Gone?

Have you prayerfully considered how your life’s work—and your life’s values—can continue to bless others?

The benefits of planning ahead are clear:

  • Peace of mind
  • Reduced family conflict
  • Ensuring your legacy reflects your faith and values
  • A deep sense of fulfillment and well-being

Will everything go to your heirs? Is there room at the table for others—those whose lives could be transformed by your generosity?

Here’s how four Vincentians have answered that call and named SVdP in their plans:

  1. Michael is establishing an endowment via his estate plans. He has been donating to SVdP every quarter for 5 years – this will continue his generosity for future generations. Why? “I’ve been very blessed in life and am paying it forward.”
  2. Jim established an endowment to fund the capital expenses for food pantries. The goal is to extend the life of our food pantries, “helping keep the doors open for years to come to feed those in need.”
  3. Another Jim shared that he has a strong Catholic viewpoint about death through his years of working at a cemetery. Ninety five percent of the groundskeepers were immigrants from Italy and Ireland trying to escape poverty. In response, he has been supporting grants through our Friends of the Poor for over ten years. His estate plans will help him continue his legacy of loving support for years to come.
  4. Mary Ann named us a beneficiary of a life insurance policy and comically suggests that we “do not spend it yet!” She said that our Vincentian work means that we are good people, but with our spirituality … we are saints!

You, too, can reflect your faith, your values, and your love for those in need—today and tomorrow.
Have you prayerfully considered how you might continue your legacy of love and service through St. Vincent de Paul?

Let your legacy feed the hungry, clothe the cold, and uplift the forgotten.
Your faith can live on—in action. 

SVdP’s Advancement Team oversees planned giving, fundraising, National Partners, the Friends of the Poor® Walk, the Friends of the Poor® grants, and the CARS vehicle donation program. 

Feature on Estate Planning: How Do You Want to Be Remembered?
Feature on Estate Planning: How Do You Want to Be Remembered? 1707 1707 admin

How Do You Want to Be Remembered?

By Dennis Kempf, Director of Philanthropy

When a gentleman explained why he chose to remember SVdP in his estate plans, he cited Matthew 25 three different times. “When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” “And the King will answer them: ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.’” He then asked: “After my life on earth has ended, will my God greet me by saying: ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant?’”

Another gentleman said it much simpler: “I have been very blessed in my life, and I simply want to pay it forward.” SVdP “does so much good helping the poor, and I simply want to continue their work … even after my death.”

How do you want to be remembered?

What values do you want to leave behind? How can you ensure that your faith and generosity continue beyond this life?

One meaningful way is by including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP) in your estate plans.

Why Plan Ahead?
Many people spend more time planning their next vacation than preparing for the future. In fact, 68% of Americans pass away without a Will or Trust — leaving their assets to be distributed by state laws, often excluding charities and loved ones beyond immediate family. Without putting them into writing, any wishes you might have had will vanish.

The Benefits of Estate Planning

  • Provides peace of mind knowing your wishes will be honored
  • Ensures support for the people and causes you care about
  • Allows you to live in the present, knowing your values will continue for years to come

Where to Start

  1. List Your Assets – Property, investments, jewelry, retirement accounts, pensions, etc.
  2. Review Beneficiaries – Ensure designations on bank accounts, IRAs, and life insurance policies are current.
  3. Create or Update Your Will/Trust – Consult with your counsel or advisor to determine whether you need to create a Will or Trust, or simply add a codicil amendment.
  4. Prayerfully Consider Including SVdP – Options include naming SVdP as:
    • A beneficiary of an account (e.g., IRA, life insurance)
    • A recipient in your Will or Trust (specific amount, percentage, or residual estate)

Making a Lasting Impact
Adding SVdP as a partial or full beneficiary takes as little as 10 minutes. Simply request a “change of beneficiary” form from your financial institution, complete it, and return it.

Lastly, ensure that your executors or trustees are informed and prepared to fulfill your wishes.

By planning today, you can bring Christ’s presence into the world for years to come.

Would you consider including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in your legacy?

Legal Title: National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc.  

 Tax ID #: 13-5562362 

For more information, please contact Dennis Kempf at dkempf@svdpusa.org or (314) 576-3993 ext 222.

SVdP’s Advancement Team oversees planned giving, fundraising, National Partners, the Friends of the Poor® Walk, the Friends of the Poor® grants, and the CARS vehicle donation program. 

Could You Use More Money to Help More People in Need?
Could You Use More Money to Help More People in Need? 1080 1080 admin
Ryan Carney, Chief Advancement Officer

Across the U.S., Conferences and Councils have seen a rising demand for our services. With housing and food costs at historic highs, this isn’t a surprise — not only are more people calling us for help, but the cost to provide aid is more costly than before. This column will be devoted to helping Conferences and Councils raise more money to help more people in need.

We feel the best place to begin is by encouraging the one fundraising activity that has the highest return on our time, money, and effort: Meeting with donors one on one. For many Conferences and Councils, this is an often talked about but neglected activity. We tend to favor grants, special events, and mailings in place of picking up the phone and calling our best donors.

A recent survey conducted by the consultant group AmPhil found (not surprisingly) that organizations who have the most donor visits raised the most money. Given that major donors can often have a 10 to 1 return on investment, organizations that prioritize meeting one on one with their best donors or prospects raise the most money.

If you’re wondering how to get started — or are afraid to pick up the phone — here are some tricks that have worked for me in the past.

Start by calling people simply to thank them for their recent gift. Relationships are a major piece of donor development, and not every conversation has to be an ask for money. It’s best that only 40% or so of your conversations end in an ask. Simply have a conversation where you’re asking questions to discover donors’ passions and motivations. You’ll be cultivating and nurturing a relationship and making their support of SVdP into something truly meaningful to them.

Call people who recently gave, or run a list of your top 10 donors. When you call, introduce yourself and thank them for their support. While you’ve got them on the phone, ask them why supporting St. Vincent de Paul is meaningful to them. Ask if there’s anything you can pray for. And finally, ask if they’d be open to meeting in person or over zoom so you could share in a more personal way how they’re giving this help the poor in your community. Those that say yes are great prospects and have given an indication that they want to have a one-to-one relationship.

Ryan Corry, Chief Philanthropy Officer for SVdP Phoenix, recently posted an article on LinkedIn about how sharing meaningful experiences with donors not only nurtures great relationships but also has a high rate of fulfillment. In other words, fewer people cancel when you’re doing something fun and meaningful together.

And finally, be curious! When we’re meeting a donor for the first time, the spotlight is on them. We’re asking questions and listening. A good rule of thumb is two ears to one mouth. In conversations, we wanting to uncover their motivation for supporting SVdP. Why they’re giving is meaningful — find out if they are giving because of their family history, their faith, their values. The motivator will be different for everyone. We also want to determine what they want to accomplish through their gift. Don’t immediately move towards asking for a gift. Instead, it’s our responsibility to ask questions to uncover a deeper meaning behind someone’s giving.

We’ll explore all these areas and more. But the bottom line takeaway is, to open the opportunity for further and deeper support, you’ll need to begin engaging, stay curious, and provide meaning back to our donors.

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ABOUT SVDP USA

The National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the National Council are deductible. The Council’s tax identification number is 13-5562362.

No Surprises Act/Transparency in Coverage information for the National Council is available here.

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