The following article appeared in the From The Hill Magazine 2020 Issue. Follow these links to make a gift, update your information, or submit a class note.
Mary Beth White Congdon ’74 turns a passion for helping others into teaching the benefits of planned giving.
Mary Beth White Congdon ’74 has dedicated much of her career to teaching donors about ways they can make a difference and leave their legacies. Now serving as Yale University Director of Planned Giving, Mary Beth followed a unique path that led to a career in the development profession.
After graduating from Albertus in 1974 with a degree in English, she pursued a Ph.D. in English at Boston College. After one semester, she took time away from her studies to see if she was truly suited for a career in academia. Mary Beth came back to Albertus in the spring of 1975 to take additional courses in education and to obtain her secondary school teaching certification. She taught English in Branford and Seymour public schools and received her Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Reading from Southern Connecticut State University. Although she valued her experience as a high school English teacher, Mary Beth began to wonder, “What else can I do with my background and skills?”
She was offered a job in the development office at The Masonic Charity Foundation, using her expertise as a writer to prepare grant proposals, write direct mail appeals, and design and edit numerous publications. After interviewing donors who had included the Foundation in their estate plans and established gifts that paid them lifetime income, Mary Beth discovered that this was an area that interested her greatly. Her mentors encouraged her to focus on planned and major giving and she thrived working in this newly discovered field. “I loved the relationships I made and the idea of helping people to meet their financial and philanthropic goals. Our work helped donors find tax efficient ways to make gifts to support others who needed healthcare but were not able to afford it,” said Mary Beth.
“After graduating from Albertus in 1974 with a degree in English, she pursued a Ph.D. in English at Boston College.”
As she began to develop expertise in the field, she decided to pursue advanced credentials to complement her work. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law and became Director of Planned Giving at Simmons College in Boston, her hometown. Her career later led to developing a planned giving program at Quinnipiac University before becoming Yale’s Deputy Director of Planned Giving in 2005. Mary Beth and her husband, Bob, Hamden residents since 1995, share the same profession. Bob is Director of Gift Planning at the University of New Haven.
When reflecting on her experiences at Albertus, Mary Beth remembers her time in the classroom with Dr. Susan Cole. “Dr. Cole is a very deliberate, intentional listener. In class, you could observe the look of intensity on her face and discern her focused concentration on her students. She cares deeply about her students, their ideas and their relationship to what they are reading.” That intent listening and openness is a spirit that Mary Beth has carried with her in her career. Slowing down and really listening to donors has brought her fundraising success. The Dominican tradition also instilled a spirit of community that continues to affect Mary Beth today in her personal and professional life. Albertus also gave her a love for lifelong learning. In her work, she enjoys learning about people and their values. “One of the most gratifying experiences in my role is finding ways to engage donors with aspects of the university that speak to them,” said Mary Beth. When grateful students say that they wish they had an opportunity to thank donors who had made gifts in their wills to endow their scholarships, she says, “You thank them by the good work you do and the impact you have on the world. You pay it forward and give back to support future generations.”
Although no longer in a classroom, Mary Beth feels that she truly did not leave teaching. She now uses her knowledge and skills to teach about ways to make gifts that can benefit both the donor and the causes they care about. She now educates donors about opportunities to perpetuate their values and influence the future.
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Planned gifts are a wonderful way to leave a legacy at Albertus. These charitable gifts allow you to strengthen the future of Albertus Magnus College while possibly providing increased income and tax savings at the present time. If you have included Albertus in your estate plans or would like more information about making a planned gift, please contact Mary Young, Vice President for Advancement.