An interview with CDMF board member Matthew Gonnering
Matthew and Sarah Gonnering decided to start a unique type of fund with the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF), known as a donor-advised fund.
A donor-advised fund allows the fund starter to have input and recommend where they would like the distributions or grants from their fund to go each year.
Eventually, future input and recommendation decisions can be passed down to their family for generations to come.
I asked Matthew what inspired him and Sarah to start a donor-advised fund with the CDMF.
He said that he began by thinking about what he wanted the legacy of the Gonnering family to be. He wanted his children and grandchildren to know that “we were here,” and that he hoped to contribute to the future of the Catholic Church.
He also likes that the grant-making recommendation decisions will eventually pass on to future generations, keeping them involved in acts of faith and charity.
Matthew also shared a remarkable story about some of his ancestors, known as the “Gonnering Sisters”.
In the mid to late 1800s, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Gonnering (Matthew’s great-great-grandfather) had seven daughters join the Sisters of Notre Dame Convent in Elm Grove, Wis.
Their eighth daughter also worked as a cook at the convent, all answering the call to put their faith in action.
In a continuing connection to this enduring legacy, Matthew and Sarah’s youngest son has Valentine as his middle name.
These are the sorts of inspirational stories that act as testaments of faith to future generations, in the same spirit as starting a donor-advised fund can be.
Contributing to the future of the Catholic Church, as the Gonnering family has, is a noble and very generous endeavor.
It is up to us to pass on the faith and what it means to us to future generations and to ensure that works of faith and charity continue until the end of time.
Acts such as starting a donor-advised fund could allow for a mark to be made that will last for generations to come.
If you are interested in starting a donor-advised fund of your own, visit diocesemadisonfoundation.org or call 608-821-3048 to learn more.
Also, consider asking your parish priest if he has considered starting an endowment fund with the CDMF.
We would be happy to help in any way possible as we work together to serve Christ and his Church here in the Diocese of Madison, both now and into the future.
Grant McGurn is the operations manager for the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF).