As the Executive Director of Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) since 2013, Mary Lee Anderson knows what it takes to keep essential programs running. From balancing the books, to securing funding, it’s all part of meeting the everyday needs of Alexandria’s seniors. But it was a single, unexpected legacy gift that helped set SSA on a path toward long-term sustainability.
That gift came from a longtime Alexandria resident who, while never a direct client of SSA, deeply valued the organization’s work. She appreciated SSA’s educational events like senior law day, and knew neighbors who had benefited from its services. “She really appreciated the Meals on Wheels program,” recalled Barbara Anderson, a retired elder law attorney and former SSA board chair. “She did not benefit from that herself… but she liked the idea that Senior Services was doing that.”
Before her passing in 2016, she worked with Barbara to ensure her estate reflected her values. “In the estate planning process, I always asked clients, ‘Do you have any charitable intentions with respect to your estate?’” Barbara explained. “Especially in Alexandria, I found many people had very clear goals. They just needed someone to help them make those intentions real.”
Her client wanted to make an anonymous legacy gift, and that donation allowed SSA to establish its first endowment. While initially restricted, it was eventually joined by a board-designated fund. At the time, the board committed not to draw on the income until the endowment reached $1 million. It was a bold decision, and for years, leadership wasn’t sure they’d ever reach that threshold. But they did.
Over the past decade, additional legacy gifts and prudent financial management have helped the fund grow past that milestone. “We’re now able to realize the benefits of that decision,” Mary Lee shared. “In a year like this, when the economy is uncertain, and costs are rising, having those reserves gives us the security to focus on what matters: taking care of people.”
Barbara, who spent her career guiding seniors through the estate planning process, knows the power of these conversations. “Elder law attorneys have a lot of influence at that stage in people’s lives. They’ve lived full lives and often want to give back. It’s our role to help them do it in a way that’s meaningful and smart.”
She also noted the practical side of legacy giving: “If someone’s considering a charitable gift and has an IRA, they should consider naming the charity as a beneficiary of some or all of that IRA to maximize the tax advantages. Charities don’t pay income tax on those IRA distributions, unlike individual beneficiaries.”
SSA’s experience highlights how transformational legacy giving can be, even for organizations that aren’t actively promoting it. As Mary Lee advises, “Nonprofits should be ready. Establish a relationship with a brokerage firm so you can accept stock transfers or IRA gifts. You don’t want to be caught off guard when a donor is ready to give.”
Looking ahead, SSA continues to encourage thoughtful conversations about legacy and community. Think Ahead Alexandria, a citywide campaign supported by ACT, is helping spark those conversations and reminding Alexandrians that philanthropy isn’t just for the wealthy. It’s for anyone who wants to leave a mark on the community they love.
This legacy resident’s name may never appear on a plaque, but her impact is woven into the very fabric of Senior Services of Alexandria. Her quiet gift helped ensure that generations of Alexandrians will be supported, nourished, and cared for. Now, that’s a legacy worth celebrating.