For Maggie Alfonso – a longtime educator and volunteer in and around Boulder County – the decision to create a legacy gift was the answer to sleepless nights.
We’ve come to know that many Boulder County residents want to leave a legacy of giving beyond their lifetimes – for generations to come.
For Margaret (Maggie) Alfonso – a longtime educator and volunteer in and around Boulder County – the decision to create a legacy gift was the answer to sleepless nights. “With no spouse or children, I was losing sleep about the best way to share the wealth I’ve acquired from a good property investment,” she says.
“Everyone in my family is perfectly comfortable in their lives, and not in need of an inheritance from me. So I thought, how can I give back to my community with an investment that’s going to be worth a lot of money when I’m gone?”
Maggie wanted to ensure that her main asset – her home – would contribute toward the sustainability and expansion of community programs she holds dear. “I really respect the Community Foundation, and I trust the foundation to serve my purpose. I know the staff and board, how knowledgeable they are, and the foundation’s leadership role across Boulder County.
“I trust the foundation to uphold my wishes and make informed decisions.”
Specifically, Maggie – the daughter of Cuban immigrants – has designated a part of her estate to the Community Foundation’s BRAVO Fund, which aims to improve the quality of life for Boulder County Latinos. She also cites the foundation’s active advancement of social justice and civic engagement as key to her decision to work with us in planning her legacy.
“I’m interested in keeping our community vibrant through diversity,” Maggie continues. “That’s why I decided to keep my giving local, and distributed over a 10-year timeframe instead of establishing an endowment that’s forever.
“To my thinking, I can make a bigger impact over a shorter period of time, rather than spreading out my giving over a longer period. The foundation is incredibly flexible in accommodating individual giving goals.”
Indeed, some 130 people who love this community have committed more than $25M to ensure a better future through legacy gifts with the Community Foundation. Learn more here.
Maggie has also opted to designate direct donations upon her death to other organizations, including Habitat for Humanity. “Affordable housing is a critical issue in our county,” she says. “I like knowing that the value of my home will help address this challenge, and again encourage and sustain a more diverse community.”
With the cost of land in Boulder County, Maggie has earmarked her Habitat donation for land and materials toward building new homes.
On a personal note, Maggie’s legacy plans have been made in honor of her mother. “She was a very kind and generous person,” recalls Maggie. “Her love really influenced me, as did the story I grew up with: that my great-grandfather was also very generous and well-respected in his community in Cuba … he helped build a school, and a church.
“Generosity and giving back when you’ve been fortunate in life have long been family traditions.”
