Honoring a legacy

How a donor-advised fund helped Jim and Kathryn Vonderharr plan their estate—and finalize their will.

For more than two decades, Jim and Kathryn Vonderharr thoughtfully shaped their legacy, refining their estate plans numerous times throughout their 22-year marriage. But when they set up a donor advised fund with the Mankato Area Foundation, they finally had a plan they felt confident in—one that ensured their charitable wishes would be carried out with flexibility and care.

“We shouldn’t have to change our will again,” Jim once said. “Now, we just have to call MAF if we want to discuss something.”

Nancy Zallek, the President and CEO of MAF, played a key role in helping the Vonderharrs simplify their estate planning. She worked closely with them to designate beneficiaries—including St. Cloud State University, from which they both graduated, as well as Minnesota State University, Mankato—and to establish clear guidelines for how their funds would be distributed in the future.

“MAF spent a lot of time getting to know us and our interests,” Jim noted. “They really helped us discover our focus for the fund.”

“We felt fortunate that we could structure it any way we wanted to,” Kathryn added, “but with a lot of advice.”

Their decision to work with the MAF came after a friend suggested the Central Minnesota Area Foundation to establish a gift for St. Cloud State University. That foundation, in turn, directed them to the Mankato Area Foundation. After thoughtful discussions, the Vonderharrs chose to work primarily with their local foundation, knowing it would effectively distribute their funds according to their wishes.

“It was a much more efficient solution, long term, for the use of the funds,” Jim explained.

MAF guided the Vonderharrs through a process of envisioning the impact they wanted to leave behind and met with them multiple times to help refine their goals and ensure their fund would reflect their values.

“Education is very important to both of us,” Kathryn said. “But we didn’t want to just put a big chunk of money into scholarships. We wanted money to go to students and professors and their projects.”

At both St. Cloud State and Minnesota State Mankato, the couple identified five key areas their funds could support. Their plan allows professors to request funding for specific projects, with the Foundation determining whether the requests align with their established criteria.

“It allows for more flexibility on the recipient’s end,” Jim had said. “We’re charging the Foundation with the responsibility of deciding who gets the funds.”

Beyond higher education, the Vonderharrs also provided direction for supporting other causes close to their hearts, including community art initiatives and programs benefiting women. They appreciated that if their priorities evolved, they could simply reach out to MAF to make adjustments.

“It’s been a very easy, satisfying experience,” Kathryn reflected. “There’s been no pressure at all.”

Jim passed away in 2024, but his and Kathryn’s legacy will continue through the donor-advised fund they so carefully planned. Their vision for supporting education, the arts, and community initiatives will live on, fulfilling their wishes for years to come.

“Now,” Jim once said, “we hope to help others make the same decision.”