The Impact of Unrestricted Estate Giving
Grateful for the care both she and her husband received, Susan chose to include MSK in her estate plans to help ensure that MSK continues to be a pioneer in cancer research, treatment, care, and innovation.
Why one former patient is supporting MSK through an unrestricted estate gift
Susan Smith’s résumé illustrates her lifelong dedication to making the world a better place. A native of Philadelphia, Susan moved to Rochester, New York, in 1977 and began a more than 40-year career at nonprofits. She initially showcased organizations’ impact through marketing, communications, and public relations before working as a local foundation’s grants manager, raising funds to enrich the community.
“The foundation’s director used to say, ‘Find good people doing good things and trust them,’ ” Susan says. “That’s my philosophy too.”
It’s an idea that Susan applied not only to her professional career but also to her personal philanthropy, and it’s a key reason why she decided to include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in her estate plan.
Pushing cancer treatment forward
Susan’s connection to MSK began in 2009, when her husband, Roger, was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid by a local endocrinologist. Susan understood how important it was for her husband to get the best treatment from the start and that MSK was a national leader in caring for people with thyroid cancers. Right away, she recommended that Roger, who had previously lived in New York City and loved it, should consider having surgery at MSK. He did, and the treatment was a success!
Five years later, Susan was back at MSK — this time for herself. She underwent surgery and radiation for breast cancer, returning again in 2019 when she experienced a recurrence. Susan recalls that in both cases, “MSK was incredible. They even covered genomic testing when my insurance wouldn’t. That test saved me from unnecessary treatments worth tens of thousands of dollars.”
Susan has also participated in research on breast cancer diagnosis and clinical genetics to help investigators studying Lynch syndrome — a hereditary condition that increases the risk of various cancers — better understand its influence on the disease. Cancer care is constantly evolving, and Susan sees her participation as part of the steady march forward to improve the lives of all people with cancer. “It’s been fascinating to see how genetic testing has advanced,” she says. “Back in the 1980s, radiation after surgery was investigational. Now, it’s the gold standard. That perspective makes me appreciate how much progress has been made.”
The power of flexible funding
By making a gift in her estate plan, Susan is helping ensure that MSK continues to be a pioneer in cancer research, treatment, care, and innovation. She chose to make an unrestricted gift, meaning her generosity will support MSK's most pressing needs.
“My years in foundation and nonprofit work taught me that even organizations with large endowments can face crises,” she says. “If I trust an organization to plan wisely, I don’t need to dictate how they use the money. I’d rather let them direct funds to their top priorities.”
Although Susan retired in 2023, she stays busy with her five cats, fiber arts, needlework, and, not surprisingly, community service work. She serves on several boards, including groups focused on mental health and pet rescue; volunteers as a mediator for a nonprofit; and also manages the grants cycle for a private foundation.
Susan’s schedule can be a lot to juggle, but she never takes her rich and full life for granted. And she’s grateful that she can share her lifelong values of generosity and compassion through her estate gift.
“I update my will every couple of years to ensure my resources go to nonprofits I trust,” Susan says. “I hope my gift supports treatments and programs that make life better for people — helping them live longer, healthier lives.”
