Ghost Donor

We receive a grant each year from a small Jewish family foundation in Florida. The foundation was managed by the senior members of the family for several years, and the main point of contact, Beatrice (not her real name), would send grant invitations and award letters out to nonprofits well into her 90s.

When she passed away, the foundation hired a professional administrator to manage grantee correspondence. The weird part? They still use Beatrice's old email address! So every time I have to send a proposal or a financial report, I have to type this woman's name into my address bar, and send it out to a ghost. At least she still writes back from @verizon.net?

- Matt

Washington, D.C.