August 13 , 2026

August is Make-A-Will Month—a time to think about the people, causes, and organizations that matter most to us and the legacy we hope to leave behind.

At Plummer Youth Promise, planned giving holds a particularly meaningful place in our history. Many know our mission is to set a standard of excellence that improves outcomes for young people in or at risk of entering state care by deeply engaging youth, families, and the systems that impact them to develop permanent family relationships, skills, and community connections.

But did you know that Plummer itself began because of a gift made through a will?

Caroline Plummer’s Lasting Legacy for Youth

When Caroline Plummer died in 1854, she generously bequeathed more than $23,000 for the founding of what she described as a “farm school of reform” to the City of Salem. That extraordinary act of generosity planted the seed for what would eventually become Plummer Youth Promise.

More than 170 years later, Caroline Plummer’s legacy lives on in our work. Today, Plummer helps young people across Massachusetts build lasting family relationships and find the stability, support, and sense of belonging every young person deserves.

Caroline Plummer could not have known exactly what her gift would become or how many lives it would touch. But because she chose to include this work in her legacy, generations of young people and families have benefited from her generosity.

That is the remarkable power of planned giving.

A legacy gift is more than a financial contribution. It is a statement about what you value and the difference you want to make long into the future. In 2024 alone, The National Philanthropic Trust reported that giving by bequest surpassed $45 billion. Many gave to organizations within their community or with those that they had a personal connection to.

Just as Caroline Plummer’s generosity continues to make an impact today, a planned gift to Plummer Youth Promise can help ensure young people who experience foster care have people they can count on, places where they belong, and opportunities to build fulfilling lives for generations to come.

And leaving a legacy gift may be simpler than you think.

How to Make a Meaningful Impact with Your Will

With the guidance of an attorney or financial advisor, you can include a provision in your will or trust specifying that a gift be made to Plummer Youth Promise as part of your estate plan. Planned gifts can take many forms and can be designed to reflect your personal circumstances and charitable goals.

Creating a will doesn’t have to be a complex or expensive process. There are now easily accessible tools online such as Freewill.com that can support you in leaving a meaningful legacy. Make-A-Will Month is an opportunity not only to make or update your will, but also to consider the impact you want to have beyond your lifetime.

More than a century and a half ago, Caroline Plummer made that decision. Her generosity created a legacy she could never have fully imagined—and one that continues to transform lives today.

We hope you will consider following in her footsteps by including Plummer Youth Promise in your estate plans. Your gift, no matter its size, can help young people who experience foster care find family, belonging, and opportunity today and for years to come.

A will helped begin Plummer’s story. Your will can help write its next chapter.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice.