Women and Philanthropy: Shaping the Outer Banks Across Generations
March is Women’s History Month, and here on the Outer Banks, it’s a powerful time to reflect on the women whose generosity has helped shape this place we all love.
At the Outer Banks Community Foundation, we are honored to work with women across multiple generations—from longtime residents to those who simply fell in love with the Outer Banks and wanted to give back. We see it every day:
–A retired leader supporting local needs through charitable gifts from her IRA
–A business owner building a culture of giving in her workplace
–A young adult learning about community impact through a family fund
And so many more.
Women’s growing control over wealth is fueling transformative potential to reshape philanthropy. According to research published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, over the next decade, trillions of dollars will transfer to women through inheritance, earnings, and longevity. Read the article
Here on the Outer Banks, this story isn’t theoretical—it’s deeply personal, and it’s part of our history. Women like Dorothy Luedemann, Ruth Medgyes, and Diane Baum St. Clair made extraordinary decisions to invest in this community’s future—often quietly, and often through planned gifts that continue to give back year after year.
Take Ruth Medgyes, whose remarkable and once-anonymous bequest remains one of the most transformational gifts in our history. Her gift—over $1.6 million—established permanent endowment funds that have already awarded more than $1 million in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students. Read her story
Dorothy Luedemann, alongside her husband Charles, also made one of the earliest major legacy gifts to the Community Foundation—helping establish funds that strengthened our ability to serve the Outer Banks for the long term.
And Diane Baum St. Clair’s bequest was another pivotal moment—part of a wave of legacy giving that helped grow the Foundation’s assets and expand what was possible for this community.
These women didn’t just make gifts—they made the Outer Banks stronger, more resilient, and more connected.
That’s the thing about this place. The Outer Banks has always inspired generosity. Maybe it’s the natural beauty. Maybe it’s the challenges we face together—from storms to housing to access to opportunity. Or maybe it’s simply that this is a community where people show up for each other.
At the Outer Banks Community Foundation, we exist to carry that spirit forward. We connect people who care with causes that matter, helping donors turn their values into lasting impact right here at home.
And as women continue to take on an even greater role in philanthropy nationwide, we are seeing that same leadership right here in our community.
Thoughtful planning can help ensure that generosity has both immediate impact and lasting purpose. Here are a few ways we partner with donors:
Creating a family philanthropy vehicle
Many women establish donor-advised funds to involve children and grandchildren in giving—turning philanthropy into a shared family experience rooted in Outer Banks values.
Focusing on a cause for the long term
Field-of-interest funds allow donors to support the issues they care about most—from education to healthcare to the arts—while relying on our local expertise to guide those investments over time.
Strengthening a favorite organization
For those deeply connected to a particular nonprofit, we help create lasting support through endowments and planned gifts that provide stability for years to come.
Women’s philanthropy continues to shape our communities in profound ways—and here on the Outer Banks, that impact is visible all around us.
From scholarships that help local students pursue their dreams, to grants that sustain the nonprofits serving our neighbors, to endowments that will support this community long into the future—these are the legacies of thoughtful, generous women who believed in this place.
As always, the Outer Banks Community Foundation is here—for women, for families, and for everyone who cares about the future of the Outer Banks. It is our honor to help you shape your philanthropy—so that your values live on, and your impact continues for generations.
For more information about the Community Foundation, visit OBCF.org or call 252-423-3003.
About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.
