As Siena Retreat Center celebrates its 60th year in 2026, your gift helps sustain the day-to-day work that makes this place of reflection, growth, and connection possible. Your donation allows us to respond to emerging needs, care for our retreat space, and continue offering meaningful programs and hospitality to all who seek rest and renewal here.

Thank you for supporting Siena Retreat Center’s ongoing mission to renew lives, cultivate a spirituality of wholeness, and foster a more just and compassionate world. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and committed to the careful stewardship of every gift.

We are pleased to present the gift opportunity presented by the Mary N. (Gallo) Iaquinta Fund that supports retreat scholarships.

Mary N. (Gallo) Iaquinta (1920-2016) devoted her life to literacy and literature, to her family and community, and to philosophy and the spiritual quest. Siena Retreat Center gratefully accepts donations to the permanent Endowment in her name. The Mary N. (Gallo) Iaquinta Endowed Scholarship Fund provides partial scholarships for those with financial need who are otherwise unable to pay retreat fees. For additional information, please contact Claire Anderson, at (262) 898-2590.

Siena Retreat Center was shaped for two decades by the leadership of Sr. Rita Lui, OP. Her deep care for the spiritual journey has inspired countless lives and has formed the bedrock for Siena Retreat Center’s way of being in the world.

Thanks to a major gift from the estate of Robert Giller Curtiss and Marjorie Matthews Curtiss, we are thrilled to announce the creation of the Rita Lui, OP Endowed Retreat Leadership Fund! The late Robert and Marjorie Curtiss of Illinois affirmed the full potential in each of their children and grandchildren. By gifting Siena Retreat Center with $100,000 from the Curtiss’ estate, their daughter, our Program Director Vicky Curtiss, honors Sr. Rita’s passion for deep engagement in the key spiritual issues of our day. The Fund will provide funding to bring prominent retreat leaders, authors, and speakers to lead retreats and programs for Siena Retreat Center.

For additional information, please contact Claire Anderson, at (262) 898-2590.

We are honored to be a part of your loved one’s legacy and grateful for your support. You can expect an auto-generated email confirming your gift, as well as a formal acknowledgement by mail. We are happy to send a memorial/honorary acknowledgement to the person of your choice if you so choose.

Centering Prayer is a longstanding virtual prayer circle retreat offered on Thursdays. In order to provide a space for prayer for all, there is no cost for this retreat. Free-will offerings are greatly appreciated to help cover the overhead costs for this and other programs. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, your offering for the program is tax-deductible. Should you wish to donate to Centering Prayer specifically, you may do so online here.

The Siena Circle is a giving program that encourages an annual donation level of $600 or more. This financial stability will become the financial mainstay of our beloved retreat center in the years ahead. Siena Circle members are the investors in Siena Retreat Center’s long-term future. They are honored with a special Thank You Dinner each fall.

Charitably minded individuals and couples 70½+ can take advantage of a simple way to support Siena Retreat Center and receive tax benefits in return. Through use of a tax-smart strategy called a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), also known as a charitable IRA rollover, you can donate any amount up to $111,000 per year to Siena Retreat Center. Couples who submit joint tax returns each qualify for annual QCDs of up to $111,000, for a potential total of $222,000 without paying income taxes on the money.

Why Consider This Gift?

• Your gift will be used today, allowing you to see the impact your donation makes.
• You pay no income taxes on the gift. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions. Note for 2026: the standard deduction for an individual is $16,100 ($18,150 for those over 65), for couples it is $32,200 ($35,500 for couples over 65).
• If you reach the age of 73, the IRS requires IRA owners to take annual income withdrawals, known as Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Failure to take these withdrawals could subject IRA owners to penalties. You can use your gift to Siena Retreat Center to satisfy all or part of your RMD.
• Since your gift does not count as income, it may reduce your annual income level. This may also lower your Medicare premiums and decrease the amount of Social Security that is subject to tax.

Realize all the benefits by giving to Siena Retreat Center today! As always, please consult your tax advisor or attorney to determine how these options apply to your specific situation.