A Lifetime of Teaching, Giving, and Opening Doors to Nature

When Edith “Edie” Sisson joined Mass Audubon in the early 1970s, she wasn’t just starting a job—she was embarking on a lifelong mission. A natural educator with a deep love for the outdoors, Edie quickly discovered the magic of connecting children with the natural world.

Early in her career as an educator, Edie saw how captivated students were by the animals at Drumlin Farm, both wild and domestic. She witnessed the same wonder when she traveled to public schools throughout Massachusetts. For many of the students Edie met, it was their very first up-close encounter with the native plants, owls, opossums, and other small creatures she brought along. For some of these students, their career path was shaped right there. Over the years, Edie would hear from former students who said that meeting a Mass Audubon “animal ambassador” ignited a passion that led them to careers as environmental scientists, educators, and conservationists.

But Edie knew that not everyone had access to experiences like these. She believed nature should be for everyone—regardless of their financial situation, physical capabilities, background, or age—and she set out to make that a reality.

Edie and her husband, Tom, began modestly, selling honey from their backyard beehives to raise funds. Over time, Edie added contributions and encouraged others to give. The result was the Drumlin Farm Outreach and Accessibility Resources Fund, or “DOAR Fund,” a dedicated endowment designed to remove barriers that might keep someone from taking part in all Drumlin Farm has to offer.

In 2014, Edie ensured the future of the DOAR Fund by making a special planned gift. Wanting to give substantially while also providing for her own needs, she established a charitable gift annuity (CGA). She moved a portion of her savings into a Mass Audubon investment fund that provided her with a steady income for a decade, with the understanding that at the end of her life, whatever remained would go to the DOAR Fund.

Then, in 2024, after ten years of receiving payments, Edie made the generous decision to accelerate her gift by relinquishing her remaining lifetime income. This extraordinary act allowed Mass Audubon to receive her charitable gift early, when it was valued at almost $50,000. Thanks to Edie’s generosity and foresight, the DOAR Fund is now on track to produce close to $10,000 a year, in perpetuity, to support access to nature at Drumlin Farm.

Beyond the impact on nature education, Edie’s giving was smart too. By using appreciated stock to fund her annuity, she unlocked a valuable tax deduction and avoided much of the capital gains taxes she would have owed had she sold the stock outright. Throughout her time at Mass Audubon, Edie wore many hats: naturalist, resident author, Leadership Friend, and proud member of the Tern Society for legacy donors. Edie’s legacy will be every child who discovers the magic of a red-tailed hawk’s flight, every visitor who feels welcome on a farm trail, and every family who finds joy and healing in nature—all because one educator believed everyone deserves that chance.

Should you wish to learn more about charitable gift annuities or other ways of tax-smart giving, please contact: