In October, Turning Pointe Advocacy Center Executive Director Gina Finley received a letter from the local Margery Jones Charitable Trust.

Finley anticipated a check of $40,000 or $50,000 in the tiny white envelope, the usual annual amount the agency receives in the memory of the Mason County native and teacher. Instead, she said she was astonished to find a check for $1 million.

Placing that $1 million in the bank allowed Turning Pointe to open an agency endowment fund with the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation. While accumulating about a 4% interest rate, the nonprofit will raise about...