30 Ways We Amplify Giving

At Greater Houston Community Foundation, our values mean something—they inspire us to establish meaningful partnerships with donors, ensuring that their philanthropic goals are met while maximizing the impact of their contributions. By fostering a collaborative environment and prioritizing transparency, integrity, and community engagement, we strive to amplify the spirit of giving.

For 30 years, we have been the “easy button” for philanthropists in Houston and beyond.  When you partner with the Foundation, you gain access to expert philanthropic advisors who can help you build the scaffolding to a lasting philanthropic legacy while maximizing tax benefits.

How do we amplify giving? We do it by living out our core values.

By putting these values into action, we not only enhance the experience for our donors but also ensure their contributions make a meaningful difference. Continue to reading to learn more.  

Serve First

At the heart of our mission is a genuine desire to serve the incredible individuals and communities that we are fortunate enough to work with. Every day, we step into our roles with a shared goal: to create positive change and foster a lasting impact. We believe that by supporting each other and our donors, we can truly uplift our community and make a difference in the lives of those around us.

Enhancing Your Philanthropic Experience

We develop a personalized approach to giving for each of our donors, tailoring our services to align with the unique philanthropic needs of individuals and families, businesses, and clients. Our team of philanthropic advisors offers an array of giving vehicles, like donor advised funds, strategic guidance, administrative support, and a suite of educational opportunities ensuring that each donor’s philanthropic journey is both meaningful and impactful.

Honoring Donor Intent

Over the last 30 years, as our donors’ needs continued to evolve, so has the Foundation. However, one thing the Foundation has never lost sight of is honoring donor intent. We prioritize ensuring that the assets entrusted to us are stewarded properly, while also being attentive to donors’ needs for new resources that can help them carry out their philanthropic work more effectively and efficiently.

Philanthropic Consulting

The multidisciplinary philanthropic advisors from the Foundation are here to help individuals, foundations, families, and businesses assess their current philanthropic strategies and develop custom solutions to strengthen and refine their charitable efforts.

Administrative Services for Private Foundations

We offer administrative and financial accounting services alongside strategic consulting to sharpen your philanthropic efforts, ensuring your foundation’s efforts create a lasting impact for generations to come.

Community and Corporate Disaster Funds

When disasters strike, we stand ready to serve as a resource and collaborative partner during great hardship, helping donors and businesses provide immediate and long-term disaster relief to those in need. Keep reading to learn how the Foundation has partnered with United Way of Greater Houston to strengthen year-round disaster preparedness.

Create Opportunity

Everyone deserves the chance to succeed. That’s why we team up with our generous donors and community to invest in resources that open doors and create opportunities for all. Whether it’s providing educational programs, performing site visits, or analyzing community data, we’re committed to nurturing potential and empowering each person to achieve their dreams.

Donor Advised Funds

The Foundation offers donor advised funds (DAFs) as a flexible and tax-efficient vehicle for charitable giving. In addition, DAFs can simplify your charitable giving and legacy planning—creating more opportunities to ignite impact.

Flexibility in Asset Contributions

The Foundation accepts a wide range of assets, including cash, securities, real estate, and complex assets like closely-held stock, facilitating more comprehensive philanthropic strategies. Through our acceptance of noncash assets, we enable our donors to support the causes they are most passionate about.

Scholarship Funds

Opening a scholarship fund can be a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of individuals seeking to advance their education and opportunities in the future. Establishing a scholarship can be complex, but partnering with the Foundation can help simplify the process and open the door to academic success for students in Houston and beyond.

Giving Guide of Black-led Houston Nonprofits

This online resource was developed to share information and raise awareness in the philanthropic community about how you can support Black-led organizations.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering helps children develop empathy, teamwork, and social responsibility. Our Quarterly Volunteer Days and Family Philanthropy Day offer engaging, age-appropriate activities for families with children aged five and up. These experiences make giving back fun while fostering generosity, cooperation, and leadership skills in our youth. Not to mention, volunteering on our Scholarship Review Committee is a great way to help students obtain a higher education degree.

Ignite Impact

We believe in making a difference that truly matters. We don’t just scratch the surface of issues; instead, we dig deep to understand the root causes of the challenges we face. The Foundation specializes in crafting practical solutions that really work, regardless of your unique charitable needs.

Understanding Houston

An initiative of the Foundation in partnership with Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is our region’s data indicator project, which collects, analyzes, and shares data on key trends impacting our region. These data-driven insights provide donors, community leaders, and residents with independent information they can use to effect positive change in our community.

Corporate Philanthropy Programs

The Foundation partners with some of Houston’s top businesses to support company giving through corporate donor advised funds, employee engagement programs, disaster relief funds, scholarship funds, and more. We provide practical and effective solutions to corporations looking to make an impact.

Next Gen Donor Institute

We know that engaging the next generation in philanthropy can set the stage for lifelong values of generosity and kindness. The Foundation offers next generation engagement to future donors who have a deep desire to develop their skills around strategic philanthropy and community engagement. Our goal is to help the next generation build bridges and connect them to other donors, foundations, nonprofits, corporations, and partners—preparing them to carry on a philanthropic legacy or to create their own.

Endowment Funds

We remain committed to ensuring that your philanthropic legacy continues to have an impact for generations to come. An endowment fund allows you to allocate your resources based on your interests or make targeted donations to the specific charities that matter most to you. We can keep the process straightforward or develop a comprehensive plan tailored to your preferences. Either way, we are here to help you create a meaningful, lasting impact toward the causes that mean the most to you.

Connect Donors to Important Causes

Nobody knows Houston philanthropy like we do. Our donors have access to a multidisciplinary team of philanthropic experts who are dedicated to helping donors make a targeted impact on the causes that matter most to them. Our team shares best-in-class resources, special programming, infrastructure, and networking opportunities that help you and your family strategically engage with issue areas that will have the greatest impact on our community.

Encourage Voice

In Houston, we believe that connection is key. The Foundation brings together a vibrant tapestry of voices, each with their unique story to share. We strive to create spaces where everyone feels welcomed and valued, fostering open dialogues that bridge differences. By taking the time to listen, understand, and appreciate one another’s experiences, we can cultivate a deeper sense of community and connection.

Interest Area Programming and Learning Opportunities

Our events provide a rich, dynamic environment where donors can connect with each other, exchanging ideas and insights that deepen their understanding of our community’s needs. Donors can gain insights from our staff, fellow funders, and nonprofit leaders actively working to make Houston a better place. With a diverse range of events available, individuals can choose to attend those that align with their specific interests, ensuring meaningful and engaging learning experiences.

Organizing Family Meetings

The Center for Family Philanthropy at the Foundation helps unite individuals and families through giving, turning philanthropy into a shared, meaningful experience. We facilitate family meetings that foster open discussions, align values, and encourage collaboration, ensuring all generations actively participate while making a lasting impact in the community.

Family Giving Circle

The Family Giving Circle empowers families and youth (grades 7-10) to learn, volunteer, and grant together in Greater Houston. Led by the Youth Leadership Team, this enriching opportunity brings together future philanthropists to amplify youth voices, foster independent thinking, decision-making, and leadership. Participants gain insight into the nonprofit landscape, develop their values, and build meaningful connections while making strategic grants to local organizations.

Appreciation for Houston

As the Foundation’s community impact efforts evolved, we engaged with community leaders to help inform the direction of our newly established High-Impact Grantmaking initiative. We believe in the power of collaboration, understanding that by working together we can create a greater impact. By embracing the strengths of our community, we can leverage those opportunities to create a more vibrant, thriving Houston region.

Strategic Philanthropy

Have an idea for a philanthropic initiative that would raise funds and distribute to areas of our community in need? A desire to collaborate with other institutional funds including foundations, corporations, and government entities, but no clear path forward? The Foundation can leverage our giving vehicles and institutional expertise to create a tailored charitable giving strategy that allows you to accept charitable contributions and implement a grantmaking plan focused on the issues that matter most to you.

Champion Innovation

We have a bold aspiration: to improve the status quo and redefine the future of philanthropy. We believe that traditional approaches can only take us so far, and it’s important to explore new horizons. The Foundation continues to learn about creative and innovative ways to support not only our generous donors but also the vibrant communities we serve.

We know that effective philanthropy isn’t just about giving—it’s about inspiring change and making a lasting impact. That’s why we’re committed to embracing entrepreneurial strategies that resonate with the needs of today’s world.

Trusted Philanthropic Ally

Whether you are looking to establish a scholarship fund in honor of someone you love, or you are a professional advisor with a client who is looking to make deep impact in Houston, our multidisciplinary team of philanthropic experts are here to help you make educated, effective giving decisions.

Acceptance of Various Noncash Assets

We accept a wide range of assets, including noncash contributions, that can significantly enhance your philanthropic impact.  Whether you’re looking to support a specific cause or organization or leave a legacy for future generations, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Impact Investing

For Foundation clients with donor advised funds with $1 million or more, consider collaborating with the Foundation to provide a loan to a public charity. This allows you to support a cause you care about while offering them critical support.

Community Impact Fund

Our Community Impact Fund is a catalytic force for philanthropic impact—making a meaningful difference in the lives of Houstonians through three pillars of work that speak to data, collaboration, and lasting impact.

High-Impact Grantmaking

The High-Impact Grantmaking initiative, established in 2024, is the Foundation’s annual grantmaking opportunity to address Houston’s most pressing social and economic challenges. Following the recommendation from the Community Grantmaking Committee, in 2024 the Foundation’s Governing Board approved grant awards to three nonprofits of our inaugural grantmaking cycle who have demonstrated a clear, credible, and compelling vision and plan for significant impact in Houston.

Foster Collaboration

Do you know the saying “teamwork makes the dream work” or “two heads are better than one”? Whether we’re discussing ideas over coffee or engaging through our events, we recognize that collaboration is essential for making a real difference. We value each donor’s unique strengths and insights, and by combining our efforts, we aim to achieve the best possible outcomes for our community.

Hub for Houston Philanthropy

We are connectors and conveners, bringing together donors, funders, and community leaders to create meaningful and lasting impact. Our role extends beyond managing charitable funds—we strategically align philanthropic dollars with pressing community needs, ensuring that resources are directed toward high-impact initiatives that drive positive change.

Professional Advisors

As your charitable partner, we value the client relationships professional advisors have built and shared with us. Our goal is to help you meet your client’s charitable giving needs, maximize their tax deductions, and provide ways to incorporate charitable giving into their estate plans.

Greater Houston Disaster Alliance

With over 35 years of combined experience leading disaster recovery efforts, Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston formed the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance in 2023 to ensure our region has the networks and systems in place to accelerate recovery rapidly and effectively in times of disaster. The Disaster Alliance catalyzes public and private partnerships and brings year-round focus to disaster preparedness and resiliency to reduce the harms caused by disaster on our most vulnerable residents.

Field of Interest Funds

Creating a Field-of-Interest Fund (FOI) at the Foundation enables you to direct your donations towards a cause that resonates with you. Regardless of whether you are an individual, a group of donors, a foundation, or a corporate donor, a FOI serves as an effective way to support a philanthropic focus that matters to you.

Giving Circles

We bring like-minded donors together for the greater good through our various giving circles, allowing donors with similar interests to come together, pool their donations, and recommend grants to the causes that matter most to them.

A Community United in Giving

For 30 years, our commitment to living out our core values has enabled us to amplify giving and make philanthropy simple and impactful. By prioritizing service, creating opportunities, igniting impact, encouraging voice, championing innovation, and fostering collaboration, we help donors build lasting philanthropic legacies while maximizing their giving potential.

Together, we can create meaningful change in Houston and beyond. Ready to get started? Reach out to Kevin Pickett to learn more.

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation: 

• 30 Years of Amplified Giving: Insights from the CEO
• Bob Harvey’s Amplified Giving: Evolving Philanthropy to Shape Houston’s Future 
• Strengthening Your Philanthropic Giving Strategy
• Deepening Impact: Philanthropy Through Community Foundations

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