30 Years of Amplified Giving: Insights from the CEO
As a community foundation, Greater Houston Community Foundation is relatively young compared to others across the nation. In fact, the first community foundation was created in 1914 by a banker at Cleveland Trust Company, who was inspired to create a “community chest” that could help generous residents make sure their philanthropic dollars did good in the community. Today, there are over 730 active community foundations across the country representing philanthropic assets of $140 billion. As we celebrate Greater Houston Community Foundation’s 30th Anniversary, we remain steadfast in honoring donor intent and serving as a powerful resource and collaborative partner in amplifying giving throughout the philanthropic space. Celebrating 30 years is a testament to the philanthropic spirit that is so evident in Houston and beyond. This year is all about growing our donors’ philanthropy, embracing the future, and continuing to make a meaningful impact in partnership with our donors.
The Beginning
Incorporated in 1971 under the auspices of the Greater Houston Partnership (then the Houston Chamber of Commerce), the Foundation was seen “as a mechanism through which people can contribute to the enhancement of the Houston community.”
When Randall Meyer became President of the Greater Houston Community Foundation Board of Directors, he conveyed to the Partnership that a more traditional community foundation, such as those found in many other U.S. cities, would have immense value for Houston. In 1990, the Foundation was reconstituted as a public charity independent of Greater Houston Partnership. Its new board began actively seeking operating support and introducing the new organization to Houston’s philanthropic landscape. In 1995, our official “birth year,” the Foundation began active operation with assets of $3.6 million by the end of that year.
“With [Houston’s] increasingly complex cultural, educational, health and social welfare needs there is a real regional imperative both for expansion of philanthropy and for a more organized way of anticipating and responding to the priority needs in a sensible and balanced fashion. The community foundation concept is, in a very real sense, made to order for Houstonians. The community foundation is just the sort of proactive, dynamic institution for broad good in the community to which so many of us can relate.”
Randall Meyer, August 22, 1989, A Presentation to the Executive Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership
Early Breakthroughs
In 2001, I was honored to become the Foundation’s President and CEO. Serving in this role for the last 23 years has been one of my life’s greatest joys outside of my marriage to my incredible wife Michelle and our four dynamite kids. I saw the tremendous opportunity for us to build on the tradition of philanthropy and the ‘do good’ attitude that Houstonians are known for. During those early days, the Foundation served as the fiscal agent for special projects in the community, such as the Houston Police Officers Memorial, the transformation of Buffalo Bayou, several projects involving the Houston Independent School District, and others.
When I started at the Foundation, there was confusion about its purpose. This was a huge hurdle for us, but partners from early Board members like David Weekley, Rusty Walter, Ernie H. Cockrell, Mary Nell Lovett, Beth Robertson, and so many more stepped up to serve as ambassadors for the Foundation, connecting us with Houston’s most philanthropic people. These introductions, coupled with our early disaster work, really reinforced the Foundation’s ability to maximize philanthropic impact in partnership with our donors.
Around my fourth year with the Foundation, we got a call from Former President George H. W. Bush’s office about engaging in disaster recovery work related to Hurricane Katrina. This was a huge moment for the Foundation—it was critical that we did things right and kept up with the Bush family as they worked so hard to help the region recover. At the time, we had a lean team of about six people who had to step up to deliver for the Bush family. Partnering with them brought more visibility, which was great for the Foundation in building more credibility with our community.
Another obstacle we faced in the early days was ensuring that our vision of helping generous Houstonians steward their philanthropic dollars to do good in the community aligned with what our market demanded. To help us sharpen our focus, we hired consultants from the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation to help us retool as a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) provider. We learned how to be a premier DAF provider, serving a donor base that deeply cares about our community and has complex needs. Now, we are the 24th largest community foundation in the country and one of the most DAF-focused community foundations on the list.
Strategic Partnerships with Professional Advisors
We would not be where we are today without our sophisticated network of professional advisors. In the early 2000s, we focused on growing our technical capabilities to slowly become a trusted ally in helping professional advisors assist their clients with philanthropic planning. Charitable giving isn’t just about making a difference; it’s also an integral component of comprehensive, strategic financial and estate planning.
For three decades, we have partnered with professional advisors to create a lasting impact on our community and the lives of those we serve. Together, we have empowered donors to realize their philanthropic visions while fostering a culture of generosity that supports our most pressing community needs. The Foundation is committed to being a trusted partner for professional advisors, providing valuable insight and support in navigating the complexities of charitable planning, including the acceptance of non-cash assets.
As a former practicing attorney, I know how crucial trusted relationships can be for professional advisors and their clients. Now, as the CEO of the Foundation, I understand deeply that meaningful charitable giving is about cultivating enduring relationships. The bonds we build are what ultimately lead to transformative change.
Innovating for Impact
From 2010 to 2019, as our donor’s needs continued to evolve, so did we. Greater Houston Community Foundation continued to provide philanthropic strategies that make giving easy, efficient, and effective. Throughout the Foundation’s history, we have never lost sight of honoring donor intent—listening to donors when they need new resources to do their philanthropy effectively and efficiently. The Foundation continued to solidify its place in Houston’s nonprofit community by offering a full range of services, including donor advised funds, scholarships, consulting, family philanthropy planning, and more.
Center for Family Philanthropy
In 2015, we established the Center for Family Philanthropy with a steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional service to our donors while providing effective and strategic philanthropic guidance. Since then, we have rapidly become a national leader in advising families on the stewardship of their philanthropic efforts and maximizing community impact across generations. How? Our team provides families with best-in-class resources, education, programming, and peer connection.
Next Gen Donor Institute & Youth Programming
In addition to establishing the Center for Family Philanthropy, in 2011, the Foundation developed a deeply committed cohort of emerging philanthropists who are and will be future leaders directing business and civic initiatives throughout our region. From involvement in the Next Gen Donor Institute to sparking impactful change through our Next Gen Giving Circles, over 165 participants have gained valuable insights and tools for effective philanthropy.
For our youngest philanthropists, the Foundation developed the Family Giving Circle, a learning opportunity for families and youth to learn, volunteer, and grant together in the greater Houston area. This leadership opportunity has developed their values, independent thinking, decision-making power, community knowledge, and leadership skills. It’s incredible to see younger philanthropists engage in discussions about solving the root causes of Houston’s most prevalent issues. They dive deep into different issues and realize it’s not just about handing a hungry student lunch at school, it’s about digging deeper to see how we help that student (or family) access basic needs, like food.
Highlights From More Recent Years
- The Foundation grew from $3.6 million in assets under management to over $1.3 billion in the last 30 years.
- In the last five years alone, the Foundation has partnered with Houston’s top businesses to grant over $112.9 million to nonprofit organizations.
- Beginning in 2021, we successfully adapted to the evolving challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including establishing our first joint fund in 2020 in partnership with United Way of Greater Houston to leverage capacity and resources for Houstonians in need.
- We expanded our community impact efforts over the last five years with the launch of Understanding Houston, Greater Houston Disaster Alliance, and the High-Impact Grantmaking initiative.
- Launched the Giving Guide of Houston Black-Led Organizations in 2020.
- For the last several years, the Foundation has been invited to participate in the Larger Community Foundations Annual Conference as one of the youngest foundations in this exclusive group of less than 50 of the nation’s largest community foundations.
The Foundation prioritizes honoring donor intent above all else—this has and will never change. However, we’ve really stepped up how we show up for our donors and for Houston. Whether it’s tailored philanthropic advising, hosting programming where community leaders share their insights on specific issue areas that impact our region, or continuing to scale our Community Impact work through the power of collaborative grantmaking, strategic partnerships, and independent data—we are committed to transformative change through amplified giving.
Amplified Giving
In many ways, the vision in the original charter is the community foundation we’re entering now—one that evolves for our donors and our community to elevate awareness of important issues and works collaboratively with donors and others to drive progress in our city and beyond. To date, thanks to the generosity of our donor community, we have distributed over $2.2 billion in grants to the Greater Houston region and beyond since inception.
As we celebrate the incredible 30 years of impact thanks to our donors and clients, we are also excited about the future of philanthropy and the potential for even greater impact. A milestone like our 30th anniversary is a great time to pause and honor the people who worked hard to get us here, but it is also a time to look forward and start planning as the philanthropic landscape keeps evolving.
Our theme of “amplified giving” signifies our commitment to adapting to an ever-changing landscape, ensuring that we are not just responding to challenges but pioneering philanthropic solutions that resonate deeply within our communities to address emerging challenges and opportunities. We exist to grow strategic philanthropy to ensure maximum positive impact for the dollars our donors invest in our community. What got the Foundation here today will not keep us here, and we are equipped to continue adding value to the donor journey and creating the greatest impact in the communities we call home.
Together with our donors and partners, we envision a future where generosity knows no bounds and where the ripple effects of our collective efforts create a better world for generations to come. Ready to partner with us to inspire and create meaningful and positive change? Contact Kevin Pickett or Andrea Mayes to learn more about how we can help you achieve your philanthropic goals.
More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:
- 3 Tips for Keeping Your Advisors in the Loop for Maximum Impact
- The Community Connector: Arcy Muñoz
- The Surprising Benefits of Philanthropy on Your Well-being
- Why Donating Appreciated Stock Makes Financial Sense
- The Importance of Charitable Giving in Financial and Estate Planning
- How to Start a Scholarship Fund
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