Challenging the Ordinary: Brad’s Entrepreneurial Approach for Impact
Brad Deutser doesn’t keep score the way most do. Walk into his office at Deutser, his consulting firm that designs people-focused change solutions, and you’ll see a score-board—not one tallying achievements, but a reminder to keep score of something else: impact. “The scoreboard highlights the importance of knowing what to actually keep score of—in life and business, and it’s a reminder to my team and our clients that no one else can determine what is most important to you.” Brad continued, “For my scoreboard, it’s about helping others, giving back, or doing the right thing for someone else. I try to keep score on how I show up to help and serve others.” This perspective is emblematic of the way Brad lives—creating ripples of change to spark exponential impact.
Fueled by Gratitude
Brad’s philanthropic journey started at a young age. He remembers vividly the sense of pride he felt when his parents hosted a gala, with then Vice President George H. W. Bush as the honoree. “It wasn’t about the attention or recognition my parents got from their work,” Brad reflects. “It was about being part of something that mattered. Watching my family lead and give with heart—that’s what shaped me to my core. I will never forget the feeling of that night.”
At the heart of Brad’s approach to philanthropy and leadership is a deep sense of gratitude. He wakes up daily with what he calls a “full cup”—a metaphor for the kindness and support he receives from those around him. Brad feels fortunate to have several influences that showed him how to truly be there for others, “It was my parents, grandparents, my wife, Jill, and her family—but it was also Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff who first brought me in to the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation, which I now lead and work to ensure its impact for generations to come.” He continued, “Melvyn was everything to me—personally and in business. But it’s Cyvia who challenges me in the most wonderful and profound ways. She is a visionary, seeing what others never dream, inspiring me to keep challenging, learning, and giving.”
Additionally, Brad credits Bert Margolis, the director of Camp Greylock, the camp that Brad attended for 15 years. “Bert showed me how to be vulnerable and to help those who have fallen down around me,” Brad expressed. “Without these people, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Some of my main influencers had a lot to give, some had little to give, but they all had something to give of themselves.” Brad acknowledged his fortunate position, fueling him to help others.
Shaping the Future of Houston Philanthropy
In 2011, Brad and Jill opened a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation. They were first introduced to the Community Foundation through Jill’s mother, Frann Gordon Lichtenstein, a longtime fundholder. He shared how it wasn’t until later that he fully understood the impact the fund could have on their giving and their company.
Jill and Brad’s legacy of giving permeates to their children, Ashley and Andrew. Brad beams when talking about the way his family has engaged with the Community Foundation. “From as early as our kids can remember, they were part of a philanthropic environment. As a family, we would fundraise for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with our Deutsers’ Defeating Diabetes team.” He recalls when Andrew set up a lemonade stand and took the proceeds to a school in Gulfton, handing out five-dollar bills to each student, saying, “I want to show you that I believe in you because someone did this for me, and I want to pass it forward.” For Brad, that moment said it all.
As his children grew older, Brad shared that the Community Foundation became an integral part of their lives. Both of his children participated in the Community Foundation’s Family Giving Circle (Giving Circle), a learning opportunity or 7th- to 12th-grade students to learn, volunteer, and grant together in Greater Houston. This network of students learns about the nonprofit landscape and how to be a thoughtful and strategic grantmaker. Brad knows his children developed clarity on their values, independent thinking, community knowledge, and leadership skills after completing the program. As a parent, it was thrilling for him to watch his kids participate on their own as they entered their teenage years.
Through the Giving Circle, Ashley was introduced to the realities of food insecurity in Houston. One evening Ashley shared about the three different nonprofit grant finalists of the Giving Circle—all doing incredible work. When Brad asked if they would support all three, Ashley responded: “No! Because if we give to all three, we lose impact. Two are giving food away. The other is changing behavior, and we are focused on long-term solutions to help address the root causes of hunger.” Brad was floored. “As a young kid, she had a framework for evaluating nonprofits,” he says proudly. “She had learned how to think critically about real issues—and to talk about them. Later, Ashley penned an editorial about the impact of her generation on philanthropy for the Houston Chronicle. That impact was driven by the Community Foundation.”
Challenging the Status Quo
Brad’s belief in people-powered change and giving back is fundamental to his business. He’s known for asking challenging questions that go deeper than surface-level answers. “I challenge everything. I ask raw questions to challenge people and systems to think differently. I look at challenge as the greatest creative force multiplier in an organization and a powerful tool for good.” Through questioning nonprofit leaders, he gains a deeper understanding of the real underlying issues and creates ways to boost their impact. It also gives the nonprofits a framework to ensure their funding request most effectively meets their objectives.
Brad approaches philanthropy with an entrepreneurial mindset, always seeking better ways to give. “Just because it’s been given in a certain way before, doesn’t mean it is the best way going forward,” he says. As President of the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation, Brad partners with the Community Foundation for professional, philanthropic advisory, and administrative services. “What attracts me most to the Community Foundation is its people, professionalism, and expertise. The Community Foundation’s staff are the experts—they go deeper than I ever dream about going with their breadth of understanding on giving trends, which educates and influences the way my family, the Wolff Family Foundation, and my company gives.” Insights from the Community Foundation often influence his work with clients across the country. “It’s not just about their dollars—it’s about their dreams, their legacy, their opportunity to uplift others now and for generations to come.” Through this lens, Brad helps people go deeper to create real, lasting change.
In 2015, Deutser established the Deutser Clarity Fund at the Community Foundation. This fund enables his company and his team to support organizations across the community in unique ways. Brad recalled a conversation with Steve Maislin, President and CEO of the Community Foundation, about a company that had opened donor advised funds for every employee, and the idea stuck with him. “It was brilliant, and I became obsessed, so we did it.” Every employee at Deutser has a personal giving fund, also known as an Employee Donor Advised Fund. “It’s become a critical part of who we are,” Brad says. “Our team talks about what they’re supporting, what they care about. It connects them to their communities—and each other.” Brad cited how a company’s giving culture is such a unique benefit. “Our people love it, and it’s an incredible differentiator,” he adds. Philanthropy fuels Brad to transform and shape his company’s culture. “People want to give back—sometimes they just don’t know how. When we created individual employee funds, we gave them a pathway to give and an expectation that giving is part of who we are and how we serve.”
Beyond the Score
Brad’s mission is succinct: to light up the scoreboard with meaningful, positive change. “If you’re keeping score,” he says, “Make sure it’s for the right things. Not the accolades, but the times you showed up. The moments you made someone else feel seen, empowered, or hopeful. The time you were quietly there to help lift someone else up or envision a different future.”
More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:
- Transformative Team for Houston: Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation
- What Is the Great Wealth Transfer?
- Bob Harvey’s Amplified Giving: Evolving Philanthropy to Shape Houston’s Future
- What is a Donor Advised Fund? The Complete Guide
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