Unlocking Your Legacy: Impactful Giving Today and Tomorrow
“The total or percentage of what you give away is not important. It is the function of doing it and lessons to you and family that are important.”
Phil Lewis, Community Foundation Fundholder
The spirit of generosity is strong in our communities as reflected in the 2025 Giving USA Report released in June 2025. Notably, charitable bequests reached nearly $46 billion representing 8% of all charitable giving in the United States. This data underscores the power of long‑term planning and values‑driven generosity.
At Greater Houston Community Foundation, we’re privileged to walk alongside our donors who want to amplify their impact, both now and in the future. By including a bequest to their fund in a will or trust, or by naming the Community Foundation as a beneficiary of an IRA, donors can help improve quality of life across our region for generations to come.
Giving Today: Impactful Benefits
Many of our dedicated supporters choose to give during their lifetimes, finding personal meaning in the work they support and, often, gaining financial advantages along the way.
“My donor advised fund at Greater Houston Community Foundation is more than a legal structure—they are my philanthropic partner. I have also found value in the Community Foundation’s flexibility and offering of custom solutions. For example, the Community Foundation allows my trusted financial advisor to manage the donor advised fund investment portfolio. Most of all, I appreciate Greater Houston Community Foundation’s willingness to explore innovative ways to help me achieve meaningful impact.”
Molly Gochman, Current Community Foundation Fundholder
Here are a few reasons donors often choose to give now:
Tax benefits: Giving now can offer immediate advantages, including potential income tax deductions that may help reduce taxable income, while allowing you to see your impact in real time. Contributions to a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation can also help you strategically time deductions and simplify year‑to‑year giving.
Family involvement: Establishing donor advised fund provides a flexible platform to engage multiple generations in your giving, fostering shared purpose and a philanthropic legacy over time. Click here to read about why the Annunziato family converted their family’s private foundation into a donor advised fund.
Community engagement: Many donors value the chance to connect more deeply with the organizations they support through volunteering, serving on boards, or participating in site visits to learn and witness progress firsthand. Click here to read how philanthropy can help fuel your purpose.
Seeing the impact: Giving today enables you to address immediate community needs and stay connected to the outcomes, so your generosity feels more tangible, personal, and impactful. Click here to learn how Frost Murphy’s entrepreneurial spirit helped HeartGift scale.
Giving for Tomorrow: Building Your Legacy
“One of the greatest things about the Community Foundation is that it will live well beyond any of us. Having a place where you can have your funds deposited, which you know will be safe and last for literally generations to come, is real peace of mind.”
David Weekley, Chairman, Former Community Foundation Governing Board Chair
Planning for the future is as important as making an impact today. Every donor carries a set of values shaped over time by family, community, and lived experience. For many, the goal is for that impact to extend well beyond their own lifetime. By thoughtfully integrating philanthropy into an estate plan, you can help ensure the causes you care about continue to thrive.
Including a bequest in your will or trust to the Community Foundation is a personal and enduring way to solidify your legacy and support what matters most. A legacy gift can translate your values into lasting action, creating a permanent connection to the community you call home.
By leaving a legacy through the Community Foundation, you can help ensure your impact continues for generations, strengthening Houston today while building toward a brighter future.
Your Lifetime Giving Partner
We invite you to contact our team of philanthropic advisors at Greater Houston Community Foundation to explore what matters most to you, today and over time. Together, we’ll clarify your goals, align your priorities, and design a giving strategy that reflects your values and brings your vision to life.
Ready to take the next step? Contact Kevin Pickett to learn how we can support your unique philanthropic goals, today and for generations to come.
More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:
- An Intimate Conversation on Legacy Planning in Houston: Turning Donor Intent into Action
- How To Get Started with Legacy Giving
- Legacy of Love: Rethinking Family & Philanthropy
- Giving With Clarity: The Power of Intentional Giving in Family Philanthropy
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