All donors have a unique philanthropic story that they have worked to build and many want their impact to carry on beyond their lifetime. By choosing to incorporate philanthropy into your estate plan, you are ensuring that your legacy of generosity will live on.
How Greater Houston Community Foundation Supports Legacy and Planned Giving
Greater Houston Community Foundation provides unique, comprehensive planned giving and charitable estate planning support that leverages a variety of giving tools. Together, we will create a legacy plan that will ensure your philanthropic values are carried on in the future.
The Legacy Society
The Legacy Society celebrates donors who have included Greater Houston Community Foundation in their estate planning. Legacy Society members benefit from being part of a community of civic leaders who are dedicated to ensuring that Houston remains vital and strong for generations to come, driving philanthropic impact through the community foundation. All donors who have made plans for a permanently endowed gift of $1 million or more to the Foundation will be recognized as Pillars of the Community. These gifts can be in the form of endowed donor advised or field of interest funds, or an endowed gift to support the greatest needs as identified by Greater Houston Community Foundation. For questions regarding The Legacy Society and how to join, contact Jennifer Touchet.
Donor Advised Funds
Greater Houston Community Foundation is one of Houston’s premier partners for donor advised funds. Throughout your lifetime, your donor advised funds can act as a powerful giving tool, helping you make a direct impact on the community you call home. Upon your passing, your donor advised fund can be leveraged to provide donations to nonprofits and create a vehicle for giving for future generations. Funds can be stewarded by the Greater Houston Community Foundation in perpetuity if you have no identified successor advisors.
Endowment Funds
Greater Houston Community Foundation can ensure that your philanthropic legacy continues to have an impact for generations to come by stewarding an endowed fund. An endowment fund can direct your funds by area of interest or designate direct donations to the specific charities that are most important to you. We can keep it simple, or create a detailed plan. Either way, we are here to help you create a lasting impact toward the causes that mean the most to you.
Simplicity and Flexibility
Once your estate plan is set and we have worked together to create a legacy giving plan, you can make modifications and updates anytime you like. Often this is as simple as working with our philanthropic advising team to update beneficiary organizations, successor advisors, areas of interest, and more.
Next Gen Engagement
Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Next Gen Donor Institute helps prime future donors to steward your giving traditions beyond your lifetime. Throughout our program, the next generation comes to understand how they can take initiative on their own philanthropic goals while carrying out the charitable legacy that you have been dedicated to creating.