IN ACTION Bringing Stories to Life
Fall 2022
Greater Houston Community Foundation inspires and creates meaningful and positive change with our donors and for our community.
2022 Highlights, Thus Far! Meet Chris Weekley
Scholarships 8
25th Anniversary Celebration
Clyde V., Evalyn M., and James N. DeVillier Scholarship
Corporate Spotlight 14
Hess Corporation
Center for Family Philanthropy 16
Tips to Foster a Love of Philanthropy in Children
A National Case Study: Sharing our Work with the Field Center for Family Philanthropy – 10 Years! Empowering the Next Generations
Governing Board
Chris Weekley, Chair President, David Weekley Homes
Ron Hulme, Immediate Past Chair Chief Executive Officer Bluescape Energy Partners
William H. Caudill Outside General Counsel Norton Rose Fulbright
Gregory L. Ebel Chair of the Board, Enbridge Inc.
Kate Fowler, Next Gen Representative Executive Director Jerry C. Dearing Family Foundation
Cullen Geiselman, Ph.D. Chair of the Board
Cullen Trust for Health Care
Lacey Fluor Goossen Executive Vice President Texas Crude Energy, LLC
Laura R. Jaramillo Executive Director, LISC Houston
Mandy Kao
Co-Owner of Titan Management Community Leader
Nancy D. McGregor
Community Leader & Retired Attorney
Kim A. Ruth
Managing Director, Apex Partners, LLC
Caren Sweetland Attorney, Houston Site Director Generation SERVE
Tym Tombar Managing Director
Arcadius Capital Partners
Celestine Vettical Managing Partner and Co-Founder Celestial Holdings LP
Randa Weiner Community Leader
Richard Wilkens, Next Gen Representative Founder and Manager, Wilkens Group, PLLC
Enoch Woodhouse Chief Executive Officer Smith Family Circle
Thomas M. Wright Partner, Private Client Services RSM US, LLP
Thank
Ron Hulme served as Chair of Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Governing Board from 2019-2021. Thank you for your leadership and impact!
Thanks for your Support!
New funds established between January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022!
Anonymous (3)
David DeVido Charitable Fund
Farris Family Fund
Harper-Foronda Family Fund
Harvest Scholarship Program
Indus Cares College Scholarship
Indus Cares High School Scholarship
Katie and Philip Morgan Charitable Fund
Liz and Brian Dinerstein Family Foundation
Michael Berry Family Foundation
Robert E. Warmack Fund
Sunshine Kids Scholarship
The Creedon Charitable Fund
The Zola W. Cater/William D. Eakes Family Fund
A Letter from the Governing Board Chair
Dear Community Member,
It is my privilege to serve as Board Chair of Greater Houston Community Foundation and to be a part of this network where each of us is committed to learning and giving together. We are all deeply invested in the Foundation’s dedication to helping Houston thrive. The Foundation’s authenticity to its mission and devotion to being Houston’ s philanthropic hub drew me to engage with Greater Houston Community Foundation over 11 years ago.
When I first got involved, I was starting to build my career and grow my family. Now, my involvement with the Foundation helps keep my philanthropic work a priority in my life. I show up to programs, create pieces of training, take site visits, attend committee meetings, and attend Family Philanthropy Day.
Throughout my life, my family has always been committed to giving back, and I continue to learn from them daily. However, my experiences with Greater Houston Community Foundation expanded my horizons. I have always known how fortunate I am to have the opportunity and responsibility to share my resources toward a better society. Greater Houston Community Foundation has provided me with the guidance I need on how to continue to be thoughtful and effective.
The Governing Board supports and promotes the Foundation’s vision and values, ensures sound financial management, and helps chart the Foundation’s strategic responses to the changing landscape of philanthropy. We are an active and focused board, and I am grateful for the service of Immediate Past Chair, Ron Hulme, and every Governing Board Member.
Welcome, Chris Weekley!
Chris Weekley serves as the President of David Weekley Homes, one of the largest privately held home building firms in the country. He is a graduate of the Next Gen Donor Institute and has served on the Center for Family Philanthropy Advisory Committee. Weekley brings years of board experience through his work with The FORGE for Families, Spring Branch Education Foundation, and Memorial Assistance Ministries (MAM).
I look forward to continuing to work with this group and am honored to have been elected by the Governing Board as Chair for the coming two years.
How we all deploy our resources, and even how much of our resources are dedicated to making our community better, will make a huge difference in our society: in Houston, nationally, and globally.
I look forward to expanding our connections and impact in Houston.
Regards,
Chris Weekley Governing Board Chairof Scholarship Funds and Their Positive Impact on Our Community!
YEARS
About the 2021-22 Scholarship Recipients: students were from Houston students were from Texas students were from 27 other states
Scholarship Highlights:
298 469 165
Types of Scholarship Funds:
Individual and Family Country Club
Corporate Nonprofit and Private Foundation
Professional Association and Government
• During the 1997-98 school year, we had one scholarship fund that awarded $15,000. During the 2021-22 school year, we had 43 scholarship funds that awarded over $3.2 million in scholarships.
• Over the last 25 years, Greater Houston Community Foundation has helped its donors award over $23.5 million in scholarships.
• Over the last five academic years alone, donors have awarded $13.4 million in scholarships through the Foundation.
In May, over 70 guests gathered to celebrate 25 years of scholarships. Guests included scholarship recipients, donors, and our 2022 Scholarship Review Committee members. Everyone participated in an "ice breaker," which helped all who attended realize we all have at least had one thing in common - a shared belief in the power of education.
Thank you to our keynote speaker, Daniel Villanueva, Jr., Ph.D., Vice President of Enrollment Management at the University of Houston-Downtown, for sharing his educational journey, data on higher education financing, and the importance of higher education to the Houston community.
We also want to thank Lakeside Country Club for helping us host this event! Lakeside Country Club is not only an incredible venue but also hosts a scholarship fund for employees and their children through Greater Houston Community Foundation.
“Thank YOU and the GHCF Family for extending an invitation to participate in the 25th Scholarships Anniversary Luncheon. It was amazing. I loved everything about it and learned more about the amazing work that GHCF is doing in the Greater Houston area. I had the best table and company!”
Claudia Ortega Hogue“I hope that all the donors truly know how much this means to students. You are helping build an army of very intelligent people for our future. Again thank you all so very much.”
Brynn Beniot Hilcorp Scholarship Fund RecipientScholarship Spotlight
Clyde V., Evalyn M., and James N. DeVillier Scholarship
Established through a bequest, the Clyde V., Evalyn M., and James N. DeVillier Scholarship benefits graduating seniors from Northside High School (formerly known as Jefferson Davis High School). The fund is named after its founder Clyde DeVillier, his first wife Evalyn, and their son James.
The Clyde V., Evalyn M., and James N. DeVillier Scholarship was established with one sole stipulation by the donor: recipients must be graduates of Northside High School. This allows Greater Houston Community Foundation to annually assess the needs of current students, in collaboration with Northside staff, to create a truly impactful scholarship to help students overcome financial hurdles and continue their education. Understanding the trend in declining financial aid for students as they continue past their freshman year, Greater Houston Community Foundation has made the scholarship renewable for up to four years for all recipients.
Clyde V. DeVillier was born in Houston in the early 1920s and graduated from Northside High School in 1942. Following graduation, Clyde enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. His time in the armed services ended in 1946 in Madison, WI, where he met his first wife, Evalyn. The two had one son, James, who untimely passed in 1987. Success was plentiful in Madison for Clyde, who was president of one of the local title companies from 1964 until he retired. Evalyn preceded Clyde in death in 1997. His final years were spent with his second wife, Hannah, in sunny Sarasota, FL.
Corporate Spotlight
“Our company has a proud history of social investment programs that make a positive and lasting impact on the communities where we operate ... this new partnership with the Dynamo strengthens our Hess Learning for Life education program by providing children in our neighborhood with fun, engaging opportunities to learn, grow, and be inspired by worldclass professionals from our organizations.”
Greg Hill President and COO of Hess CorporationThe Hess Learning for Life Partnership
In April, Hess announced a new partnership with Houston Dynamo Football Club, to offer a free soccer and education program for local students in underserved communities. This is a five-week Learn and Play program where children from underserved communities discover more about the science of sports. In addition, these two organizations hosted “Learning for Life Achievement Awards“ to celebrate students for outstanding academic achievement, overcoming hardships, community service, the strength of character, and more.
Hess’ partnership with Houston Dynamo Football Club is an extension of the Hess Learning for Life Education partnership, where Hess committed $9 million over three years to fund educational programs and support services for children in three economically disadvantaged communities in Houston: Houston’s Third Ward, Magnolia Park-Manchester, and Second Ward. These communities are part of the Mayor’s Complete Communities Initiative. The Hess Learning for Life Partnership will benefit approximately 22 schools and more than 13,000 children from pre-K through college in these neighborhoods.
The partnership expands the scope and reach of Hess’ LEAP (Learn, Engage, Advance, Persevere) educational program, a previous $7.4 million investment made by Hess, to support students in the Magnolia Park and Second Ward neighborhoods.
Since 2012, Greater Houston Community Foundation has managed Hess' education programs, including designing and implementing strategic grantmaking, facilitating a partner collaborative, and measuring impact through data collection and reporting.
to Foster a Love for Philanthropy in Children
Start Early
Research shows that the earlier children are engaged in learning, volunteering, and giving in their community the more likely they are to continue throughout their lifetimes. It’s much harder to start something “new” for teenagers or college-age kids. Families are busy these days and they only get busier as kids get older.
Make it a Habit...
Not a once-a-year occasion or the first thing to get “cut” from the activity list. Show your children it is a priority for you and your entire family to connect with your broader community! Prioritize and schedule it just like the baseball practices and theatre rehearsals.
Help Them Find Their Passion
Read The Giving Book by Ellen Sabin with your children or contact us to access our philanthropic interests worksheet.
Come to Family Philanthropy Day
Save the date for Saturday, November 5, 2022! Make it a family tradition!
Involve Grandparents
Being active in the community, volunteering, and learning together can be a great way for grandparents to connect with their grandchildren
The most important thing you can do is to believe in your children’ s leadership and voice and encourage their desires to make the world a better place. They will not disappoint you!
Sharing our Work with the Field
A National Case Study Funded by Greater Houston Community Foundation Donors
The future of philanthropy is being shaped by the next generation of donors, and Greater Houston Community Foundation is proud to be a national leader in designing education and training programs for these new philanthropic leaders.
We’ve included some highlights in the following pages of the case study on Next Gen Donor Learning: Lessons for Effective Programs from Houston and the Field. This case study was created from an intensive external evaluation of our Next Gen Donor Institute which included surveys of program alumni, dozens of in-depth interviews, a focus group with local youth, and a review of the national field of Next Gen Donor learning programs.
Since this case study was published, Jennifer Touchet, Vice President of Personal and Family Philanthropy, and our Next Gen Donor Institute alumni have been invited to speak about our experience and the programs we offer on a local and national level.
Co-Authors:
Michael Moody, Ph.D., Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University
Robyn Schein, 21/64
Questions regarding the next generation of philanthropic leaders?
Jennifer Touchet Vice President of Personal and Family Philanthropyjtouchet@ghcf.org
713.333.2228
(L-R) Jennifer Touchet and Kelly Hackett.Why Does Next Generation Learning Matter?
The amount of wealth the next generation will steward is historically unprecedented. Deciding how to deploy philanthropic capital and have an impact on our most pressing issues is hard work. Donors who are starting their philanthropic journey now are doing so at a time of major shifts and innovations in the field. Community foundations and nonprofit leaders can help these next generation donors to be positive, informed, and impactful donors and leaders in our community. Their learning will have a ripple effect – not just on individual donors but on multiple generations of family giving.
What did we learn about Next Gen Donors?
Our programs empower donors to:
Understand the philanthropic landscape in Houston and nationally.
Have an informed voice within their family.
Plan for future stewardship of philanthropic capital.
Refine their board and community leadership skills.
Understand how to identify and partner with effective nonprofits and community partners.
Develop a strategic grantmaking plan focused on impact.
How Does the Next Generation Learn Best?
Programs should have a combination of traditional learning blended with experiential learning and dialogue with peers. Experiential learning through things like site visits to nonprofits helps donors practice what they are learning. Dialogue with peers helps build strong connections and creates a space to learn from and challenge each other.
Six Questions to Ask When Designing a Next Gen Donor Program
Tips for your family, foundation, organization, and/or community!
1.What would success look like, and what are the intended impacts?
It is important to be explicit about the intended successes and impacts.
2.Who is the audience, and where are they in their journey?
Clearly define your target audience beyond just age.
3.What do the Next Gen donors want or need to learn?
By listening to feedback and adjusting to the changing landscape of philanthropy, we can develop impactful programs and learning opportunities.
4.How do these donors learn best?
Next Gen donors need a combination of traditional, experiential, and peer learning!
5.How can the donors stay engaged and implement their philanthropic plans over time?
This journey needs to be much more than a one-time program. It is a longterm commitment and investment in lifelong learning.
6.What do these programs cost?
Well-run, in-depth learning programs can require significant investments of time and top talent, but they are worth it.
Where are we going from here?
After evaluating the results of this case study, Greater Houston Community Foundation is committed to:
Continue to be a home base for all donors to ask questions and learn how to practice more strategic high-impact philanthropy –collaboratively and individually.
Continue to listen to feedback.
Continue adapting the program curriculum to reflect the evolving philanthropic field.
Expand to have more diversity within our next gen and donor network.
Develop more ongoing programming – especially more advanced training on strategic philanthropy.
Celebrating Over
10 of Next Gen Donor Learning! years
Next Gen Reception
In April, Randa and K.C. Weiner hosted a reception at their home to celebrate over ten years of our work with Next Gen donors. Event attendees included Next Gen Institute Alumni, Center for Family Philanthropy advisory committee members, and local funders of the case study. Guests were welcomed with a special "Next Gin Spritz" and gathered for a short program, with
remarks from Chris Weekley, Board Chair, Randa Weiner, Advisory Committee Member and Board Member, Jennifer Touchet, Vice President of Personal and Family Philanthropy, and Robyn Schein, Senior Director at 21/64 and co-author of the case study. This event was an opportunity for people to mingle and celebrate our collective commitment all event attendees have to philanthropic learning.
(L-R) Randa and K.C. Weiner. (L-R) Robyn Schein and Michael Moody. (L-R) Winnie Simmons Phillips, Kaylen Burke MacDonald, Ross MacDonald, Alexandra Tennant, Matt Goossen, Lacey Fluor Goossen, and Andrea Mayes.Center for Family Philanthropy Luncheon
On April 20, 2022, over 125 guests gathered to celebrate over 10 years of Next Gen Donor engagement at the Asia Society of Texas and the release of the case study, Next Gen Donor Learning: Lessons Learned from Houston and the Field. Attendees enjoyed delicious food from Tony’s, one of Houston’s finest restaurants, while Dr. Michael Moody, our keynote speaker, shared highlights of the case study.
Dr. Moody also guided a panel discussion with Lacey Fluor Goossen, Mandy Kao, Ben Brown, and Kelly Hackett. After the discussion, members of our Youth Leadership Team, Diya Vettical and Ashton Kao, high school juniors, shared stories about how their participation with the Youth Leadership Team has given them a more robust understanding of philanthropy and has helped them understand and connect with their broader community.
Everyone in the room left inspired to recruit more people to engage the next generation of philanthropic leaders Engaged and connected donors have a larger impact when they are involved, educated, and connected to one another.
(L-R) Greg Ebel and Nancy McGregor. (L-R) Diya Vettical and Ashton Kao. Charlene Tombar. (L-R) Michael Moody with Panelists, Lacey Fluor Goossen, Mandy Kao, Ben Brown, and Kelly Hackett.Empowering the Next Generation
Next Gen Donor Institute
This year-long program helps the next generation of philanthropic leaders develop a deeper understanding of their philanthropic journey and identity as well as learn from peers and community leaders about philanthropic trends and possibilities.
(L-R) Annie Hurwitz, Nancy Smith, Mandy Lewis, Chaz Lewis, Sarah Chase Webber, Jenny Everett, Jennifer Touchet, Samantha Sherman with Wesley Community Center, and Madeleine Chaisson with LISC Houston.Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
Jenny Everett
Claudia Kreisle
Chaz Lewis
Mandy Lewis
Rich Lewis
Kayla Lewis
Jenna Lindley
Matthew Lindley
Michael Mitzner
Wynne Sharpe
“The Next Gen Donor Institute gave me more of an understanding of philanthropic vehicles, contextualized my own giving plan, helped me better identify effective nonprofits, and introduced me to a community of engaged individuals who are all becoming strong advocates for the city of Houston and around the globe.”
Michael Mitzner
Next Gen DonorInstitute,
Class of 2022Francis Sharpe
Nancy Smith
Sarah Chase Webber
Chris Yetter
Strategic Giving for Youth
Empowering and educating the philanthropic leaders of tomorrow starts with engaging younger generations today. We are pleased to announce that the Center for Family Philanthropy now has two formalized programs in which youth from 7th-12th grade can participate.
Family Giving Circle
Family Giving Circle is a learning opportunity for families and youth to learn, volunteer, and grant together in the Greater Houston area. The Youth Leadership Team leads the Family Giving Circle, a peer network of students (grade 7th-10th) interested in learning about the nonprofit landscape and how to be a thoughtful and strategic grantmaker. This leadership opportunity is a great way for
youth to develop their values, independent thinking, decision-making power, community knowledge, and leadership skills. Through this programming, our Youth Leaders better understand the grantmaking process for nonprofits and develop deeper relationships with nonprofits in the community.
Diya Vettical Executive Officer, Youth Leadership Team“Growing up, I've always been surrounded by a culture that tells me that youth is innocence, that youth is about having fun, that youth is about not having responsibilities and saving that for those more experienced. But is there more? Being on this Youth Leadership Team has shown me that we have so much more to offer. It's taught me that we can create mission statements and grant applications, talk to organizations about what they do and their impacts, and conduct site visits and volunteer. But I think, most importantly, this team has taught me how to use my voice for good and in a way that impacts my community. It's shown me the power and potential of the youth in a way that I've never experienced before. And in a way, I've never been treated before. This team has empowered me in a way that could never be taken away from me. On this team, I have found my voice.”
2021-2022New Program: Houston Youth Philanthropists
We are pleased to announce the official launch of a highly engaged program for high school juniors and seniors that is new to Houston: Houston Youth Philanthropists. Houston Youth Philanthropists is new programming offered through Greater Houston Community Foundation in partnership with the Three Pillars Initiative. The comprehensive curriculum consists of modules for students to learn the fundamentals of fundraising, what a social enterprise business is, how to practice strategic grantmaking, and more. Juniors and seniors in the program will also work with assigned community mentors and design a service project. Additionally, students who complete the program will be part of a national network of young philanthropists in high school and college who have gone through the program in their own communities.
Questions about our Youth Programs?
Allison Hale Senior Philanthropic Associateahale@ghcf.org
713.333.2235
Greater Houston Community Foundation joins an exclusive group of community foundations that offer this project-based learning experience for its youth in partnership with the Three Pillars Initiative. We are pleased to be program affiliates along with our peer community foundations:
• Future Philanthropist Program, Oak ParkRiver Forest Community Foundation, Illinois
• Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, Nebraska
• Beckley Area Foundation, West Virginia
• Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, New York
Youth Leadership Team.Understanding
Houston
What is a Topic Briefing?
It is a presentation given by Understanding Houston to help people understand the data behind a specific issue area that impacts Houston. Understanding Houston provides donors, community leaders, and residents with access to independent information they can use to effect positive change in their communities.
The more we understand about our region, the more we can help it thrive — changing our world and our communities for the better. Understanding Houston offers a central resource for credible and independent data and trends on various issues affecting the greater Houston region. Understanding Houston is a collaborative regional indicators initiative to help us all learn, engage, and act to build a Houston region that provides everyone the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Higher Education: How Attainable is it?
Is accessing and completing higher education attainable for the average Houstonian? In March of 2022, Understanding Houston presented to community members the benefits of and barriers to receiving a postsecondary degree or credential. Below is a 10,000-foot view of the data they shared.
It’s Good for Houston
Personal Benefits of Obtaining a Higher Education degree:
Make More Money: An individual with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn, on average, $1.2 million more over their lifetime than an individual with only a high school diploma. (Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2009-2019)
Job Security: Unemployment rates are consistently lower for those with a bachelor’s degree than for those with less than a high school diploma. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis)
Paves the Way for Future Generations: Children who have a parent with a bachelor’s degree are 2.5 times more likely to get one themselves compared to kids who do not have a parent with a college degree. (Source: Pew Research Center)
Increases Health: People with higher education are more likely to have health insurance and to be healthier. (Sources: Bio Med Center Archives of Public Health, Annual Review of Public Health, & American Journal of Public Health)
Community Benefits of Obtaining Higher Education:
Regions with highly skilled and educated workers attract and keep employers that provide good jobs, which attract skilled workers, thus fueling the region’s economy.
Less reliance on public assistance. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
Less likely to interact with the criminal legal system. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
More likely to have health insurance, reducing health care costs that rely on public funding.
More likely to vote, which advances civic engagement. (Sources: Science Direct and JSTOR)
Barriers to Receiving a Higher Education Degree Faced by Low-Income Students
The strongest predictor of getting a college degree is household income. Students from higher-income households are much more likely to apply for, enroll in, and complete college than their lower-income counterparts. For example, in Montgomery County, only 9% of economically disadvantaged students earned a degree compared to 30% of noneconomically disadvantaged students. That is a 21-percentage-point difference. And we see that same trend in Fort Bend County and Harris County. (Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), 8th Grade Cohorts Tracked through Higher Education)
College Application Process: It’s expensive, time-consuming, and complicated for all applicants but magnified for low-income or first-generation students who may not have the guidance, information, and resources to navigate effectively.
Not Enough College Counselors: National Center for Education Statistics says that during the 2020-2021 school year, Harris County had one counselor for every 530 students. This leaves minuscule, limited resources for students to receive guidance on the complicated application processes.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) Submission Rates and Verification: In a national study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, 23% of students did not have enough information about completing the FASFA, and 15% reported that they did not know they could complete the FASFA. Some students after submitting their FASFA, are selected to go through an audit to confirm that the information they submitted is accurate called “FASFA Verification.” Data from the Houston Education Research Consortium shows that students flagged for FASFA verification before their first year of college are more likely to experience summer melt.
Summer Melt: Summer melt is when a student commits to a college but does not attend. In Texas, according to the Houston Education Research Consortium, as of 2019, 10% of high school graduates who were accepted to a four-year in-state public university did not enroll in the fall.
College Readiness: High school graduates who are not considered “college-ready“ are placed into developmental courses required before they can begin college-level coursework. In turn, completing college will take much longer and be more expensive.
Want to learn about the additional barriers that low-income students face when obtaining a higher education degree?
Here are just a few reasons why:
A Special Thank You!
In addition to staff from Understanding Houston presenting on different data, we had four speakers – Victoria Chen, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BridgeYear;
University of Houston-Downtown; and Patty Williams-Downs at OneGoal-Houston. Thank you for helping us lead the conversation on challenges and innovative approaches to
state has decreased dramatically causing an extreme financial burden on students and their families in paying the rising costs
Mental Health Topic Briefing
Since the onset of the pandemic, mental health awareness has increased. In June of 2021, Understanding Houston was asked to present to a small group of donors interested in this issue on how changing demographics and environment affect health and health service needs in Houston. Below is a 10,000foot view of the Mental Health topic briefing that Understanding Houston presented on the state of mental health in the Houston region.
Mental Distress is Frequent: Data from Texas Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System found in 2018, about one in eight adults reported experiencing 14 or more poor mental health days across the three counties (Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Harris).
Suicide Rates: According to the CDC, suicide was the second leading cause of death among Americans between 10 and 34 years of age in 2020. The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention found that men are more likely to attempt suicide, and they die by suicide at a rate 3.6 times that of women.
Disasters Exacerbate and Cause Mental Distress: The U.S. Census Bureau found that 28% of adults felt anxious for more than half the days of a week one year into the pandemic. In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau also found data indicating that anxiety symptoms were lowest among the highest earners during COVID-19.
Access to Intervention: There is one mental health provider for every 988 residents in Houston’s three-county region, which is worse than the national average, according to the County Health Rankings (2018).
Health Insurance: The U.S. Census Bureau shows that one of every five Houstonians lacks health insurance. Latinos are least likely to be insured with 44% of adults between 19 and 64 years lack health insurance.
Upcoming Event!
We are collecting fresh, new data. We invite you to join us at our upcoming Big Picture program, where we explore significant trends over the last decade in Houston’s three-county region. How has our region changed? We’ll give you the big picture of our population, health, wealth, education, and overall quality of life as we present key findings.
Questions
“The Topic Briefing provided by Understanding Houston was invaluable in helping the [Next Gen] Giving Circle navigate the landscape of mental health within our community. From learning about the need for mental health services, to what resources are currently available, to where the holes are in how we as a community address those needs, the Topic Briefing provided us with the foundational knowledge to begin our conversation and jumpstart our journey toward a final decision.”
“Learning about Understanding Houston and how to best use it during one of our classes was the greatest take away for me. I knew instantly that it would be a resource that I will use regularly to help guide our giving strategy to best meet the current and longterm needs of Houston. Within days of learning about this tool, I was able to pull the latest stats about each of our core focus areas for giving and then identify local organizations that are addressing these specific issues.”
Kaylen Burke MacDonald AIG, Next Gen Giving Circle Claudia R. KreisleYolanda Chavez Knull
Professional Advisor Spotlight
We sat down with Yolanda Chavez Knull at her office on the 15th floor of a Greenway Plaza high rise, which has panoramic views of some of Houston’s finest neighborhoods, the neighborhoods many of her clients call home. We asked Yolanda to share her story about working in partnership with Greater Houston Community Foundation on charitable solutions that help her clients make strategic plans for their future.
About Yolanda:
Yolanda is a partner at Ytterberg Deery Knull LLP. She has experience assisting clients with estate planning, estate administration, cross-border estate planning, planning with art, and philanthropy. Her work with philanthropic individuals and families has led to broad experience with private foundations and planned giving, including everything from helping them formulate their mission statement to federal and state compliance matters. Yolanda received her Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and attended New York University School of Law to receive her J.D. degree.
Q: What was your perceived reputation of Greater Houston Community Foundation before beginning an ongoing relationship with them?
I didn’t have any, it was brand new. I moved to Houston in 1986 from New York City to practice law at Vinson & Elkins. In my New York practice, we integrated quite a bit with the New York Community Trust. When I got here [Houston] it was curious to me that we did not have a similar organization. Several of my [Houston] clients were in the first leadership group at Greater Houston Community Foundation and that is how I became involved.
Q: How would you describe your relationship today with Greater Houston Community Foundation?
It is a very important tool for use in the estate planning that I do with my clients. I am fortunate to have always worked with very high net-worth clients who are by and large, most of them, very interested in philanthropy. It was a natural fit to use in so many ways whether to partner with a private foundation, in lieu of a private foundation, or as a recipient of gifts as they passed away. Another interesting way that I use Greater Houston Community Foundation as a tool is when we have clients from time to time who are new to wealth. They’ve sold a company or experienced a similar liquidity event and they do not know the first thing about philanthropy, but they want to learn. They could always donate to a big donor advised fund sponsor somewhere, but they really like the idea of getting to know other people who are similarly situated – to learn how to be a careful donor, to learn about opportunities, to meet other like-minded people. Greater Houston Community Foundation is a wonderful way to do that.
Q: What was the first experience you had with Greater Houston Community Foundation?
My clients who were involved were such impressive people. Knowing that they were 100% backing Greater Houston Community Foundation was very reassuring. I was always confident, because of those people, that it [Greater Houston Community Foundation] was going to do well.
Q: What is a takeaway that you have learned from Greater Houston Community Foundation through our different Professional Advisor programs?
Often, the most important thing that my clients worry about is not allowing their wealth to poison the lives of their descendants. There have been several programs put on by Greater Houston Community Foundation where they have experts in that field present on this topic that have been beneficial to me and my clients. I have learned every time I have gone to one of those programs.
Q: Conversations about end-of-life planning are hard. What are some tools that you use to start a dialogue around legacy planning?
I learned a long time ago that you can’t avoid the obvious. This is what people need from me. You must face it squarely and be totally honest with clients and they will hopefully be totally honest with you in return.
Q: What do you do when a client seems to be putting off this conversation [regarding end of life]?
I am very good at nagging. I learned the hard way when a young woman passed away from cancer, very early in my career. I did her planning and did not receive the follow-up from her that I needed. At the time, I did not want to pester her as I knew she was sick. Then it was almost too late, and I ended up doing things with her in the hospital with her family. I learned from this that you have to be persistent, you have to pester… what we do is too important, so you can’t let politeness or nicety or worrying about hurting people’s feelings get in the way. It is not always fun, but it is necessary.
More about Yolanda:
• She works with her son, Warren Knull, who also participates in programming at Greater Houston Community Foundation.
• Yolanda has two grandchildren under the age of 4.
• Since 2004, Texas Monthly has listed her as a “Top 100 Attorneys” handling personal wealth concerns.
• She has been involved on the Houston Grand Opera Endowment Board, Greater Houston Community Foundation Council, and Museum of Fine Arts Houston Latin American Art subcommittee.
Q: What strategies do you have for clients incorporating children into the conversation about wealth transfer between generations?
From my experience, the results of raising responsible children are most achievable based on a good solid education on wealth, information about the wealth, and giving them the tools to deal with it. Springing it [wealth] on them when a parent dies is not a recipe for success. Most clients listen to this advice and slowly, slowly bring the kids into the tent. A few won’t, no matter how much you advise them. The tricky part is at what age do you start?
One of the things I suggest is to start the process when they are fairly young by using a charitable vehicle as a teaching tool. Especially for teenagers, it is easier, I think, to get them to listen and cooperate if it is someone else’s money than if it is their own money.
Q: How do you balance transaction vs. personal components of your job?
To me, it is 90% personal and 10% technical. We can’t do a good job implementing and writing a plan until we have a very clear understanding of the clients’ goals and objectives with respect to their family members, with respect to their investments, with respect to their companies, especially with entrepreneurs with companies who have a lot of employees. It is all very personal.
I always start and spend a lot of time developing the personal relationship. It takes a while sometimes to get people to feel confident enough in their lawyer to open up and really tell you what is worrying them, what they think, what they would like to accomplish – without regard to taxes or formalities or anything else. Just tell me what would make you happy the day after you die. Once they tell us that, it is not that hard to build the infrastructure, within the tax laws, as best we can to make it work efficiently. Some things are not going to be as efficient as others, but you have to start with what is in their hearts and what they really want to do.
Q: What does it look like when you give advice about philanthropy?
It is pretty clear when you talk to a client whether their focus is on maximizing the amount of wealth they are going to pass to their children or it isn’t. For clients where it seems that philanthropy is not a high priority to their family, we might very briefly talk about philanthropic aspects – maybe in the course of a long conversation on the personal side, something might emerge.
Then there are those clients who are more of the belief that it isn’t necessary to provide your children with every single dollar the parents have access to. They would like their children to be very well taken care of, of course, we all do. But what do we do with the rest? Some come in with very strong philanthropic objectives they want to accomplish.
Donor Advised Funds with Greater Houston Community Foundation are a great help, especially in cases where my clients don’t have an obvious person to take care of their
philanthropic priorities when they are gone –it ensures that the wealth they worked so hard to achieve will be well taken care of.
Q: You mentioned that you worked in New York before working in Houston. Do you have a sense of the difference between the philanthropic community of New York vs. Houston?
Very much so. People in Houston appear to me to be much more generous. I felt the generosity immediately. I asked a client many years ago [about Houston’s generosity], ‘What is going on here in Houston? What is it with this place and the obvious generosity of so many?’ This is what my client, who is now gone, said ‘A lot of us feel we didn’t do anything to deserve this wealth – it came from the ground so there is this lingering little shred of guilt. Because we didn’t do anything to earn it, we need to give it back.’ This is an old-fashioned sentiment, not a lot of people left in that generation, but I don’t know what else explains the incredible generosity of the wealthy people in this city.
Advisor Outreach Committee
Greater Houston Community Foundation has a deep experience partnering with professional advisors and their clients to design charitable planning strategies and connect them with philanthropic services that maximize their philanthropic investments and ensure their unique giving goals are met. A special thanks to our Advisor Outreach Committee for their continued partnership in helping amplify philanthropic impact in Houston and beyond.
Chair, Karen Costa, RSM US LLP
Lauren Doughty, Locke Lord LLP
Nick Erwin, U.S. Capital Advisors LLC
Brandon Holcomb, Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC
Tama Klosek, Klosek & Associates PLLC
Charlie Schwartzel, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Jennifer Klein Strauss, Ytterberg Deery Knull LLP
Kyle Wright, Stardust
Hire Houston Youth!
A Costly Problem that Hire Houston Youth is Determined to Fix:
There is a growing deficit in meaningful employment and career exploration opportunities for youth, preventing them from gaining the skills to take advantage of Houston’s dynamic economy.
In April 2016, the City of Houston launched the Hire Houston Youth (HHY) Field of Interest Fund in partnership with Greater Houston Community Foundation. It is the first citywide, collective impact postsecondary and workforce effort bringing together dozens of unique, outstanding partners from our diverse city. The mission of HHY is to link government institutions, businesses, community organizations, and schools to offer internships, apprenticeships, and job opportunities to young adults ages 16 to 24. Hire Houston Youth serves as the facilitator to connect youth to local jobs where they
are empowered with an “earn and learn” opportunity in Houston’s dynamic economy. These Houstonians are offered eight-week paid summer jobs and internships with the City of Houston, and the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. This program bridges the gap between young, unemployed, or underemployed Houstonians and Houstonbased companies, which, in turn, helps build a better Houston. (Continued on page 40)
“Hire Houston Youth, much like Greater Houston Community Foundation, seeks to leverage City resources with private partnerships to meet the challenges everyday Houstonians face, particularly our young people. Greater Houston Community Foundation maximizes the positive impact our program has on our community, allowing Hire Houston Youth to increase access to quality ‘earning and learning’ opportunities for Houston’s youth and build toward a more prosperous future.”
Thank you to these companies that, as of May 2022, have offered the most significant number of jobs through Hire Houston Youth:
2,000 jobs
1,500 jobs
400 jobs
200 jobs
300 jobs
200 jobs
Hire Houston Youth became a reality through the strategic partnership between the City of Houston and Greater Houston Community Foundation. The ongoing partnership as a Field of Interest Fund with the Foundation helps HHY navigate accounting and financial complexities and provides an abundance of operations and administrative support Most importantly, this partnership allows Hire Houston Youth to implement long-lasting change that can live on after the current administration. Olivera Jankovska, Director of Education for the City of Houston, states, “The ongoing partnership with Greater Houston Community Foundation has benefitted the Hire Houston Youth program greatly. The City of Houston has vast resources but partnering with Greater Houston Community Foundation gives added flexibility to these resources allowing the city to pursue new initiatives and expand existing programs, like Hire Houston Youth, in an innovative way.”
The impact that HHY has had since its inception is astonishing! In 2016, the first year of the program, HHY created about 450 job opportunities for Houston youth. As of May 2022, HHY has created over 10,000 positions, indicating they are on track to meet their 2022 goal of 12,000 open jobs. Most importantly, as of May 2022, HHY had over 9,000 youth registered and who are now actively seeking employment through their program.
When HHY first began, all the internships were through the City of Houston. Today, there are approximately 500 different companies and entities with job postings. There are over 30 industries that Houston youth can obtain experience in, ranging from agriculture to technology and everything in between. The success of the HHY program heavily relies on partnerships, sponsorships, donations, and employers who wish to post positions on the Hire Houston Youth portal.
Learn more at www.hirehoustonyouth.org
What is a Field of Interest Fund?
A Field of Interest Fund is a fund dedicated to a specific area of interest a group of donors would like to support.
A Field of Interest Fund is a fit for you if you:
• Want to drive change or encourage collaboration among other organizations in Houston.
• Have an issue area you are passionate about and are motivated to act on.
• Seek more information about other organizations in the Houston area offering programs focused on your same issue or topic.
• Are ready to partner with Greater Houston Community Foundation to evaluate grantmaking needs, strategy, structure, reporting, and evaluation to help you bring about transformational change!
Save the Dates!
Fall 2022
October:
October 6 – Understanding Houston: Fort Bend County Big Picture
October 11 – Next Gen Learning Series: Serving on Nonprofit Boards
October 27 – Professional Adivsor Breakfast
November:
November 5 – Family Philanthropy Day
November 10 – Next Gen Learning Series: Evaluating Your Giving and Learning about Houston Nonprofits
December:
December 7 – Next Gen Learning Series: Giving with Family
End of Year Giving Deadlines – See next page
*Important Date – Giving Tuesday is November 29, 2022!
Next Gen
Advisors Everyone
2022 Year-End Giving Deadlines
Don’t miss your chance to create a positive impact in our community.
Check or Stock Certificate
Postmark on or before 12/31/22
Special Securities
Deadline: 12/1/22
Call the Donor Services Department if you need assistance with the following items: Private Stock, Tendered Stock, or Restricted Stock.
Mutual Funds*
Deadline: 12/1/22
Submit a completed letter of instruction to the firm holding the fund shares and send a copy to donorservices@ghcf.org.
Grant Recommendations
Deadline: 12/12/22
Due to the high volume, grants requested after this date might not reach their destination by the close of the year.
Securities*
Deadline: 12/16/22
Submit a completed letter of instruction to the firm holding your stock and send a copy to donorservices@ghcf.org. Allow your financial institution 5-7 days for processing.
Wire Transfer*
Deadline: 12/16/22
Instruct your financial institution to wire funds with a copy to donorservices@ghcf.org. Allow your financial institution 3-5 days for processing.
To Transfer Cash by Wire
Wire to:
JP Morgan Chase, N.A., Houston, TX
ABA# 021000021
For credit to: Greater Houston Community Foundation
A/C# 849170287
Under IRS Rules
Under IRS rules, IRAs may NOT make charitable distributions to a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Please do not have your IRA custodian send a distribution to your DAF as that may be treated as a taxable distribution to you.
*Cash or securities must be received into the GHCF account by 12/31/22 in order to be treated as a 2022 charitable gift. Please contact donorservices@ghcf.org to ensure your intended gift is properly credited.
Tailored Solutions for Donors
Philanthropic Vehicles
Donor Advised Funds
Designated & Agency Funds
Field of Interest Funds
Community Impact Funds
Scholarships
Supporting Organizations
Donor Working Groups
Corporate Donor Advised Funds
Legacy Funds
Meeting Donors Where They Are
Center for Family Philanthropy
Next Gen Donor Institute
Family Meetings
Interest Area Programming & Learning Opportunities
Corporations – Customized Programs
Tailored Philanthropic Services
Customized Consulting
Nonprofit Research
Grants Management
Landscape & Issue Analysis
Private Foundation Services
Topical Convenings
Giving Plans
Corporate Giving Program Support & Management Services
Community & Corporate Disaster Relief
Working with Professional Advisors
Third Party Investment Management
(Starting at $500,000)
Acceptance of Complex Assets
Solution-Oriented Services for Clients
An Investment in Your Community
Through working with Greater Houston Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, donors are making an investment in their community. To learn more about quality-of-life issues in the Houston region, visit www.understandinghouston.org. Understanding Houston is a collaborative initiative led by Greater Houston Community Foundation.
Stewarding your legacy by delivering a best-in-class donor experience.
Executive Leadership Team
Stephen D. Maislin President & CEO
Pooja Amin General Counsel
Rebecca Hove
Managing Director of Strategic Philanthropy
Mike Pawson
Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer Touchet
Vice President of Personal and Family Philanthropy
Diana Zarzuelo Vice President of Community Philanthropy
Impact in Action Magazine Team
Rachel Young, Copy Editor Director of Marketing and Communications
Camille Manaker, Graphic Designer Marketing Creative Associate
Kaitlin Necas, Copywriter Communications Specialist
Anthony Rathburn, Event Photographer Community Photographer