Donor Stories
Putting the “We” in Philanthropy
By Greyson Norcross, Senior Donor Engagement Officer One of the most unique aspects of a community foundation is in the very name: community. The word community as we know it originates from the 14th century when it meant “a number of people associated together by the fact of residence in the same locality, or the…
Fundholder Favorite: A Growing Partnership in the Triangle
Triangle Community Foundation is exactly that: a Foundation by and for the Community of the Triangle. Our fundholder’s passion and engagement with us and our community is contagious, and we seek to amplify their work and words of support. Fundholder Ann Leonard (Hogan Leonard Fund) drives her philanthropy into several causes, with urban farming and…
Curi Capital | Maximizing Impact
Professional advisors are important partners for Triangle Community Foundation. Without them, we would not have nearly the reach with prospective donors, and we are very appreciative of these relationships. Curi Capital CEO, Dimitri Eliopoulos and Senior Director of Family Office Services, Sheldon Fox (also a previous Foundation Board member and Investment Committee chair) are two…
Katherine Seligmann & Rebecca Balter | Partners in Philanthropy
Mother-daughter duo Katherine Seligmann and Rebecca Balter concede that family philanthropy can be challenging due to the many different personalities and family dynamics involved, but can be successful with three things: 1) You share a core set of values, 2) You are interested in and educated on the issues, and, 3) The knowledge that at…
Darryl Lester | Philanthropy Evangelist
For several decades, Darryl Lester has utilized a three-word phrase as a mantra for his work as a philanthropy evangelist and social uplift engineer – time, talent, and treasure. Whether lecturing to students about entrepreneurship, fellowshipping with fellow members of his fraternity, or coaching special needs youngsters on his daughter’s softball team, this Carolina native…
Bernard Hsu | Taking Time to Dig Deeper
Mindfulness is such an important concept to Bernard Hsu that he has the word tattooed on his arm (thanks to his daughter, a tattoo artist), and he applies that in just about every aspect of his life – his fitness regimen, his family time, and his approach to philanthropy. Bernard grew up in Taiwan, the…
David Dodson | Service as a Way of Life
David singing at the Oval Park July 4th Celebration in Durham. Photo courtesy of the News & Observer. “The more candid folks can be about struggles and opportunities they can’t quite seize helps make me a better donor, because I can then figure out how I can make a difference.” – David Dodson David Dodson…
Changing Course: Collective Giving During COVID-19
A Giving Circle’s quick pivot to make unrestricted grants
A Mother’s Honor Becomes a Community’s Gift
Glioblastoma. Diagnosis of this particularly aggressive form of brain cancer shattered their world in 2004. The next year, they said goodbye to Caroline—a wife, mom of three, daughter, sister, and friend. Today, this family is making a difference in the lives of others to honor the one they loved and lost. A PhD medical geneticist,…
Giving Your Time: Why Serve on a Nonprofit Board?
For Michelle Pavliv, it happened by accident. In 2004, when her friend suggested they join The National Charity League Inc., a national nonprofit organization with local chapters providing ways for mothers and daughters to serve in their communities together, Pavliv saw it as good bonding time with her own daughter, and agreed. It turned out,…
Top Ten Responsibilities of a Nonprofit Board Chair
Good nonprofit Board Chairs are made, not born. Here are ten practices to achieve best outcomes from the Board you are leading, written by Chuck ReCorr. Every Board Member participates, but no one dominates. Chairs must facilitate the dialogue, going so far, at times, to ask each Board Member for…
Tools for Involving the Next Generation: the Donor-advised Fund
My clients don’t always come to see me with philanthropy foremost on their mind. Of course, sometimes they do, but often their focus isn’t on philanthropy. Instead, they have pressing family issues to cover that are a higher priority. Because of this, as their advisor, I believe that it’s often wise for me to bring…