Rene and Amy Ho believe in the importance of giving back to their community and setting an example for their children. When they learned about Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) at the Foundation, they were drawn to the idea of partnering with a Foundation that could help them figure out how to give from their DAF in a thoughtful way that reflected their family values.
Rene has been involved at their parish, the Catholic Community at Stanford, for many years, and he first learned about the Foundation through his involvement with the parish Finance Council. When they found out that a Catholic DAF partner existed, he and Amy were curious to learn more. They liked their existing DAF provider, however the idea of partnering with an organization that was aligned to their values resonated with the couple. “We were very interested in the opportunity to work with an organization that understands our Catholic values,” said Rene. “We also wanted to have deeper conversations about how we give and how to get our children more involved in philanthropy. After talking to the Foundation, we knew that they would be a great partner as we explored these ideas.”
We wanted to have deeper conversations about how we give and how to get our children more involved in philanthropy. After talking to the Foundation, we knew that they would be a great partner as we explored these ideas
– Rene Ho on why they chose the Foundation
Moving their DAF was simple. This can be achieved by simply making a grant from an existing DAF to the Foundation. They were doubly motivated to move their fund because of the Foundation’s ongoing Donor Advised Fund Match opportunity. “Opening the fund has been simple and pain-free. They make it easy, and the staff is very accessible,” said Amy.
Now that the “easy” part is done, it’s time to dive into the more complicated – and more interesting – questions about their family’s philanthropic strategy and goals. In conversation with the Foundation, they will explore topics like their motivations for giving, their family values, how to integrate the whole family into the decision-making process, what they want as their legacy to be, and more. “We wanted to work with a partner who would walk with us through these questions and help keep us on track,” said Rene. “Knowing we have a team of people we can rely on for support who will keep moving this process forward is hugely valuable for our family.”
Interested in creating your own philanthropic strategy? Get started using the Foundation’s Philanthropy Primer which will walk you through a series of questions to get you started.