Through ACF of Yavapai County, community members can leave a legacy
by Lisa Sahady, Regional Director of ACF of Yavapai County
American author Timothy Pina said, “Philanthropy is not about money…it’s about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs to help.”
When people hear the word philanthropist, most think of a someone with self-sustaining wealth. One doesn’t have to be a millionaire to be a philanthropist. Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others; it is the expression of generosity in ways great and small. Every day our friends and neighbors are giving back to our community.
As the regional director of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) of Yavapai County, I am grateful that I can do what I love, which is helping community members live their passion through charitable giving. I believe we are all philanthropists, whether we see it or not. I joined the Arizona Community Foundation because I wanted to help people in my community see their potential impact as philanthropists and realize their charitable goals.
You might know ACF of Yavapai County as a grantmaker supporting local causes, but our annual grantmaking is an intended outcome of the work itself, which is mobilizing enduring philanthropy to strengthen our community. In other words, it is building an endowment for the perpetual benefit of Yavapai County. These are the “forever funds” where supporters direct donations to ensure the work that matters to them can go on past their lifetimes.
Communities can have endowments, too, and that’s where ACF of Yavapai County comes in. Since our establishment in 1993, ACF of Yavapai County donors have grown our community’s endowment to more than $68 million in assets held in more than 130 charitable funds. These funds are established by individuals, families, and businesses who make a gift to support charitable work that benefits their community. The dollars of that gift are invested, and the interest from their earnings go directly into our community in the form of grants and scholarships.
Depending on a donor’s goals and interests, several options are available to them.
We all have something we are passionate about, whether it is animal welfare, healthcare and community wellness, support for our men and women in uniform, or ensuring quality education for our children. My role is to listen and help you find the most effective way to realize your charitable desires with the assets you have available. Through ACF of Yavapai County, you can support any and all of your cherished causes in a meaningful and enduring way. The process of discovering how you will leave a legacy in your community is joyous in and of itself, and it results in something even greater. Through the power of endowment, your gift will make an impact not only today, but for generations to come.
This is your community, and ACF of Yavapai County is your foundation. We are here because we believe every person can be a philanthropist, and everyone deserves the opportunity to give where they live.