Many charitable conversations begin with a simple question: What do you care about most?
For professional advisors, helping clients answer that question is often the first step in creating a meaningful charitable legacy. At a recent North Texas Community Foundation luncheon, advisors, nonprofit leaders, and community volunteers explored how NTCF’s grant cycles help transform charitable goals into lasting community impact.
Moderated by William Abigail, NTCF’s Advisor Relations Specialist, the panel featured attorney Janet Hahn, tax accountant Jennifer Grammer, grants committee member Dr. Jared Williams, and nonprofit leader Dr. Sandra Stanley. Together, they offered a unique perspective on how thoughtful grantmaking connects donors’ charitable goals with the organizations and programs creating impact across North Texas.
Jared Williams, a member of NTCF’s grants committee, shared how professionals from a variety of fields bring their expertise to the grant review process. By combining subject matter knowledge with a commitment to stewardship, committee members help evaluate community needs and identify opportunities where charitable dollars can have the greatest impact.
For Jennifer Grammer, CPA, serving on NTCF’s Land Conservation and Environment grant committee has provided valuable insight into the nonprofit landscape and the needs being addressed throughout our region. Through the grant review process, she has gained a deeper understanding of the organizations working to strengthen North Texas and the outcomes they are achieving. As Jennifer shared, “I feel like I’m able to take that back to my clients and be a resource in the areas I know they’re interested in.” Serving on the committee not only deepened her knowledge of local philanthropy but also strengthened the conversations she has with clients who want their charitable giving to reflect the causes and values that matter most to them.
Janet Hahn, JD, shared a similar perspective through her work advising clients on charitable and estate planning. She recalled working with a client who loved horses and was passionate about land conservation but had not designated specific organizations to receive support through her estate. Seeking a solution that would honor her client’s intent, Janet partnered with NTCF to establish an endowed legacy fund. Through NTCF’s grantmaking expertise, the fund will support conservation-related causes in perpetuity, creating a lasting charitable legacy that reflects the client’s lifelong passions.
The conversation also highlighted what grant funding can make possible in local communities. Dr. Sandra Stanley, CEO of Opening Doors for Women in Need, shared how support from NTCF’s Land Conservation and Environment Grant Cycle helped expand a community garden in Fort Worth’s Como neighborhood. The project has created opportunities for residents, provides access to fresh produce, and has become a place for students and volunteers to learn and serve. For Stanley, the impact extends beyond a single grant. It reflects the power of investing in community-led solutions that continue to grow over time.
Throughout the conversation, one theme remained clear: thoughtful philanthropy requires thoughtful stewardship.
NTCF’s grant cycles bring donors, advisors, volunteers and nonprofit organizations together in a process designed to ensure charitable dollars are invested intentionally and effectively.
For professional advisors, that stewardship provides confidence that clients’ philanthropic goals can be carried forward in meaningful ways. For donors, it creates a trusted avenue for giving with purpose. And for North Texas communities, it helps turn generosity into opportunities that will benefit future generations.