Giving to the causes she cares about is something that brings Kristin Stephen joy. In 2020 when she moved to Alexandria it was the height of the pandemic. It was hard to meet people and feel connected to her new community. She knew how philanthropy could uplift the community as well as her spirits, but as a newcomer she wasn’t sure where to start.
She read about ACT’s COVID fund in one of Alexandria’s local papers and was inspired. “I called (ACT) and they said they could help.”
Kristin was familiar with community foundations like ACT based on her experience with the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation in her previous home. She was connected to the foundation through friends and as a board member of a local nonprofit. When she found herself in need of tax relief, she worked with the community foundation to open a donor advised fund.
“I had an account that I could only use for philanthropic giving. It was really fun to just go. Oh, okay, I have all this money I can give here, I can give that,” she explains. “I think anybody who has the means to do charitable giving that gives on a regular basis should consider opening a donor advised fund.”
Her initial connection with ACT deepened and over time blossomed into a partnership and she decided to transfer her donor advised fund to ACT. “I began to learn more and more about ACT and the more I got to know the people – the staff and board – the more I liked what was happening at ACT,” Kristin shared.
Kristin was impressed by the ways ACT led different initiatives in the community and how it was poised to address complex persistent issues like racial equity and economic opportunity. “I attended a session learning about a visionary plan for the future, and all of those things meant a lot to me and made me decide. It was time. I had moved here. I felt strongly about entrusting ACT with something this important.”
With her fund at ACT, Kristin has continued to be an active philanthropist supporting organizations nationally and locally. The team at ACT has made it easy for Kristin to continue giving to the organizations that she was involved with before she moved to Alexandria. She also appreciates the experienced support the ACT staff provides, including helping her navigate a complex donation.
“I give to many organizations that are outside of Alexandria because I had always given to them, and that’s where my passions lie. I’ve added ones in Alexandria, because I’m member of the community here, and I want to be supportive,” Kristin continues. “Nobody knows better than ACT who the nonprofits are, who manages them, the strength of each of those charitable organizations, and the work that they do. I trust ACT to do the due diligence required.”
Four years after moving to Alexandria, Kristin feels connected and engaged – and continues to have fun with her philanthropy.
“I’m very satisfied with my decision both to open a donor advised fund, and then to move it to ACT,” Kristin reflects. “ACT has an amazing and welcoming team and provides great service. We need more of that in the world.”