Jack Fitzsimmons and Walter Gendell have long championed causes and organizations they believe in but felt their efforts were a bit scattershot. When the Sonoma County couple retired from corporate careers and moved to Palm Springs, they decided a more disciplined approach was in order.
Acting on advice from their financial advisor, they set out to find a community foundation through which to establish a donor advised fund and were thrilled to discover IECF. “The fact that the foundation is grounded in the Inland Empire is very important to us,” Walter says. “The level of commitment shown by its board of directors is really impressive,” Jack adds.
The pair determined that many of the funds IECF represents align with their areas of interest. Those include a shared passion for art, Jack’s interest in environmental issues, and a special commitment to organizations that serve the gay community. They expect their pattern of giving to naturally evolve as their understanding of the foundation’s mission deepens and their IECF-facilitated connections continue to grow.
“We’re embarking on a new journey,” Walter says, “and we’ve chosen IECF to help us think through the strategy. They’re the right organization with the right people to move us in the direction we’re interested in going.”
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This story originally appeared in our 2022/2023 Annual Report.
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