Dallas Foundation

How It Works

Our Approach to Supporting
You and Your Clients

From the first conversation to ongoing fund management, we work alongside you and your clients to design thoughtful giving strategies that create lasting impact. Our philanthropic advisors provide the expertise, flexibility, and long-term partnership needed to support meaningful philanthropic goals.

Step 1

Initial Conversation

Every meaningful giving journey begins with a conversation. We meet with you and your clients to understand their values, charitable goals, financial considerations, and vision for impact, while identifying how we can best support your advisory relationship from the start.

Our role is to complement your expertise—not replace it—by bringing a charitable lens to the broader planning discussion.

Step 2

Explore Giving Strategies

With a clear understanding of your clients’ goals, we work together to evaluate giving options that align with their financial plans and philanthropic vision. From outright gifts to complex assets and legacy planning vehicles, we help identify the strategies that maximize both impact and tax efficiency.

Together, we help you present clear, actionable options that fit within the broader wealth strategy you’ve designed.

  • The types of assets that may be most tax-efficient to contribute
  • Timing considerations for current and planned giving
  • Options for involving family members or future generations

Step 3

Create the Fund

Once the strategy is defined, we guide you and your clients through a smooth and efficient fund setup process, ensuring every detail aligns with their goals:

  1. Selecting the appropriate fund type
  2. Defining the fund’s purpose and structure
  3. Coordinating contributions, including complex assets

With the fund established, your clients are ready to begin giving with clarity and confidence, backed by ongoing support from our team.

Step 4

Ongoing Partnership

Our work continues well beyond fund creation. We remain a long-term partner to you and your client by providing:

Insights
Access to our deep knowledge of community needs, nonprofits, and philanthropic trends

Grantmaking Support
Guidance and administration to help clients recommend and distribute grants with ease and confidence

Impact Opportunities
Access to signature initiatives such as Rising GEN and WPI, along with curated opportunities to connect with meaningful work

You stay at the center of the client relationship, while we provide specialized philanthropic expertise and on-the-ground community knowledge.

Partner With Us

Meet Our Team of Philanthropic Advisors

Our Donor Services team combines technical expertise with a highly personalized approach. Acting as an extension of your practice, we are committed to helping you navigate complex giving conversations, respond to client needs, and deliver meaningful philanthropic outcomes with confidence.

Mackenzie Causey

Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships & Donor Engagement
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Erin Rae Osenbaugh

Manager of Donor Services
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Jessica Shepard Watts, Ph.D.

Chief Partnerships Officer
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Kim Montez

Senior Director of Gift Planning and Family Philanthropy
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Gary W. Garcia

Vice President
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Angela Woodson

Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Kelsey Picken, Ph.D.

Senior Director of Legacy Giving
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Paulino Lopez

Manager of Scholarships
Philanthropic Partnerships
Read Bio

Advisor Expert Hub

Professional Advisor Council

Join an elite community of legal, financial, and tax professionals committed to philanthropic innovation and the advancement of strategic giving in North Texas.

Learn More

Complex Assets

Learn More

Insights

Learn More

Professional Advisor Seminar

Stay ahead of the curve with technical deep dives into legislative changes and advanced tax-optimization strategies for your high-net-worth clients.

Learn More
Skip to content