Tell us a bit about your background in philanthropy – how long have you been a donor and what role does that identity play in your life?
Growing up, there weren’t a lot of extra resources to go around, but I did grow up with a deep understanding that you show up for your community however you can. When my wife, Susan, and I graduated from college, we started making small donations to organizations we cared about. It wasn’t much, but it felt important to take some action and to be a part of something bigger than just ourselves.
When our children were young, Susan and I started working with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley and their Hot Meals for the Hungry Program. We were the team leads and part of a network of faith-based groups preparing and serving meals to neighbors experiencing hunger and homelessness. That’s what got us connected to the Berkeley Food and Housing Project, now known as Insight Housing, where I’ve been a board member since 2023.
I have been fortunate in so many ways, and I believe in passing that on. Being a donor is a way of living out my values and helping others access those same opportunities that made such a difference in my life.
How has your journey as a philanthropist evolved based on what you’ve learned from your work and from your giving? Do you have any short- or long-term goals for your philanthropy?
It wasn’t until I began serving on the board of Insight Housing that I understood the real impact that philanthropy could make. From the time we started volunteering with the meals program to today, Insight Housing has expanded its services dramatically, now serving seven counties, including San Francisco.
Over the years, I’ve felt honored to be a part of that growth, both as a board leader and a supporter. My donations, both toward capital needs and unrestricted funds, have helped strengthen the organization’s infrastructure on many levels, enabling Insight Housing to scale up its housing and services and support more individuals on their path to housing and stability. It is not just getting individuals off the streets but also advocating for local and state governments to provide more affordable housing as a long-term solution. Insight Housing is now in the business of developing and building affordable housing to meet this desperate need in seven Northern California counties.
My goal as a donor is always to help now and help for the long run. To alleviate pain and suffering today and invest in long-term strategies that create lasting opportunity and well-being.
Many donors come to SFF because they are particularly attuned to how they can serve folks who have been pushed to the margins of our community. What is something you’ve learned through your work – or through your giving – that you wish others in our donor community better understood?
I’ve learned that it’s easy to focus on the most visible symptoms of a crisis, but the real work happens when we invest in addressing root causes. I wish more donors could see how meaningful it is to fund long-term, holistic solutions, even when the results aren’t immediate.
Like many of the donors in SFF’s donor community, the impact that you’re having in our community goes far beyond just the dollars you give. Tell us a bit about the other work you’re doing in the community.
Susan and I have always believed that meaningful philanthropy includes both time and resources. My long-standing involvement with Insight Housing continues today through my board service and my volunteer work at the Hope Center, where I help prepare and serve meals for the Community Meal program. Susan worked for many years as a librarian and now serves on five boards focused on education, civic engagement, and community well-being. Giving back has always been a part of who we are as a family.
