Community Matters
Last June the bottom fell out of our lives. Our youngest daughter, Bailey, ingested drugs cut with deadly fentanyl and instantly perished from extreme fentanyl poisoning. While pushing through our shattered existence, we were nurtured by our Roaring Fork community–one that continues to support and sustain us. Theoretically, we all know that a well-functioning community is vital to a healthy society and the welfare of its individuals. But our family experienced first-hand how such an outpouring of love and care in our small valley kept us afloat. It’s been humbling to say the least.
A New Advocacy
Overnight, we shifted from being fairly private people to becoming more public advocates. Fentanyl poisoning is now the leading killer of young people in this nation, but the stigma around drug use silences many families, preventing them from reaching out both for help and to help others. We were determined to overcome our own anguish, shame, and shock in an effort to sound the alarm – to let our community and the world at large know that even a tight-knit, loving family like ours can fall prey to this scourge of fentanyl. We simply didn’t want this agony for anyone else. Shortly after Bailey died, we opened a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) with the Aspen Community Foundation (ACF) to raise awareness around fentanyl poisoning, LGBTQ vulnerabilities, and the precariousness of adolescent mental health. In doing so, we gained a fresh perspective on the work of ACF. The fund allowed friends and strangers to show up and honor our daughter and our mission in a truly impactful way. We were dazzled by the generosity and scale of contribution in Bailey’s memory and spirit. Here’s what we learned about opening and keeping a DAF.
Changing our Approach
My husband and I already steward a small family foundation with a specific mission. We give a limited number of large grants out of that foundation to local and national organizations so assumed that opening a DAF was superfluous. We also eschewed giving smaller gifts locally to avoid spreading ourselves too thin and dropping our name too broadly. But our tragedy has shifted our perspective, and now we want to give smaller, more frequent grants. A DAF at ACF is the perfect vehicle.
Why Local Giving Matters
Most second homeowners are involved with their primary communities and corresponding community foundations, and a handful have their own private foundations. Every community has its own vibration and issues, and the Roaring Fork Valley is no exception. Full-time residents and part-timers alike understand how special this place is, so we all need to invest in and learn about the community that sustains us. Bailey’s tragedy has helped us confront how much time and money we waste on things and stuff that don’t matter. We live in a complex, increasingly stratified world, so investing in local communities is essential to building a stronger, more cohesive nation. We know firsthand that gratitude and giving is the best antidote to despair.
Even full-time residents don’t always understand the scope of the challenges in our Valley, and one of the biggest advantages of forging a new relationship with ACF is gaining a broader understanding of our home.
A DAF of One’s Own
One of the most daunting yet rewarding challenges of being a donor is staying informed about and open to new giving opportunities. ACF CEO Erica Snow’s determination to build coalitions regardless of one’s level of active involvement with ACF inspired us to increase our local giving and explore new organizations by building up our new DAF. We realized we can rely on ACF for research and stewardship while maintaining our attention on our family, our careers, and our own foundation–and that is truly a gift.
Whether you are an experienced donor or just starting to explore the world of giving, consider consulting the Aspen Community Foundation for guidance. There is a minimum amount required to open a DAF, and ACF’s Director of Philanthropic Services Stephanie Gianneschi can help guide you through the process. There are other fund options, as well, where you can join forces with like-minded folks to pool your resources, all the while harvesting a significant tax break. For example, we decided to tie Isa’s modest Substack writing income directly into Bailey’s Memorial Fund to keep it growing and vibrant. ACF does the work and has an easy-to-use portal so you can focus on the fun part – giving.
By Isa Catto and Daniel Shaw
Isa Catto is an artist writing about this journey on Substack and also a guest columnist for the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Daniel is a journalist and documentary filmmaker. They raised their family here and are full-time residents of the Roaring Fork Valley.
