For Mike and Beth Andrews, charitable giving is not something they do only around the holidays or at year’s end to reap a tax benefit. They find joy in getting to know how local organizations work to strengthen their community, and they time their gifts to provide support throughout the year.
For them, giving is fun and intentional.
“Each January, we sit and review our previous year’s giving and chart our course for doing more in the new year,” Mike Andrews said. “We don’t wait until Q4 to make giving decisions. Our goal in January is to replenish our donor-advised fund and then deplete it again.”
The couple moved to Greenville in 2006, having retired from careers in engineering research and development. They each pursued second careers, Mike as a doctor of ministry and an author, and Beth as an artist. Their faith led them to engage in philanthropy, donating to their church and other organizations.
The Andrewses make contributions from a donor-advised fund established with Community Foundation of Greenville, which helps donors support the causes they care about through convenient and tax-efficient means. CFG’s history and connections with local nonprofits provide unique insight for giving with impact.
“Community Foundation has been stellar at understanding what we want to do and how to use our DAF to achieve it,” Mike Andrews said. “It’s been vital to our efforts to be philanthropic.”
Mike and Beth love that Greenville is often featured in lists of the 10 best places to live and want to ensure that the city’s charms aren’t accessible only to those with privilege and resources.
“Greenville is our chosen home, and we agree that it’s pretty wonderful. We want Greenville to grow to be in the ‘10 best’ for all its citizens, so our local giving focuses on improvements that support people on the margins, especially people of color,” Beth Andrews said. “Can we be among the best in ensuring everyone has opportunities for affordable housing, food security, health care and opportunities to thrive?”
To that end, they have been involved with Triune Mercy Center, a faith community that serves people living without shelter. They have invested in Greenville Housing Fund, which works to increase affordable housing for the full spectrum of needs, from families living below 50% of the area median income to those earning 100% of the AMI.
The couple donates to nonprofits that provide entrepreneurial support and adult skill enhancement, such as Mill Village Ministries’ Village Launch, Soteria and Greater Good Greenville’s RevUp GVL.
“We also enjoy participating in forums where we can learn about local needs in order to give more effectively and meet others who wish to invest in Greenville’s future, like Greater Good Greenville, Mill Village’s Village Engage and Greenville Women Giving,” Beth Andrews said.
The couple sees themselves as cheerleaders for organizations doing innovative work in the community.
“We talk to nonprofits about their plans, their successes and lessons learned and their dreams for the future,” Beth Andrews said. “It is inspiring and so much fun. We are not some huge foundation, but our gifts can make an impact here in Greenville.”
Visit cfgreenville.org to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greenville.
