Blog Posts

After nearly two decades working at East Texas Communities Foundation, I have recently come to a simple epiphany, an “aha” moment, regarding helping people establish their charitable legacy. As Smokey Bear has proclaimed since 1947, “Only you can prevent forest...

East Texas Communities Foundation is currently accepting applications from East Texas students for scholarships to be awarded for the 2026-27 academic year. The deadline for submission of the online application is March 1, 2026. Detailed eligibility criteria and links...

It’s hard to find the perfect gift. I was reminded recently why charitable giving is so important and may just be the perfect gift. East Texas Communities Foundation was contacted by the Plunkett family in 2020 to help them solve a difficult dilemma. Members of the...

Giving season has arrived. There has been a noticeable uptick in phone calls to East Texas Communities Foundation (ETCF) and several area professional advisors have pulled me aside at recent local events to tell me they are working with clients on end-of-year giving...

East Texas Communities Foundation is a public charity that manages over 450 unique charitable funds. These 450 funds are not separate legal entities like charitable trusts would be at a local trust department. Neither are they accounts which an individual owns, like a...

After months of work and thousands of soundbites from all points along the political spectrum, Congress delivered, and the President signed, the Big, Beautiful Bill. H.R. 1 is the budget reconciliation bill which is probably the most substantial piece of federal...

As we near another anniversary of our “American Experiment”, I’m reminded of the many freedoms we enjoy as U.S. Citizens contained in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. You only have to catch a little bit of news to recognize that not everyone around the...

When I received my Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the American College of Financial Services I was awarded a nice certificate to frame and hang in my office and a gold lapel pin. The pin did not boldly proclaim “CAP” or “The American College”, it...

My youngest child is graduating from high school this year, so I am particularly mindful of all the students receiving scholarships from East Texas Communities Foundation this Spring. Members of our staff, myself included, are...

Easter is the central event for the hope held by Christians around the world. The long weekend forever marks the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. His sacrifice gives all of His believers hope in an eternal future without suffering, without death and without...