John and Ginny Wilhelm
When John and Virginia (Ginny) Wilhelm decided to set up a donor-advised fund at the Cleveland Foundation in mid-2010, they were not just starting a new fund. They were starting a family tradition.
“This is something new in our family’s history,” said John Wilhelm, who retired after selling his successful family manufacturing business in South Euclid. “We want to make sure the fund and the idea behind it get carried through to the next generation. Our family is getting larger, and we felt we could really get something going and make a difference.”
“We like that we can make this fund whatever we want it to be.”
John and Ginny have three grown children who are married and have children of their own. Karen and husband Stu reside in Cincinnati, Jim and wife Ann in San Francisco, and Kristen and husband Bill in Denver.
A family affair
The Wilhelms, who are shown with their grandchildren in the photo above, set up their fund so that it will roll over to their children upon their passing.
“Our children and their spouses are very supportive and involved in this process,” says Ginny. The entire family gets together several times a year, where they find time to discuss the fund and suggestions on what to support. Karen, their oldest daughter, is an adviser to the fund.
The Wilhelms decided to explore various options after attending a session on family wealth and philanthropy at John’s 45th reunion from Dartmouth College. Talks with friends and Internet research led to a meeting with the Cleveland Foundation and eventually the choice of a donor-advised fund, which is a charitable fund for donors seeking active involvement in grantmaking. Donors – and their children, if desired – advise or recommend grants from their fund to support nonprofit organizations. Donors, like the Wilhelms, can learn about community needs from the foundation’s donor-focused educational seminars and information, and work with foundation staff to create a lasting, impactful philanthropic legacy.
John explains, “The fund suits our needs exactly. It gives us flexibility and simplicity. We do not want to spend hours of due diligence checking out organizations, and we have a variety of interests we would like to pursue. When we find a specific organization, the foundation can take care of the details and research it to make sure it is well run and worthwhile.
“We like that we can make this fund whatever we want it to be.”
Education is one area the Wilhelms are looking to support. Ginny taught fourth grade in the South Euclid-Lyndhurst schools, and John served on the board of Orange City Schools.
“We are also asking our kids for suggestions.”
After living in Moreland Hills for 32 years, the couple moved to Russell in 2002. They are interested in helping Geauga County organizations and have met with the foundation’s Lake-Geauga Advisory Committee. “A raft of organizations there are in need of assistance,” said John.
“We are also asking our kids for suggestions. The foundation can research organizations outside of Greater Cleveland, too, if our children find something near them that they’d like to support.”