Philanthropy Friday: Delaware Valley Legacy Fund

Welcome to our new weekly series, Philanthropy Fridays, where Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF) Executive Director Samantha Giusti introduces you to a local LGBT non-profit in Philadelphia. She gets things started with a peek into her work at DVLF, an organization that works to provide resources LGBT-focused non profits in the city. 

I am … Samantha Giusti, social change agent and executive director of Delaware Valley Legacy Fund.

When was the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund founded? 1993.

The organization’s mission statement is … Fostering positive change through grant-making, scholarships, advocacy, programming and education.

Our biggest shining moment to date was … The day DVLF’s endowment surpassed the $1-million mark. We have a growing pipeline of almost $10 million, because of our generous Legacy Society members who have left a gift to DVLF in their will.

Finish this sentence: If a check for $1 million found its way to my doorstep … I would cry with joy. That would allow us to fund so many LGBT organizations doing vitally important work.

Do you have any special events coming up? Our fabulous TOY event (pictured above) is Saturday, December 6th. TOY is Delaware Valley Legacy Fund’s 8th annual holiday fundraising event that raises money to support the mission of DVLF and to provide toys for patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and clients at Action AIDS. Folks can look forward to a new venue (Fire and Ice), open bar, hors d’oeuvres, an elaborate silent auction, and a dance party.

We also have a monthly networking happy hour, Our Night Out. This month, we’re at Tavern on Camac. We’ll be shutting down the block and hanging out both inside and outside. Our guest host is MANNA and they’ll be promoting their important Pie in the Sky initiative.

Are there other ways I can contribute without giving money? We always need volunteers. We have a number of opportunities including office volunteers, internships, marketing and outreach, event planning, and our Wonder Woman programming. Check out our website for more information.

How can I donate money? You can make a donation (or pick up a ticket for TOY) on our website. You can also join our Legacy Society and make a planned gift to DVLF. When you make a gift to DVLF’s endowment in your will, your gift will live on in perpetuity and create an income each year to build a future for our community and a legacy for you.

Want to have your non-profit featured in an upcoming Philanthropy Friday? Email Samantha at sgiusti@dvlf.org.