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Donor Panel

  • 09/15/2026
  • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Communities Foundation of Texas (5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas)

Registration


Register


WALK-INS ARE NOT GUARANTEED A MEAL
CASH OR CHECK AT THE DOOR: $15
JOIN US FOR FOR OUR GENERAL MEETING


SEPTEMBER 15

11:30 - 1:00 p.m.

Communities Foundation of Texas

5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas


(Lunch Will Be Provided)


RSVP DEADLINE:

Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 8 (5:00 p.m.)


DONOR PANEL

Andy and Jackie Schwitter

Brenda Sellers

Carolyn Newham, Moderator

Join Andy and Jackie Schwitter for an  conversation about building a family legacy of generosity through more than 20 years of partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT). Hear how CFT helped them achieve their charitable goals through customized giving strategies and legacy planning that has opened doors of opportunity for hundreds of students. Discover how they intentionally engaged the next generation, making philanthropy a meaningful family tradition rooted in shared values and purpose. Learn how CFT collaborates with advisors as a trusted charitable partner to integrate philanthropy into broader financial and estate planning strategies with insights from the Schwitters’ longtime professional advisor, Brenda Sellers. Moderated by CFT's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary,  Carolyn Newham,  this candid conversation will offer fundraising professionals and advisors a unique opportunity to hear directly from donors about what they value in a trusted philanthropic partner and how collaborative relationships can strengthen client engagement and charitable outcomes. Leave with practical insights and proven approaches you can apply to help your own donors and clients create meaningful, lasting philanthropic legacies.

Andy and Jackie Schwitter are committed to building thriving communities through philanthropy that is deeply rooted in faith, family, education and service. Since 2006, more than 240 students have received transformative scholarships to attend Bishop Lynch High School and to further their education through college scholarships. Behind these gifts are Andy and Jackie Schwitter and their family, who saw that some students needed additional financial assistance and set out to fill the gap by creating the Bridges Scholarship Fund at CFT two decades ago. In addition to their scholarship fund, the family partners with CFT on their charitable giving through their donor-advised fund, the Schwitter Family Fund. They are also proud members of CFT’s legacy society, the Live Oak Society. Andy and Jackie’s adult children, who attended Bishop Lynch High School, now participate in selecting scholarship recipients, witnessing firsthand the impact of their parents’ generosity. Over time, the scholarship cycle and annual giving have become a cherished family tradition.

Brenda Sellers is seasoned CPA and trusted advisor specializing in tax planning, financial consulting, and family office services. Since 2004, she has led her own consulting firm where she works closely with families and individuals on thoughtful financial and tax strategies.

Carolyn Newham is CFT's General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Carolyn’s responsibilities include leading all legal and compliance related activities across the Foundation, including support for Educate Texas and CFT’s other entities, and she also serves as CFT’s corporate secretary in support of our governance functions and board meetings. Carolyn supports CFT’s fundraising efforts overseeing gifts of complex assets (real estate, mineral interests, art, etc.), planned giving and estate settlement, working closely with professional advisors, by retaining a small portfolio of donors, and managing fund administration. She previously served as CFT’s Senior Director of Donor Relations and Services, developing the overarching strategy and implementation of the CFT’s work with professional advisors, private foundations, planned gifts, complex assets and fund holder prospects, and managing a large portfolio of donors. Carolyn presents at various meetings and conferences on topics such as charitable giving, planned giving, donora dvised funds and nonprofit related topics. Ms. Newham earned a bachelor’s in psychology with Distinction from the University of Oklahoma and her law degree with Highest Honors from the University of Tulsa. She currently serves on the board of Kaleidoscope Park Foundation, the Board of Governors for the Dallas Estate Planning Council, the Advisory Board of The Summerlee Foundation, and is a Junior League of Dallas Sustainer.


There is no continuing education credit for attorneys, financial planners and accountants.


TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION:

Click on the Link Below:

https://dallascharitablegiftplanners.org/event-6488383


PAYMENT IS DUE AT TIME OF REGISTRATION

NOTE: If the payment link is not accessible on a company computer, please use a personal computer

SPONSORED BY:

C3 Financial Partners, Heritage Auctions and Communities Foundation of Texas 

We Would Like to Thank All of Our 2026 Sponsors:

Bank of America - Philanthropic Solutions

Children's Medical Center Foundation

Communities Foundation of Texas

C3 Financial Partners

Dallas Jewish Community Foundation

Farmers National Company

Heritage Auctions

HighGround Advisors

McBride & Associates at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Merit Financial Advisors

Saville

Southwestern Medical Foundation

Texas Presbyterian Foundation

The Catholic Foundation

The Dallas Foundation


DALLAS COUNCIL OF CHARITABLE GIFT PLANNERS

P.O. BOX 38553, DALLAS, TX 75238 |  214-221-5170

www.dallascharitablegiftplanners.org | dallascharitablegiftplanners@gmail.com




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The Dallas Council of Charitable Gift Planners is the professional association of people in the Dallas metropolitan and North Texas area whose work involves developing, structuring, and administering planned gifts, and the allied professionals with whom they work.

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Our members include fundraisers, planned and major gifts officers, consultants, attorneys, accountants, financial planning professionals, insurance professionals, donor advisors, and trust officers.

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