Charitable Giving and the Economics of Higher Purpose
Jeri Royce, Esperança
Jeri Royce is President and CEO of Esperança. Esperança’s mission is to improve health and provide hope for families in the poorest communities of the world through sustainable disease prevention, education, and treatment. Derived from the Portuguese word for “hope,” Esperança has been dedicated to transforming lives since its inception in 1970. The Arizona-based nonprofit began its mission abroad, serving the most under-resourced and poverty-stricken communities throughout the Central Amazon Region. While providing health education and volunteer medical care, including surgical procedures, Esperança quickly became known as a symbol of hope to those that have learned to live hopelessly. It remains the same nearly 50 years later.
Today, Esperança continues to provide medical missions and community development in Peru, Mozambique, Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua. And its domestic program in Phoenix partners with Title I schools, dental clinics, HUD Housing, and community centers providing health literacy education and resources to adults, children and seniors. Esperança is more than doctors, donors and volunteers. It is activists, community members and global citizens. The nonprofit envisions a world where communities across the globe have the tools, training, and support to achieve optimal health through access to clean water, stable sources of food, disease prevention, health education and ecological home-building.
Jeri is an accomplished leader with a distinguished career leading operational, business development, program development, and fundraising functions. With over 25 years of experience in local and national nonprofit organizations, she has a successful track record of building and leading strong partnerships and highly successful teams. Having founded her own consulting firm, 3P-Leadership, Jeri specialized in leadership development offering training programs, team-building, individual/group coaching services and Interim Executive Director/CEO Services. Jeri served as a capacity-building consultant in the Virginia Piper Trust ATLAS and Good Governance programs and has previously served as Interim ED for Lead for Good, Arizona Public Health Association and Arizona Asthma Coalition. After one year as Interim CEO for Esperança, she accepted the position fulltime in March 2018.
Connect with Jeri Royce on LinkedIn, and follow Esperança on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Gail Baer, Jewish Family & Children’s Service
Gail Baer is Vice President of Philanthropic Services of Jewish Family & Children’s Service, a non-profit, non-sectarian organization that strengthens the community by providing behavioral health, healthcare and social services to all ages, faiths and backgrounds. JFCS’ goal is for a future where families are strong, where elders are cared for and where children are safe. The dedication to the mission is strengthened by a commitment to core Jewish values that honor community and the continuity of the generations. JFCS programs and services include: counseling, mental health assessment and treatment, early childhood trauma assessment and treatment, child crisis intervention and rehabilitative services, support for victims of domestic violence, substance abuse, work force readiness & high school equivalency exams for teens in foster care.
During her time at JFCS, Gail has partnered with the Jewish Community Foundation to develop and grow the JFCS Legacy Society, a comprehensive planned giving program; created the JFCS Professional Leadership Development Program; as well as played a key role in the Sojourner Center affiliation and in developing its fundraising program. As the Vice President of Philanthropic Services, Gail oversees all fundraising for the annual campaign and legacy giving program, grants, marketing, and the JFCS volunteer program. Prior to JFCS, Gail served as the Vice President of Major Gifts at Valley of the Sun United Way and was also the past President of Congregation Beth Israel. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University.
Connect with Gail Baer on LinkedIn, and follow Jewish Family & Children’s Service on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Andrea Claus, Bivens & Associates
Andrea Claus is an attorney with Bivens & Associates, one of the largest and most experienced law firms in Arizona that practices exclusively in estate planning, probate and trust administration, elder law, and special needs law. The firm represents individuals, banking institutions, government agencies, and licensed fiduciaries. The attorneys at Bivens & Associates have a combined 40 years experience.
Andrea is the firm’s Director of Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Administration. Her areas of expertise include estate planning, probate and trust administration, charitable planning, business formation, and business succession planning. She has experience in planning for both taxable and non-taxable estates.
Andrea is active in the planned giving community and currently serves on the Board of Directors for UMOM and is a Member of the Honor Health Wealth Advisory Board. She has been involved with the Planned Giving Advisory Board for SARRC and has counseled several other non-profits regarding planned giving. Andrea regularly speaks to donors on behalf of non-profits regarding planned giving options.
Connect with Andrea Claus on LinkedIn and follow Bivens & Associates on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
