Wendy Weiss came to Cambridge as a newcomer, living in what she calls her “bubble” in West Cambridge. She wanted to understand her adopted city beyond her immediate neighborhood, but didn’t know where to start. Then she attended a breakfast where she met Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) President Geeta Pradhan. “What I understood is that CCF has its fingers on the pulse,” Wendy recalls. “The Foundation supports nonprofits of all sizes across the city and knows what is going on in the community. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
That introduction sparked a seven-year commitment as a Community Reviewer, or CCF grant proposal reader, an experience that transformed Wendy’s connection to Cambridge. She learned about the economic fragility so many Cambridge residents face which deepened her commitment to supporting basic needs like food security. “It helped me understand the needs of other residents whose lives were different from mine,” she explains.
Wendy’s experience led her to financially support CCF’s contribution to Cambridge’s guaranteed basic income pilot program. Research showed that it had a tangible benefit for the recipients.
When CCF Vice President of Philanthropic Partnerships Michal Rubin approached Wendy about supporting the Foundation’s Food Access and Security Initiative, Wendy didn’t hesitate. “I trusted CCF. I wanted to help bring their vision to life,” she says. As an investment advisor, Wendy co-chairs the CCF Professional Advisors Council. She chose to make her gift through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from her retirement account, a decision reflecting both smart tax planning and deep commitment.
For donors with retirement accounts who face Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), QCDs offer significant advantages. With a QCD, Wendy was able to donate directly from her retirement account without losing anything to taxes. “I can give precisely the amount I want, with every penny going to CCF programs,” she explains.
The purpose of the Food Access and Security Initiative, ensuring Cambridge residents have access to nutritious food when 1 in 3 residents is food insecure resonated deeply with Wendy. She believes that it’s a crucial first step. “I saw how quickly people in Cambridge can find themselves without a safety net. Food is such a basic need. It’s foundational to everything else in our community.”
What makes Wendy’s QCD donation particularly powerful is trust. Wendy gave because she knew CCF’s work. “I have seen what CCF does,” she says simply. “CCF has earned my trust.”
If you’re interested in learning more about making a QCD, or other tax advantaged ways to support CCF’s work, please contact Michal Rubin at [email protected]
