The Winslow-Bestor Fund Finds a Partner in Strategic Giving

September 25, 2026

They didn’t need the Community Foundation to tell them what to care about; they needed a partner who could help them turn what they care about into informed, strategic philanthropy.

He was an educator who saw how some students moved through school with burdens that others didn’t have to worry about. She built a meaningful career in business and nonprofit leadership by blending education and economics. Over time and then all at once, their family had more than they needed.

When that time came, a lifetime of experiences drew them toward a new vision for their giving. It would be collaborative and informed. They would build ongoing relationships and deliver real results. They quickly dismissed the idea of creating a private foundation. “That would be running a business. I already do that.” They needed a partner with dedicated staff and decades of experience investing in the public good. They decided to make the Community Foundation part of their team.

The List

When they moved to Rochester, the natural beauty and rich culture delighted them. But the more they got to know the area, the more they also saw the inequalities that continue to shape our community.

Their childhoods had been rich with world-class music. As adults, they witnessed a concert where middle schoolers were exposed to professional classical musicians, many of them for the first time. “You could hear a pin drop,” they remembered.

Their two kids went to well-resourced public schools in the suburbs. They knew that just three miles away other children were in classrooms without enough support, supplies, or services.

He taught undergraduate classes to students who had two jobs or were single parents, and he saw them putting extraordinary effort into balancing finances and education.

These unique life experiences helped them shape their list of areas they wanted to give to, support, and change for the better.

The Relationships

December 15 used to come around, and the couple would look at each other and ask things like, “Which nonprofits did we give to last year? Are they still around?” After years of giving generously through their donor-advised fund, they were ready for a different approach. They came to the Community Foundation with their list, their time, and their curiosity. What they discovered was access to the expertise that drives the Community Foundation’s own grantmaking.

Over time, people like Director of Donor Engagement and Impact Mary Hartstein came to understand the type of introductions and opportunities that would make their eyes light up.

“Working with Mary and the team from the very beginning, we both had a very strong sense that these guys are in it for the long haul. They know what’s happening in the community, and what segments of the community need a little bit of a leg up.”

Their questions evolved in kind. Now they ask, “Do you know an organization in this area? How efficient are they? Who are they serving? What’s their history? What’s their future? Do they need sustained giving over time, or a one-off?”

These conversations have been an investment in time and energy, but in return, the couple has built confidence in their approach, learned about new organizations, and felt their giving become more strategic.

“We come away from the conversations energized. We get a much clearer sense of what this place is, where we’ve chosen to hang our hats — and who’s doing the work.”

The Investments

The Winslow-Bestor Fund invests in opportunities that resonate on a personal level, align with their values, and fit the couple’s investment strategy. It has supported programs like these:

Developing a research-backed tutoring model that helps students learn, so no one gets left behind.

Strengthening pathways to affordable higher education, so young people have options after high school.

Supporting immigrant and migrant communities with urgent services and access to safe spaces for creative expression.

Connecting low-income residents to healthy home upgrades that decrease our region’s carbon footprint.

Investing in public media, cultural events, and arts programs that celebrate diversity.

Through their fund, they are making strategic, upstream investments, informed by a network of people with the expertise and relationships to help them understand where their resources can have the greatest impact.

“We are no longer running into December 15 saying, oh, right, now is the time. It’s an ongoing conversation.”

The philosophy behind the Winslow-Bestor Fund has become less about knowing exactly where to give — and more about working with a team to make their giving go further. They bring curiosity, values, and resources. The Community Foundation brings research, relationships, and infrastructure. Together, this partnership is supporting programs, shaping systems, and expanding possibilities across the region that has become home.

“What really feels good is the human face that the Community Foundation connects us with when we support these programs. It feels so reciprocal.”

The Community Foundation respects the privacy of donors who choose to keep their giving anonymous.

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