Growing Generations of Impact

Jul 6, 2026

For Brad and Teresa Beck, generosity is always about more than making a donation; it’s about creating opportunities for others and building joy in giving back that lasts for generations.

“Living, raising a family and growing a business in the Lakes Region has been a dream come true,” Brad said. “If we can help others live this dream, even in a small way, we want to do it.” 

As longtime supporters of their community, the Becks were looking for a meaningful and sustainable way to organize their charitable giving. Through conversations with board members of the family business, Beck Engineering, Inc., they were introduced to the Okoboji Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, where they learned more about the flexibility of charitable giving funds. 

Through the Community Foundation’s various charitable giving services, including the Charitable Investment Partners program, which allows donors to continue working with their trusted financial advisors, the Becks worked alongside Benson Wealth Management and the Okoboji Foundation to establish a donor advised fund. Together, they found a structure that aligned with the Becks’ family values, allowing them to grow their giving intentionally over time, while supporting causes and projects that matter most.

“With the donor advised fund being established at the Community Foundation, we know that the funds will be thoughtfully managed and will continue to grow,” said Brad. “That certainty has allowed us to give on a bigger scale for projects we feel really passionate about.” 

The Becks have also utilized the Endow Iowa Tax Credit program to help their charitable giving fund continue to grow and support the community long into the future. 

“It brings us so much joy to be able to help make a project happen or give an opportunity to someone,” said Teresa. “We continually ask ourselves, ‘how can we put more in the fund?’ And we’ve chosen the Endow Iowa path, so that we can continue to keep growing the fund and make even bigger impacts.”

Most meaningful is the opportunity to involve their daughters in the family’s charitable giving decisions – instilling the importance of understanding needs, caring for community and taking action together. 

“We plan on continuing to include them in decisions on donations now," said Teresa. "As they get older, we will include them even more, with the end goal of having them manage the donor advised fund after our lifetimes.”

For the Beck family, their donor advised fund is about more than supporting today’s needs. It’s about building a legacy of generosity that will continue shaping their family and the Lakes Region for future generations.