Generational giving
The Keibler family.
Chuck and Jeane Keibler hope to make life “just a little better” for people in the Quad Cities—and in other parts of the country.
They’re getting a little help from the “littlest” Keiblers—and no, we’re not referring to the Keebler elves (besides, that’s a different spelling altogether).
After the sale of Genesis Systems Group in 2019, a robotics company founded in 1983, the Keiblers were talking with their financial advisor about the ways they can be philanthropic during retirement. “Our financial advisor is actually based in Des Moines—and he recommended that we look at local foundations in the Quad Cities to partner with to do our giving,” Chuck said.
A recommendation from a friend introduced them to the Quad Cities Community Foundation, the region’s source for community generosity. “We wanted to work with a foundation that we could trust, and we wanted to work with a foundation who would make the type of giving we wanted to do possible,” Chuck said. “It was really important to Jeane and me that we have the opportunity to engage our grandchildren in our philanthropy. The Community Foundation has made it easy for us to do so.”
Through the Keibler’s newly-established fund, six of their seven grandchildren (their youngest is only one) were each given $1,000 to grant to a charity of their choice. The children from five-years-old to 12-years-old worked with their parents, and their grandparents Chuck and Jeane, to identify who to donate the dollars to. It is an early introduction to philanthropy for the kids, and a lesson in generational giving for all of us.
Last year, the three Seattle grandchildren chose a sea turtle conservancy, a homeless shelter and a cancer center. The three Bettendorf grandchildren chose a camp for disabled children in Michigan and in the Quad Cities, the New Kingdom Trailriders and the Family Museum of Arts and Science. Each grandchild made the decision based on personal experiences they have had, and to support causes they love.
“One of our grandsons who lives in the Seattle area wanted to make the grant to a gentleman experiencing homelessness that he would pass every single day on the way to school,” Chuck said. “His parents were able to discuss with him what the community is doing to support people like this man, and help him identify a nonprofit that is making life better for him—and others also in need of support. It has been a real learning process for all of them.”
Another granddaughter was inspired to give to the cancer center after seeing her family friend create greeting cards that were then sold to raise money for patients.
“The neat thing about the choices the grandkids have made is that they are now experiencing the subsequent joy that comes with the giving,” Chuck said. “Our seven-year-old granddaughter was invited to attend the opening of the climbing wall the Family Museum in Bettendorf is opening, our nine-year-old granddaughter has been invited to visit New Kingdom Trailriders’ horse stable, and our 11-year-old granddaughter received a personal note of appreciation from the founder of the Michigan camp. They are able to see how meaningful a gift, no matter the size, is to the nonprofits.”
The Keiblers intend to continue to do this with their grandchildren every year. “We absolutely love what they are doing,” said Anne Calder, vice president of development. “Chuck and Jeane are doing the very things we champion at the Quad Cities Community Foundation—inspire giving back to communities no matter the size of the gift, and no matter the age of the giver. More and more, families are choosing to do their giving together through the Community Foundation. We’re here to make that experience easy, and joyful.”
To learn about how to involve multiple generations in your family in the joy of giving, contact Anne Calder, vice president of development, at (563) 326-2840 or AnneCalder@QCCommunityFoundation.org.