Donor Makes a Difference Through Diocese's 'Hidden Gem'

Dan Riehm would be the last person on earth to boast. He carries a flip phone, drives a 19-year-old car and mows his own yard. He eschews any form of spotlight, praise or adulation and his volunteer work at a Weatherford nonprofit that serves those in need is vital but behind the scenes.

However, the retired Coast Guard captain is willing to talk about his gift to the Advancement Foundation because he hopes that others may learn from his experience and follow suit.

With almost 50 years of saving, investing and living modestly, Dan has accumulated a comfortable nest egg. About seven years ago, he began thinking in earnest about what would happen with his estate after his death, especially since he has no children.

A graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, he considered leaving his estate to the alumni association of the academy that launched his 25-year career that took him from Kodiak, Alaska, to Miami, Florida, and several ports in between.

But Dan, who holds an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Washington, examined the alumni association's financial statement and realized they didn't need it.

The St. Stephen parishioner has a long history of donating to the Annual Diocesan Appeal, which supports needy parishes, schools and ministries in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth Advancement Foundation.

He reflected on the legacy he would leave behind, thinking, "Where can I make a contribution somewhere more meaningful to me, to a group of people that can benefit from this gift, that need it? I looked at the annual report from the Appeal and I saw where the money was going to support churches that did not have enough money to make ends meet and all the other projects that they were working on and I said, 'This is stuff I believe in and I can make a difference.'"

One day, while visiting his parents' grave, he thought, "I could make a perpetual gift to the diocese" to benefit the Annual Diocesan Appeal every year.

As his decision began to coalesce, "I thought I would have to do this with a financial firm, and they would take a big cut off the top of it," he said, but then he asked the Advancement Foundation if they were able to invest the principal of a significant gift and distribute the gains to the Annual Diocesan Appeal each year.

The answer, he learned, was "yes."

Working with Chris Chapman at the Advancement Foundation, Dan was pleased to learn his gift will grow tax-free, will be invested in ethical companies and is shielded from litigation. Also, the Advancement Foundation administers the endowment, so no hefty management fees are paid to an outside financial planner.

However, the biggest benefit according to Dan is that the balance will remain invested to provide an ongoing contribution to the Annual Diocesan Appeal. His generosity will benefit the diocese long after his lifetime. And as the diocese grows and changes as the decades pass, the Annual Diocesan Appeal will reflect its current needs, and income from his bequest will be distributed accordingly.

Dan calls the Advancement Foundation a "hidden gem" because many faithful in the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth Advancement Foundation don't realize the services it can provide. He feels confident that he can make a significant difference with his donation. He said, "It's protected; it's invested; it should last forever."

Learn how you can leave a legacy for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth that reflects your values and provides for an extension of your faith. Contact Renée Underwood, CFRE at 817-533-7242 and plannedgiving@adv-fdn.org to learn more.