Building meaningful relationships is a fundamental aspect of our work at Austin Community Foundation. Our team fosters strong connections with our fundholders, enabling us to understand their values, passions, and philanthropic goals. Helping them turn their philanthropic visions into action is at the heart of what we do. In our continuous effort to provide excellent donor services, we are pleased to share that Rebekah Anthony, Director of Donor Relations, and Stephanie Sessa, Senior Donor Relations Officer, have earned their Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) certifications!
The CAP® program, offered by The American College of Financial Services, is a graduate-level certification designed to equip professionals with advanced expertise in philanthropic planning. Through this program, Rebekah and Stephanie have gained valuable insights into charitable giving strategies, legacy planning, and donor-advised fund best practices—allowing them to further enhance the support they provide to ACF fundholders.
To celebrate this achievement, we sat down with Rebekah and Stephanie to hear firsthand about their motivation for pursuing the certification, their biggest takeaways, and how their newfound expertise will allow them to better support fundholders.
What was your main motivation for earning this certification?
Rebekah: For most people, philanthropy is not their full-time focus. Yet, they have an extraordinary ability to make a difference. I want someone’s philanthropic experience to be as seamless as possible, serving as a guide to align their values with their charitable capabilities and the opportunities to make a difference in our community. The CAP certification helped me further hone my facilitation and listening skills as well as technical acumen that I hope will help people unlock the power in their giving!
Stephanie leading an Agency Fund 101 session for agency fundholders.
Stephanie: My primary motivation for earning the CAP designation was to deepen my expertise and better serve donors in creating meaningful, lasting impact. I wanted to ensure that I could provide specialized guidance on charitable giving strategies and help donors align their philanthropy with their values and long-term goals. On a personal level, I was eager to challenge myself, grow professionally, and become part of a network of professionals dedicated to advancing philanthropy in our communities.
What did you learn, and what resonated most with you?
Rebekah: I appreciated the deep dive into charitable vehicles and strategies. Every donor’s situation is different and there are many ways to be creative about how someone can achieve their charitable goals. It also emphasized for me the importance of our partnership with professional advisors. The real magic happens when everyone contributes their unique expertise to generate the solution, and we rely on strong partnerships with advisors and the nonprofit community.
Stephanie: Overall, CAP teaches you to help donors define and pursue their biggest ambitions for themselves, their families, and the world around them. This holistic approach to philanthropy resonated the most—going beyond just the financial mechanics to focus on a donor’s values, legacy, and long-term vision for their family and society. CAP reinforces the importance of integrating technical expertise with meaningful conversations.
How do you envision the skills you gained from this course allowing you to better serve ACF fundholders?
Rebekah leading one of several donor education sessions held during the Fall of 2024 alongside Meagan Longley, our VP of Community Impact.
Rebekah: ACF sits in a unique position, with an ability to draw from the experiences and needs of donors, professional advisors, and the nonprofit community. The CAP delves deeper into all three of these perspectives, enabling me to help our constituents craft solutions that work for everyone at the table.
Stephanie: Absolutely agree with Rebekah! I also believe the knowledge I gained from CAP will help me better support fundholders that are navigating how to engage the next generation in their philanthropy. Whether it is facilitating family meetings, structuring charitable vehicles that encourage participation, or identifying nonprofits that align with evolving interests, I can help fundholders create a legacy that reflects their diverse values across generations.
If you’re interested in learning more about ACF’s philanthropic services or opening a fund, please get in touch! A member of our team would be happy to assist you.
