Donna and Brian didn’t set out to find each other, or to begin a new chapter in giving, but both happened when they least expected it. They met through mutual friends at a fundraising event at the Harris Center at Folsom Lake College. Both were divorced, with grown children and full, busy lives. After a few weeks of comparing calendars, they finally sat down for lunch and felt an instant connection. They bonded over a shared love of travel, a belief in hard work, a relentlessly positive outlook, and a deep commitment to giving back.
After a year of dating, Donna and Brian were engaged and married in December 2024, surrounded by family. To celebrate the couple, Donna’s colleagues honored them with gifts to the Impact Fund, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation’s unrestricted fund that directs dollars where they’re needed most across the region. It was a tribute that reflected both who Donna is and the values she and Brian share.
Donna is an estate planning attorney and shareholder at Boutin Jones Inc., a tireless advocate for charitable giving, and Big Day of Giving’s biggest cheerleader. She already held a Legacy Fund at the Foundation — structured to be funded through her IRA upon her passing — but for years she had imagined something more immediate: a Donor Advised Fund that would consolidate their giving, streamline the granting process, and make it easier to say “yes” to the causes they love. Their marriage provided the perfect catalyst to turn that vision into action.
Together, Donna and Brian opened the Courville King Family Fund to support organizations close to their hearts, including Meristem, the Los Rios Community College Foundation, their church, and other nonprofits strengthening the region. The fund gives each of them the flexibility to give in their own way, whether through appreciated stock, cash, or gifts from others. It also creates a shared platform for thoughtful, coordinated giving.
Donna is especially excited for Big Day of Giving.
“We both give so much on that day,” she says. “I love the idea of having one record of all the granting we make to nonprofits on that day. Plus, between now and then, our fund will be invested and grow, allowing us to grant even more dollars on the Big Day!”
With a Donor Advised Fund, their generosity becomes more intentional, more organized, and — because the assets can be invested — more impactful over time.
Donna and Brian’s journey is a reminder that philanthropy thrives where personal values meet practical tools. A Donor Advised Fund can simplify giving, create a central record of grants, engage family members, and help donors respond quickly when needs arise—all while potentially increasing what they’re able to give over time.
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