The Opportunity Ahead: New Insights on Wealth and Giving in Central Texas
Central Texas is experiencing remarkable growth in both wealth and charitable potential. New research from Austin Community Foundation provides a clearer picture of the opportunity, from the billions already given to charity across the region each year to the significant wealth expected to change hands in the decades ahead.
In this interactive session, Meagan Longley and Stephanie Sessa will connect these two perspectives to explore what the data tells us about philanthropy in Central Texas today, what’s coming next, and what it could mean for our region. Through new research, real-world scenarios, and table discussion, attendees will explore where philanthropic opportunities may be going untapped, how charitable conversations can begin earlier, and the distinct roles advisors and nonprofit gift planners can play in helping donors translate wealth into meaningful, lasting impact.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of Central Texas’ philanthropic potential and practical ideas for turning these insights into more meaningful donor and client conversations.
Speakers
Meagan Longley, a native Austinite, is the Chief Impact Officer at Austin Community Foundation. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring the Foundation’s initiatives have a meaningful and measurable impact. In partnership with a stellar team, her work focuses on asset growth, fund development, donor engagement, grantmaking, impact investing, and community engagement.
Meagan currently serves on the board of the Austin Ed Fund and the steering committee of the Central Texas Chapter of the Asset Funders Network. She received her MSSW at the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin and completed her undergraduate degree at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.
Stephanie Sessa, CAP®, serves as Director of Advisor & Donor Engagement at Austin Community Foundation. Driven by a passion for community-building, she connects donors’ philanthropic goals, the professional advisors who guide them, and ACF’s strategic priorities to help make charitable giving more intentional and impactful.
Stephanie serves on the national board of AdNet, an association for community foundation advancement professionals. Closer to home, she is a proud Girl Scouts of Central Texas Brownie troop leader and Treasurer of her daughter’s school PTA. She holds a BS from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and an MS from the London School of Economics and Political Science.