The act of connection has always been important to Los Angeles-area native Sarah Catz, CCAS BA ’77.

As a leading transportation/infrastructure and public policy expert, she has decades of experience spearheading projects to improve transportation links across Southern California.

And in the 1970s, as a recent college graduate returning to her home state, it was vital for Sarah to stay connected to her alma mater, even from 3,000 miles away.

“When I went to GW, there were maybe ten students who were from California. When I moved back it was always exciting when I would meet people who had also attended! It’s why I decided to co-chair the [Orange County] alumni committee for over ten years,” she said. “I am very proud of my GW education and know it’s important to the future of the university to keep alumni engaged.”

In addition to serving as chair of GW’s Heritage Society for the last two years, donating is another way Sarah has stayed connected. By giving in this special combination of time and treasure, she has nurtured a lasting bond with the university and its alumni.

Recently, Sarah decided to support GW outside of her annual giving. She discovered the GW Donor Advised Fund (DAF) and chose to open a fund to support the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

DAFs are like philanthropic giving accounts. They allow donors to contribute, receive an immediate tax deduction, then recommend grants to charitable institutions on their own timeline. For Sarah, the charitable planning is one of her favorite benefits.

“I am self-employed, and the nature of my business is that it ebbs and flows depending on the economy,” she explains. “When I opened a GW DAF in 2021, I had discretionary funds to donate. 2022 was a tough year for my business and budget. But it did not affect my charitable giving because I was able to contribute to GW through my DAF.”

A GW DAF ensures Sarah stays connected to GW while enjoying West Coast sunshine — and regardless of the financial climate.

If you’re interested in learning how to open up your own donor advised fund — or to explore other legacy giving options — contact Dean Regenovich, JD, LLM at (202) 748-4532 and dean.regenovich@gwu.edu today.