Paul and Suzanne Manders Family Fund
Paul and Suzanne Manders Family Fund
Fun. Hardworking. Caring. Animal Lovers. Those are the core values that guide the Paul and Suzanne Manders Family Fund.
Established in 2016, the donor-advised fund is a family endeavour. When the fund was set up, the Manders’ children – Claire, Ben, and Holly – were 14, 11, and 9, respectively. It was important to Paul and Suzanne that the whole family have an equal say in which charities the fund would support. So, the Manders started having an annual family meeting to discuss options and make decisions together.
“The family meeting is a chance to talk about why a charity is important to each of us,” says Claire, now 23. “We each research charities that we care about and share them with the whole family. Through discussion, we hear different opinions on the chosen charities. This approach makes all of us more knowledgeable about charities, especially local ones.”
The Manders Family. Left to right: Ben, Paul, Suzanne, Holly, Claire
Through their fund, the Manders have contributed to a wide range of charities in London and Middlesex that are addressing pressing issues, such as homelessness and supportive housing, mental health and the lack of affordable counselling services, intimate partner violence, and care for animals.
Over the years, the Manders family has visited community organizations they are interested in supporting to see the work firsthand. Ben, 20, remembers visiting ArkAid Mission when he was younger. Seeing the essential support that ArkAid provides to people who are homeless has had a significant impact on Ben. He continues to advocate for the family fund to contribute to ArkAid and other frontline organizations focused on services for unhoused people.
Holly’s visits to local charities have also affected her giving decisions. Now 18, Holly says: “I visited Anova when I was about 13, and I really love and respect what they stand for. They are lovely and helpful people who give others another chance at life and freedom. I also visited the Humane Society in 2024. I have always had a passion for animals. I love to take care of them and make them feel safe and loved. This year, I am going into a program that will help me become a veterinary technician.”
As the fund has grown through the endowment model and regular contributions, the Manders family has adapted how they select charities, but the annual family meeting remains at the heart of their approach.
“When the fund was smaller, we voted as a family for one main charity to support. As the fund grew and our kids became more unique in their own favourite charities, we started to let them pick. Now, each family member picks a favourite charity to support each year. The bulk of the annual contribution amount supports our five chosen charities, with the rest going to other causes we feel are important in the community,” says Paul.
Choosing to establish an endowed fund has allowed the Manders family to grow their philanthropy and plan for the future. “When we established the fund, the endowment model was the best option for us. We liked the fact that it was long-term and more sustainable. An endowed fund also meant the whole family could get involved early, even when the kids were young. That was important for us as they will eventually be the decision-makers,” Paul says.
Giving back to the community through their fund is a positive experience for the whole family. “It allows us to have so many conversations that we would not have had as easily or as openly. It also allows the family to see that we are lucky and that it is one of our obligations to share the proceeds of that luck,” says Paul.
The Manders children agree. “The family fund helps us be more open, share what's important to us, and make charity a priority,” says Claire. Ben believes the fund “...has benefitted us as a family as it forces us to research the current problems in our area. This makes us more aware of our situation, shows how we can help, and lets us reflect on what we have ourselves.” Holly highlights how their approach to family philanthropy strengthens their bonds with each other: “It has helped us to organize and communicate as a family. I also feel the annual meetings allow us to be more vulnerable with each other as a group.”
Committed to community philanthropy, the Manders family is already looking ahead. “I hope we continue to do what we are doing, have fun while we are doing it, and become more grateful for what we have,” Paul says.