“Art evangelist” is a description that has been used many times when introducing dk Gallery owner Donna Krueger. Her vivacious energy fills the room when she shares her love of the arts, and she has championed many large and small scale art projects that have blossomed in Cobb County and beyond. Husband and art co-pilot, Kerry, has been there every step of the way serving as everything from business advisor to gallery photographer, alongside his own career. The Krueger family’s love of art and legacy is strong and has been passed down from previous generations. Donna’s uncle established a family foundation many years ago that awards grants each year, and she has played a role in identifying award recipients. This experience laid the foundation for the idea of creating their own donor advised fund.
As the Marietta Arts Council (MAC) began to take shape with Donna’s involvement, she worked with the local Marietta Councilwoman and CCF Board Member Michelle Cooper Kelly to get elements of their projects approved within their municipality. Through the process of developing the MAC, she learned about the Cobb Community Foundation and its resources. It was shortly after they worked together in this capacity that Michelle Cooper Kelly nominated Donna to serve on the Cobb Community Foundation Board.
“I was pleased to join the CCF Board. It represented so many of my personal values. I already had a love of philanthropy and of this community where my kids grew up, and where I have grown my business. I could see that the work CCF was doing in the community was incredibly impactful, and I wanted to be a part of the team initiating those meaningful projects.”
Donna and Kerry already knew they wanted to create a giving fund and offer the opportunity for their kids and grandkids to learn about and eventually participate in the giving process. Joining the board brought that goal to the forefront and it quickly came together. “We get to make the donations that we were already making, but now we have a team that manages and grows those dollars. We are more intentional now about our giving and are able to make increased donations through effective fund strategies. And another major factor is that the fund makes it much easier to report our donations at tax time since all the paperwork is handled through foundation processes. That is a WIN, WIN, WIN!”
In her short tenure on the Board, Donna has already collaborated with other organizations in the CCF family to bring new projects to life. Look for more good things for Cobb County from our board members.
If you would like to find out more about opening a charitable giving fund, please contact Barbara Garner at barbara@cobbfoundation.org or call (770) 859-2359.
