For more than a decade, Kristi Cumming has helped shape Park City Community Foundation. From the organization’s earliest days to times of transition and growth, Kristi has been a steady leader, thoughtful partner, and passionate advocate for the power of collective giving. Today, she continues that commitment not only as a member of our Development Committee, but also through her Donor Advised Fund, a giving vehicle that reflects her deep trust in the organization and her long-term vision for our community.
A Donor Advised Fund, or DAF, is a charitable giving account established at a community foundation or nonprofit organization like Park City Community Foundation. Donors contribute to the fund (including cash, stock, or other assets), receive an immediate tax benefit, and then recommend grants over time to the nonprofit organizations and causes they care about most. It offers both structure and flexibility, making it easier to give strategically and consistently.
For Kristi, establishing a DAF at Park City Community Foundation was a natural choice. Her long history with the organization and deep confidence in its leadership made the decision straightforward. She views the Community Foundation as a trusted partner that understands local needs, builds strong relationships, and approaches community challenges with collaboration and transparency.
“A DAF allows me to be thoughtful, intentional, and well informed in my giving because of the trust I have in the people who work at the Community Foundation,” she explains. “They do the leg work, and I get the benefits and joy of giving with confidence.”
Kristi’s commitment to community began long before her formal leadership roles. “Over the years, I was fortunate to have many role models who opened their hearts and homes to share their resources,” she reflects. “As a young girl, my mother was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and served as PTA President.”
Later, as a member of the U.S. Ski Team, Kristi witnessed firsthand the impact of generous donors who made opportunities possible for athletes like her. She also gave her own time as an Athlete Representative, learning early that communities thrive when people step forward to support one another. “Perhaps I was paying more attention than I realized,” she says. “But it always felt like supporting my community was the right choice.”
Her connection to Park City Community Foundation runs especially deep. Her husband, John, was a co-founder of the organization. Starting in 2014, Kristi served as a board member and later as Board Chair, helping guide the organization through important transitional periods. Her leadership has consistently emphasized collaboration, humility, and building systems that create lasting impact.
When asked which issues matter most to her, Kristi points to the people closest to the work. “It is important to me to know the people embedded in the nonprofits doing the work, day in and day out,” she says. “They are closest to the challenges and understand the nuances that do not always show up in data alone.”
The human stories behind affordable housing, early childhood education, and environmental sustainability resonate most strongly with her. In a growing community like Park City and Summit County, these issues affect neighbors, families, and the future of the workforce.
Through her DAF, Kristi has embraced a two-pronged approach to philanthropy: responding to urgent needs while also investing in long term solutions. “The Community Foundation has helped me think about giving as both responsive and strategic,” she says. “To be able to step back and look at the big picture is so important – where having patience, consistency, and sustained support really matters. And also being ready to respond quickly when our community needs us most.”
One of her most meaningful philanthropic moments was the early success of the Women’s Giving Fund. “We set a goal to raise $1 million from 1,000 women in one year,” she recalls. “Seeing the power of collective giving, from large to small gifts, was an amazing learning experience and incredibly inspirational.”
Today, the Women’s Giving Fund has over 2,300 members and continues to support women+ and children in our community through annual high impact grants. The experience reinforced a belief that has guided Kristi’s involvement ever since: when people come together around shared purpose, extraordinary things happen.
“To me, it is less about a single gift and more about contributing to a sustained culture of care, responsibility, and trust within the community,” she says. “This type of approach values not only immediate outcomes but more importantly, how to strengthen systems that build a stronger future for all in our growing community.”
Through her ongoing service, her leadership on the Development Committee, and her Donor Advised Fund, Kristi Cumming continues to model what intentional, partnership driven philanthropy looks like in action.
Interested in learning more about opening a Donor Advised Fund at Park City Community Foundation? We would love to talk with you about how to make your giving streamlined, strategic, and impactful. Visit our DAF page and reach out to Alexis at alexis@parkcitycf.org to explore your options.
Posted in: Donors
Tagged: donors, donor advised fund