Three Generations of Transformative Family Philanthropy

The magic of the holiday season is in the air and with it comes a gift that surpasses all – the gift of giving. Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) is here to help you and your family support the causes that matter most to you today, tomorrow, and forever. Elsa and Peter Soderberg of the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation (EPSCF) embody the transformative power of family philanthropy. Peter, who joined Gulf Coast’s Board of Directors in 2019, and his wife Elsa, work in tandem with nonprofit organizations and non-governmental organizations to catalyze bold, innovative, and scalable solutions.

The goal of the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation is to boost the quality of life for the people they serve through strategic grantmaking and collaborative partnerships that have maximum and catalytic impact. Philanthropy has been a vital part of Peter and Elsa’s life journey, and they made it a priority to include their family in the process. The dynamic couple is setting an example for future generations to follow. “Peter and Elsa Soderberg infuse their values into bold, proactive philanthropy,” said Gulf Coast’s Director of Philanthropic Partnerships Sasha Pyatte, CFRE. “Their giving is deeply intentional, identifying high-performing organizations that have the ability to scale their operations and grow their impact as a result of the Soderbergs’ philanthropic investment. Their multi-generational approach ensures their values and impact resonate far beyond today. Their impact is thoughtful, intentional, and felt throughout our region and beyond.”

A Legacy of Giving Across Generations
The Soderberg family exemplifies how philanthropy can unite and inspire across generations. Three generations of Soderbergs have served on boards or in leadership roles at the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation or other non-profits to help move the needle in their charitable work. To deepen the family’s philanthropic engagement, Peter and Elsa set up donor advised funds at Gulf Coast for each of their children and their 14 grandchildren. They make gifts into each of the funds every year during the holiday season.

Even more special, each family member selects a cause or project to champion, diving into hands-on support for their chosen initiatives. Peter and Elsa will co-invest alongside the family member to support the project. This approach doesn’t just teach their family the importance of generosity—it instills the skills and mindset of impactful philanthropy.

For Tomorrow, Today
Three generations of the Soderberg family recently participated in a unique, collaborative, and entrepreneurial opportunity to create two new staff positions at Harvest House. Harvest House is a nonprofit organization that supports individuals when they are in crisis. Their mission is to champion hope and transform lives through supportive housing, addiction recovery programs, and food security. Harvest House has been a longtime collaborator in several of Gulf Coast’s initiatives, including creating paths to housing for individuals overcoming homelessness. Harvest House is committed to offering supportive housing solutions for families and youth.

The Elsa and Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation along with grants from their children and grandchildren’s donor advised funds provided three-years of funding to support the newly hired Director of Operations and a Network Administrator at Harvest House. “Our family is making an investment in Harvest House and their ability to scale up. Together, we identified a need for these new positions,” said Peter Soderberg. “This organization has shown that with additional support, they can expand much needed services in our community.”

Inspiring a Spirit of Giving
Family philanthropy, during the holiday season, is a powerful and effective way to involve your loved ones in the heart of giving. Let this serve as an important and meaningful reminder to share the purpose and power of philanthropy and to inspire a giving spirit in all just like the Soderberg family. Click here to connect with a member of our Philanthropy Team to make your year-end giving even more impactful.