Grass Valley, CA — September 2026— What do we want our financial resources to make possible during our lifetimes and for generations to come? And what could happen if more of those resources were intentionally invested in the people, places, and cultural life of our own community?
On Friday, October 23 at 5:30-7:30 p.m., local and regional leaders in financial planning, estate law, philanthropy, and arts advocacy will come together at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley for a free community conversation about legacy planning and the future of arts and culture in Nevada County.
Facilitated by Michelle Amador, Executive Director of The Center for the Arts, the discussion will bring together:
- Janice Dunn, Baird, The Lee & Dunn Group
- Huck Ingram, Ingram Brady
- Scott Beesley, Gateway Financial / Community Foundation of Nevada County Board Member
- Julie Baker, CA for the Arts & CA Arts Advocates
- Robin Garcia, Executive Director, Nevada County Arts & Culture
Rather than focusing solely on traditional estate planning, the conversation will explore a larger question: How can we align our financial resources with the people, places, and values we want to sustain?
“Legacy planning is often treated as something we do much later in life, or something reserved for people with significant wealth,” said Amador. “But philanthropy can evolve with us throughout our lives. This conversation is an opportunity to think about what we value, what we want our community to look like in the future, and the many ways we can begin investing in that future now.”
The discussion will address practical questions including when to begin thinking about philanthropy, how charitable giving can be incorporated into financial and estate planning, and the tools available to individuals and families, including wills, beneficiary designations, trusts, bequests, and donor-advised funds.
Panelists will also examine the changing landscape for arts and culture. As public funding and private foundation funding becomes increasingly constrained, individual philanthropy is playing an increasingly important role in sustaining artists, cultural organizations, and the creative ecosystems that contribute to vibrant communities.
The conversation will look specifically at what happens when philanthropic resources stay local.
What does a gift to an artist, small nonprofit, cultural organization, or larger institution make possible? How does that investment move through the local economy? And what are we building for the next generation when we choose to support the cultural life of our community?
Those questions will lead to a look 25 years into the future: What do we hope is still here in Nevada County because people chose to invest in it today?
The evening will conclude with real stories from local community members who have made philanthropic commitments, including gifts through art collections, donor-advised funds, and estate plans. These donors will share what inspired their decisions, what they found challenging, and what they would say to others considering how they want to leave a legacy.
The event will include tips on how legacy and charitable planning works, emphasizing that you do not have to be wealthy, retired, or at a particular stage of life to begin thinking about your legacy.
The Future We Create: Legacy Giving for the Arts in Nevada County
Friday, October 23, 2026
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Center for the Arts
314 W. Main Street, Grass Valley, CA
Free and open to the community. Pizza provided by Bicycle Thief. Wine provided by Szabo.
The conversation is intended for anyone interested in learning more about financial planning, estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropy, and the future of Nevada County’s arts and cultural ecosystem. No particular level of wealth or prior knowledge is required.
About the Partners
The Center for the Arts In Grass Valley brings the world’s greatest artists to Northern CA and brings our region’s artists to the world through performance, visual arts, and education.
Baird: The Lee & Dunn Group is a Grass Valley wealth management team built on honesty, integrity, and genuine concern for clients, helping families align their financial resources with their values, goals, and legacy.
CA for the Arts & Arts Advocates advocates for the arts and creative economy across California, working to ensure that arts and culture remain essential to the state’s communities and economy.
The Community Foundation of Nevada County connects people, ideas, and resources to strengthen Nevada County and help create a more vibrant future for the community.
Ingram Brady is a Grass Valley law firm that serves individuals and businesses throughout Nevada County, with a focus on real estate, business, and employment law.
Nevada County Arts & Culture supports and advocates for the county’s artists, creative organizations, and cultural ecosystem.