Marsha Morgan’s journey in philanthropy is rooted in her upbringing, deeply engrained values, and desire to positively impact her community. Born in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, but raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Marsha considers Alabama her home. Reflecting on her childhood, her mother and grandmother’s strong influence was pivotal - engaging in school extracurricular activities, teaching Sunday school at church, and taking part in Girl Scouts were a few things “baked into her life.” Giving back was a given, from donating to someone in need to helping a young person at church. “It wasn’t called philanthropy, it was just the right thing to do,” Marsha says, which inspired her to blaze a philanthropy path of her own, leaving a legacy that strategically and intentionally creates positive change.

Marsha also gives credit to her community at large for shaping her life through affirmations and guidance. “When you are going through school, particularly, college, you don’t always recognize and may even take for granted the fact that you are being invested in,” she says. Traditional philanthropy usually focuses on the “treasure,” but Marsha emphasizes the importance of the time, talent, and testimony invested in a young person’s life and the importance of representation to help them recognize the value in investing in themselves as they get older.

Read the full article about giving circles at Triangle Community Foundation.