Meet 2024 Partner in Philanthropy Award Recipient Beth Genter

Maybe it makes sense that someone who began her career thinking about becoming an exercise physiologist would eventually become one of our region’s most successful and respected financial planners: For flexibility is a hallmark of any fruitful growth strategy.

“I realized that analyzing investments and selecting stocks was far more intriguing [than physiology],” said Beth Genter, founder and president of Schenley Capital in Sewickley. Genter is the 2024 recipient of the Partner in Philanthropy Award, given to a financial advisor who possesses an outstanding commitment to The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and community. “I thrive on the in-depth personal relationships we create with our clients and families.”

After changing tack, Genter joined Merrill Lynch, first in Pittsburgh before returning to New York City, where she grew up. But from there, “I thought it was important to give a client the best possible options rather than to sell ‘in-house’ products and to be a fiduciary.” So, she moved back to Pittsburgh and started the aforementioned independent advisory firm, Schenley Capital, in 1997 with just 10 clients. 

“Opening a registered investment advisory firm was not an easy choice,” she said. “At the time I was not aware of many women in the investment field, nor did I know of any women-owned advisory firms.”

As her client portfolio increased, so did her philosophy around charitable giving.

“My thoughts on philanthropy have evolved from recommending simple gifts of low-basis stock to charitable organizations to talking frequently to clients about donor-advised funds and more complicated estate strategies for gifting to charities,” she said. “We work closely with estate attorneys to help clients to accomplish their philanthropic desires while significantly reducing taxes. There are many strategies that can be utilized and that led me to The Pittsburgh Foundation.

“The Foundation is a bridge between donors and the nonprofit organizations and has a vast knowledge of the work, who is served and the people who run those organizations. They can tell a donor about all the organizations in their areas of interest, arrange visits, assist in getting projects funded and provide community support. They make it easy to make gifts and start a donor-advised fund.” 

Genter also said the talks the Foundation conducts for the advisor community as well as the donor events set them apart from other local foundations. 

“They support the advisor community, accountants and the estate planners. Schenley is an approved advisor to invest client funds for The Pittsburgh Foundation and we are proud to have this strong connection between our clients and the Foundation.”

Foundation Assistant Director of Development and Donor Services Amy Razem appreciates the many levels of support that Genter provides to the Foundation.

"Beth is a wonderful collaborator and partner,” Razem said. “She has been a longtime supporter and advocate. So much so that she has referred her family to open their own funds. She's a donor herself and is passing on the values of philanthropy and community to her kids."

Genter credits Razem for expanding her knowledge about gifting and its impact as well as her enrollment in the Certified Analyst in Philanthropy program, which she will complete next year. But her interest in helping others, especially in the areas of education, arts and the environment was always within her.

“My parents were interested in giving to our church and schools. It was their belief that it was important to give back and that education was an important gift to your children and to those in need. And we feel it is important to introduce these sometimes difficult and important conversations with our clients, because philanthropy should not only focus on the tax advantages; it should reflect the passion one has for an organization or specific interests.”