A Winkler accounting firm is marking a milestone by giving back to the community in a big way.
Jim M. Smith Chartered Professional Accountants Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary by donating $25,000 to the Winkler Community Foundation to create an endowment fund. They’ve also committed to donations of $5,000 annually for the next 15 years, bringing it to $100,000 in funding.
“We’re not a real big company, but over time we can get it there,” said Jim Smith.
“The idea of setting up a fund has been in the back of my mind for years,” he said. “Things came together that this could be part of commemorating our 25th anniversary.
“We wanted this to be forward-thinking … a legacy,” Smith added. “You need to have a longterm thought process, thinking five, 10, 15 years down the road, because it goes so quickly.”
Dubbed the 2025 Stride Forward Fund, the interest it generates will allow the firm to support community projects through donor-advised giving for years to come.
“Whoever’s working here will get to decide annually how the income from the fund is donated, where it’s donated,” Smith said. “I like that part of it because it’s kind of a group project. The nature of our business is we don’t have a lot of group projects, that’s not what we do. … this will be a group decision and it’s going to vary from year to year. The focus will be on local charitable community projects.”
Winkler Community Foundation executive director Myra Peters says the fund will begin generating grants in 2027.
“We’re so excited to work together with Jim Smith and the firm, because it is a great opportunity for the staff to work together to decide how the money is getting designated every year,” she said. “It’s educating more people on what a community foundation can do, and it’s giving back to the community.”
Smith hopes other companies will be inspired to explore how they could support their local community foundation to celebrate corporate accomplishments.
“Most of our charitable giving is done in the dark,” he said, noting they originally weren’t going to seek publicity for this but changed course when they realized the exposure it would give the foundation. “In talking to Myra, in talking to some clients, it’s almost a once in a lifetime opportunity to spread the word. And maybe there’s other businesses, other organizations out there, when they hear about it, it might plant a seed. Maybe this is something we could do not just for the Winkler Community Foundation, but in communities far and wide there’s lots of community foundations, lots of businesses that could set up their own donor-advised fund to mark a milestone.
“This was a fit for us—maybe it’ll be a fit for someone else,” Smith said.
The firm has been in Winkler for decades, even before being established under its current name.
Smith attributes their longevity to the dedicated team who work alongside him.
“One thing I want to make clear is the appreciation that we have for the staff that have worked with us over the past 30+ years,” he said, noting a couple employees who have been with them for over 20 years. “I have so much appreciation for the staff over all those years and appreciation for our clients, obviously, because we wouldn’t be here without them.”
Looking back, Smith said he’s proud the firm has built up a reputation of “undying commitment to client service” that has translated into relationships with some clients going back decades.
“That loyalty when you have clients for 30 years, 20 years, it’s a longterm relationship,” he said. “I think I’m most proud of that, the reputation and the loyalty of our staff and our clients.”
The company holds its annual Christmas open house for current and potential clients on Dec. 11 from 3-5 p.m. at its offices at 240 Main Street. All are welcome to come down to enjoy music, food, and giveaways.
And if you’d like more information about the Winkler Community Foundation’s donor-directed funds, head to winklercommunityfoundation.com.
