Building Their Legacy: Britton and Erin Langdon Give Back
You might say that Britton and Erin Langdon are builders by nature. In 2013, the couple relocated to Cedar Rapids—Erin’s hometown—for Britton’s work in construction management. By then, Erin had extensive experience in growing and leading lean nonprofit organizations.
At Modern Companies, Inc., Britton was tasked with creating a software system to coordinate design and prefabrication operations. As it turned out, much of the industry had a similar need. The project was spun off into a new company and sold seven years later, allowing the Langdons to establish a donor-advised fund. For a young family passionate about building sustainable organizations and thriving communities, this was an exciting opportunity.
Tracking Community Needs
Like most people in Linn County, Britton and Erin are all too aware that community needs can change in an instant. With a donor-advised fund, they can support ongoing work and still be prepared to respond to those changes.
“Cedar Rapids has had its ups and downs, and we want to stay nimble in our giving so we can respond to unexpected needs,” Erin said. “But we also want to support long-term sustainability and innovation in the nonprofit sector, especially for organizations trying new approaches but struggling to secure traditional funding.” Securing funding for new programs, projects, or approaches can be challenging for nonprofits.
Though the couple prioritizes human service organizations that focus on unmet needs, giving through a donor-advised fund has allowed Britton and Erin to grant to diverse organizations.
“We have relationships with several nonprofits,” Britton said. “The ability to spread out our giving and support more organizations is a great opportunity.”
Through grants from their fund and volunteering as board members, the Langdons have supported Foundation 2 Crisis Services, Theatre Cedar Rapids, CSPS, and YPN, among others.
A Thoughtful Approach
Erin has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector. From serving as the interim CEO of Make-A-Wish of Oklahoma, to her current role as Chief Operating Officer at Foundation 2 Crisis Services, she has seen the inner workings of a wide range of nonprofit organizations. While growing up, Britton saw how active his parents were in their church and international missions. This knowledge and experience inform their giving.
“As a nonprofit leader, I pay close attention to how organizations use their funds,” Erin said. “Of course, agencies need some overhead to operate, but we do like to ensure the dollars are being used wisely.”
While Erin has the experience needed to make such informed decisions, Britton points out that giving through the Community Foundation can make the process easier.
“It can be tough these days to know what is real and what isn’t,” he said. “Having a place like the Community Foundation is a great resource to make sure you’re putting your money where you know it’s going to be spent well.”
Looking Ahead
After two years of granting from their fund, the Langdons are excited about the future of their giving. Because it is endowed, the fund will continue to grow and allow them to support local nonprofits in perpetuity. Giving through the Community Foundation allows the Langdon’s to take advantage of the Endow Iowa, which offers a 25% state tax credit.
“As our children get older, we look forward to conversations about granting and what impact that can have for a nonprofit,” they said. For now, they’re enjoying building something that will serve the community for many years to come.
“We’re invested in the Cedar Rapids community,” Erin said. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to establish this fund and give back.”
Learn more about other donors making a difference in our community here: Donors Making A Difference