By Abbi Telander
For WashU parents John and Kristin Goodwin, philanthropy is a family affair. Over 20 years ago, the Kansas City-area couple started involving their youngest daughter, Catherine, Olin Business School Class of 2027, and her two older siblings in the decisions about what the family’s charitable giving budget would support.
“John and I both grew up in families with a real emphasis on civic responsibility,” Kristin says. “We wanted to instill in our children that we serve other people, that we share what we have. So, we’d have a family meeting every year and ask the kids what they thought was important and where they saw need. And now that they’re grown, our kids continue to share their passions with us.”
And right now, what Catherine is passionate about is WashU. She has found friends and mentors in the classroom and on the basketball court, as well as during volunteer and advocacy opportunities where she can continue her interest in tutoring and mentoring children.
We talked with the Goodwins about their involvement at WashU and how they bring their enthusiasm for service to the university.
What excites you about WashU?
Kristin: Obviously, the fact that it excites Catherine. When you care about somebody, you care about the things that they care about. But we also love that WashU offers a breadth and depth of opportunities — academic, athletic, social, volunteer — for students of all walks of life to grow and learn together.
It fosters an environment where people with different perspectives can work together both inside and outside the classroom.
How do you bring your support of WashU to Kansas City?
John: In September, we hosted a salon for Olin Business School. About 60 alums and parents joined us for a discussion from Dean Michael Mazzeo regarding the strategic plan, and Professor Markus Baer presented on “The Implications of AI for Human Capital Development.” It was an excellent opportunity to get people together outside of St. Louis who care about WashU, as a way to build community and drive connections. We were very happy to host. There are so many opportunities to benefit the school and this one happened to be in our hometown.
Tell us about your experience as university volunteers.
John: As members of Parents Council, we try to give voice to topics we hear about from Catherine and her peers. We’ve been impressed with focus and genuine caring attitude shown by other members of the council. It’s a good representation of intelligent and thoughtful families from across the schools and classes. We sense a high level of mutual respect between the committee and the university administrators.
Kristin: Being involved also gives us confidence that we understand the environment Catherine lives and works in and add our input to improve on it as well. There’s nothing like hearing leadership speak in person at these meetings to build your faith in the leaders and the direction the school is going.
John: Additionally, we recently joined the Danforth Circle committee. Our first meeting was really productive, and we felt good about the actionable ideas generated. We made suggestions and gave some context based on our experience with advancement at our own alma maters, Yale and Princeton. Overall it was a positive, collaborative experience. We’re excited to see what else we can bring to the table and how to enhance the WashU experience for the students and faculty.
Why is it important to you to prioritize annual giving?
John: I learned at Princeton that the true cost of education is much more than what we pay in tuition, and I’ve always kept that in mind. We feel a genuine responsibility to provide extra resources that benefit not just our child, but so many other students. Capital gifts are important too, but there is an immediate need for unrestricted gifts that are used on an ongoing basis. We want to be leaders, and we hope we can inspire others to join us in giving.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
Kristin: I would want everyone to have the ability to truly see everyone else’s humanity. Having a giving heart, being charitable, volunteering is a huge step in that direction. In a world where everything is so polarized, there’s so much focus on what divides us. But helping others — loving each other, serving each other — is what really builds community.
Kristin and John are business leaders in the Kansas City area: John leads a wealth management firm affiliated with Northwestern Mutual; Kristin is also part of the firm, as well as serving as a liaison to her family’s banking interests in Kansas. They prioritize community involvement and volunteerism in areas such as early childhood education, health-care access, and uplifting underserved populations. This past July, the United Way of Greater Kansas City recognized them with the annual Adele Hall Spirit of Caring Award at the Waymaker™ Awards.