Judith Favell

Giving Back: In Her Life and in Her DNA

For First Nations’ longtime supporter Judith “Judy” Favell, philanthropy is a part of who she is, baked into her personality and history, for as long as she can remember. Whether through service in her career or through her systematic approach to effective philanthropy across a range of causes, interests, and organizations, she upholds what she knows innately: “It’s not a question, it’s an obligation. You have to give back.”

Judy and her daughters Holly and Katherine developed a philanthropic strategy, building on their family values of giving back.

Positioned for impact

Judy reflects that the philanthropic spirit her parents instilled in her has taken many forms throughout her life. Professionally, she began as a researcher after graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University with a degree in psychology and earning her Ph.D. in development and child psychology from the University of Kansas. Her specialty is in autism and severe behavior disorders, specifically those resulting in dangerous behaviors, such as self-injury and aggression. Throughout her career, she has held multiple research and academic positions, written numerous books and articles, presented at conferences and on panels, and advanced the field’s understanding of behavioral sciences.

She ultimately became the CEO of AdvoServ, a multistate network of treatment programs for children and adults with developmental and emotional challenges, a position in which she focused not only on the causes of autism, but also, the strategies to advance treatment and alleviate symptoms.

Judy retired six years ago, but has continued serving the field, through speaking engagements and leadership positions on several boards.

When she was working – often 80-hour weeks, seven days a week – Judy says she had limited resources for donating and volunteering. But during those years, she invested wisely, and her assets grew. She pursued her belief that her role was, as her mother said, to always “give back.” After her company sold, she was well-positioned to further her investment in her philanthropic interests and passions. She took advantage of her financial situation, now being able to shift from serving though her profession to intentional giving.

Judy, Holly, and Katherine focus on effectiveness and impact in supporting a variety of causes.

A systematic approach

As a researcher, psychologist, and behavior analyst, Judy is a pragmatic philanthropist, focused on impact. “I want to do good, but I’m no do-gooder,” she says. “I want to support things that are effective.”

With this in mind, Judy worked with her adult daughters, Holly and Katherine, in coming up with a giving strategy. They started with a search through the National Philanthropic Trust, evaluating the literature and materials of over 20 programs. The three women focused on program effectiveness and an organization’s ability to show impact.

At the same time, they followed Judy’s interests, which span from women’s health and well-being, to education, to disaster relief. A central theme is helping people in need – from “shaking the couch pillows” for community support after deadly hurricanes hit North Carolina, to making sure that people globally receive needed food and medical care.

She speaks specifically about wanting to help women and families – something central to her psyche and values – and being inspired by program strategies and outcomes where the “data meets the road.”

Judy is also inspired by education work, especially for people in underserved communities. She references one program that provides education and training to motivated young women, setting them up for success in finding jobs and establishing successful careers.

Another interest Judy and her daughters followed is the future and well-being of Native communities. Judy says she has always had a respect and love for Native Americans collectively – their grandeur, the dignity of their lives, and the atrocities they experienced and continue to experience.

The research through the National Philanthropic Trust led Judy to First Nations, where she was initially drawn to the organization’s reporting and effectiveness.

From there, with a clear idea of the causes that matter most to her – and a meaningful review of organizations’ programs, approaches, and data points – Judy and her daughters laid out an annual plan for giving. It is a plan based on objectives and impact, but flexible in its rules and responsiveness. The plan formalized her lifelong mission to give back in a way that provides her with inspiration and connection with every donation.

Strengthening her impact

Since making the plan, Judy’s engagement with First Nations has increased through regular interactions with President and CEO Mike Roberts (Tlingit) and Director of Individual Giving Jona Charette (Northern Cheyenne/Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa). Participating in a 2023 First Nations’ Southwest Sojourn donor tour further strengthened her relationships. “We’ve become friends,” she says. “First Nations gave me a place to be in my heart.”

Meanwhile, Judy’s travels and adventures continued to advance her interest in the stories and truth of Native Americans in this country. Throughout her career, she had cultivated a collection of Native art, artifacts, and totems acquired at auctions and galleries worldwide. The objects populated many of her rooms, and she considered them to be among her cherished children.

As her philanthropic plan came together, Judy sought more ways to contribute. One way has involved repatriating the beloved objects to their original homes throughout Canada and America or selling them for sums sometimes greater than what she had paid, sending those funds directly to the Native communities from which the objects came. “I don’t want anyone taking anything from Native communities and not giving back,” she says.

A family connector

Going forward, Judy works closely with her daughters in monitoring her philanthropic plan and making sure it evolves with the needs of communities and the priorities of the organizations that serve them.

Plans are underway for both daughters to move closer to Judy. Jokingly, she adds that they are trying to align everyone in the same zip code. Judy enjoys spending time with her family and her grandsons, hoping to instill in them the same sense of giving back that her parents gave to her. She is an avid reader, she is well-traveled from decades of excursions both personally and professionally, and she is raising her puppy. “Life is good,” she says. “My life is very full.”

Thank you to Judy, Holly, and Katherine

First Nations values the support and friendship we have in Judy and her daughters. We are proud of how we manage donations and how we report back to donors and funders with respect and transparency. We know the impact our community partners have every day, and we welcome the opportunity to tell their stories and share their successes. Hearing how this approach resonates with supporters like Judy only increases our pride and inspires us to continue.

“Working with Judy and her family has been a joy,” says Jona. “I love learning about her history and life, and I value her intentionality and vision. I’m grateful to have met her personally as part of my professional career.”