By Katie Vaughn | Photography by Hillary Schave
For the past 30 years, hard work and caring for others have been cornerstones for Patti Rashke and her husband, Dan. As they achieved great success in their business, Total Administrative Services Corp, or TASC, where Dan served as CEO, they also noticed growing disparities in the Madison area. The couple have responded with an innovative way to help.
In August, the Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation committed to funding the administrative costs associated with all individual, undesignated donations made to United Way of Dane County over the next 10 years. Covering these costs — which are estimated to run $10-$15 million — means that donors’ gifts will go directly to resolving the community’s most urgent needs, amplifying their impact.
“For some people, the thought of [part of their donation going toward] overhead might be a barrier to giving,” says Rashke, who is president of the family foundation. “We truly want to inspire giving and catalyze younger people to give.”
And they’re not stopping here. This summer, the Rashkes plan to hit the road, traveling the state to visit other United Way sites and nonprofits to share their unique model for giving.
“It is our hypothesis that there are corporations or philanthropists in each community that could replicate this type of gift to support a nonprofit organization,” she says. “We can share the blueprint, enabling them to follow the construct without having to build it.”
It all comes down to everyone doing what they can to help others, Rashke says. She remains inspired by the generosity of the Madison community and hopes her efforts can serve as a reminder that individuals supporting one another benefits the whole.
“When we all do better, we all do better,” she says.
What kind of legacy do you hope to leave?
“My legacy professionally is making this community a better place. It sounds so cliché, but it’s not if you truly mean it and do something about it.”
