Susan Hirshman

Susan Hirshman is Director of Gift Planning at the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF), where she works with donors and their advisors to turn personal values into lasting community impact. She specializes in helping individuals and families structure charitable gifts—particularly complex and non-cash assets and legacy commitments—that align philanthropic goals with personal values while maximizing financial and income and estate tax efficiency. Susan also stewards a portfolio of legacy donors who have chosen to create enduring support for the causes they care about most.

Prior to joining ACF, Susan spent many years on Wall Street advising individuals and families on wealth management, philanthropic, and legacy planning. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a simple belief: that financial resources are most powerful when they are aligned with a person’s values. She is passionate about helping people use their wealth not only to achieve financial security but also to support the causes they care about and create a lasting impact for future generations.

Susan is widely recognized for her expertise in personal finance, wealth management, and legacy planning. Her insights have been featured in publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Barron’s, and she has appeared on national podcasts as well as radio and television programs, where she helps make complex financial and philanthropic strategies accessible and meaningful.

A strong advocate for financial confidence and empowerment, particularly for women, Susan is the author of Does This Make My Assets Look Fat? A Woman’s Guide to Finding Financial Empowerment and Success.

Susan has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University at Buffalo and an MBA (concentration in taxation) from Baruch College. She is a CFA®, CPA, CFP®, and CDFA®. Deeply committed to the community she serves, Susan currently sits on the boards of Arizona Jewish Family & Children’s Service and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission.