Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation
The purpose of the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation (DHPC Foundation) is to support the fulfillment of the goals of the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church (DHPC).
The Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation is a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), 170(b)(1)(A)(iv), and 509(a)(1), with a tax identification number of 464912083.
The purpose of the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation (Foundation) is to support the fulfillment of the goals of the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church (DHPC) by providing additional resources for the church congregation to expand and strengthen their work. We do this through endowment grants as well as restricted funds distributions for programs and functions of DHPC. The endowment fund, currently valued at approximately $1.3 million, is intended to last forever. Additionally, the Foundation has a few restricted accounts for specific areas related to the church which presently bring the total Foundation monies to over $1.5 million. The Arizona Community Foundation professionally manages it. DHPC is the sole beneficiary of the endowment fund and now receives grants annually. The Foundation’s goal is that the endowment will grow as a result of both future gifts and investment stewardship. By contributing to the Foundation, you can join the Legacy Circle and be a part of the people who want to grow the endowment and help increase the amount of support the church can receive.
Legacy Circle
The Legacy Circle consists of those people who have made contributions directly to
the DHPC Foundation from various sources or have directed a gift to the Foundation in their estate planning documents.
Before you decide to contribute to the Foundation, please make sure that the gift does not diminish your support to the church’s annual budget.
Your attorney can assist you in designating the Foundation in your Last Will and Testament, a Revocable Living Trust or an Irrevocable Trust.
We look forward to hearing from you about your decision to name the Foundation in your estate documents and join others who have made that important contribution to support DHPC’s future. If you wish to contact or have questions about the Foundation, please email us at foundationvp@deserthills.org and we will communicate with you as quickly as possible.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER MAKING A GIFT TO SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION?
Board Members
Foundation Governance
As of January 1, 2026, the Foundation Board Members were:
- Allan Watson, President
- Susie Brousseau, Board Member
- Darla Gilchrist, VP Finance and Treasurer
- Ed Nichols, Board Member
- Thomas D. Masles, Board Member
- Woody Chamberlain, Board Member
Initial inquiries should be sent to foundationvp@deserthills.org.
Allan owned his own small business, had a 13-year career in corporate America with Sales, Marketing and Management experience at the regional, national and international levels for two international companies, and was an Investment Advisor Representative/Financial Advisor (2007-2021). He holds both B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Western Illinois University and has also been an Adjunct Marketing Professor there. He has over 100 total years of experience in not-for-profit leadership positions at the local, state and national levels. Some of these positions include serving one term as Deacon, one term as Trustee and five terms as Elder in the Presbyterian Church with chairmanships of Finance, Endowments, Memorials, Stewardship, and the Mission Study.
Susie Brousseau earned her CLU, ChFC, and CFP and began working in the financial world starting with Manulife Financial working with financial planners and their clients. She joined Legacy Private Bank as the Senior Vice President of the Trust Department and worked with bank clients in financial and estate planning. She joined Blackhawk Capital Partners, LLC, as a Senior Vice President, with her own book of clients that she worked with for over 20 years. She retired in December 2025 at age 74 after finding the perfect person to take over her book of business. Today, she works to help other women get through the loss of a spouse by spending time with them as they go through the tumultuous job of learning what needs to be done.
Darla, a retired C.P.A., spent the majority of her career in financial management as Controller of various manufacturing companies, followed by a position of Branch Manager in the Financial Services/Mortgage industry. She also had her own firm preparing individual tax returns as well as a Consultant with a Chicago-based turnaround firm on a per project basis, safeguarding the financial position of lender banks in an effort to avoid bankruptcy of the struggling companies. Darla successfully passed her C.P.A. exam on the first try, while holding a full-time Controller position and raising a family. She graduated Cum Laude from Aurora University with a B.A. in accounting. Darla has been a member of DHPC since 2015 and has served on many committees over the years: Elder of Music and Arts; Finance Committee; Internal Review Committee; as well as numerous projects i.e., previous President of the Church; spearheaded the Audio Visual Livestream Project Upgrade in the Fellowship Center and the Sanctuary; Co-Chaired the Lighting Project in the Sanctuary; and held a position on the original team that planned the structure of the DHPC School of Music. Darla lives in Cave Creek with her husband Len. They have a blended family of six children and 15 grandchildren. Darla enjoys traveling, genealogy, music, arts and cooking and has authored a cookbook on Amazon called Easy Everyday Home Cooked Meals.
Ed Nichols professional background includes 25 years with Air Products & Chemicals in various sales, facility, and marketing management positions, within their Electronics Gas division relating to the semiconductor industry. Another 16 years were spent with Shin-Etsu MicroSi, as marketing manager for imported products for the semiconductor industry’s US based companies and their facilities worldwide. Ed received a BA in Economics from the University of California, Riverside and a MBA from Pepperdine University. He joined DHPC in 2000 and has served on numerous sessions including Adult Equipping, Nominating and Worship. He also sings in the choir and is active with the Transportation Ministry.
Retired corporate real estate, operations and facilities executive. BFA in Architecture, University of Illinois, Indiana Northern University (1969). Ten years experience designing commercial and public, institutional buildings. Thirty-five years planning, designing, building and operating corporate facilities globally for Silicon Valley technology companies in over twenty countries.
Mr. Chamberlain is the President of eMars and has been instrumental in organizing and bringing the eMars product to market. He has over 30 years of experience as a designer, implementer, and executive in charge of high- tech systems applications.
How are the DHPC Foundation monies used?
Grants from the DHPC Foundation are made exclusively to the Church and the Foundation financial statements and records are audited every two years. In 2026, the amount available from the endowment is $65,217 with approximately $40,000 more available from restricted accounts. We are pleased to show that over the life of the Foundation, the following represents the majority of the giving done from the DHPC Foundation to the Church.
- Orchestral Music to Support Cantata Performances
- Memorial Garden Expansion & Furniture
- New Chancel Furniture
- CEI Cornerstone Scholarships
- Choral Scholar Section Leaders
- Youth Summer & Winter Retreats
- Fellowship Center Lighting
- Funds to Support the Outreach Missions
- Music and Arts at the Rocks
- Grandparenting Program at the Church
- Funds to provide two new pianos and other musical instruments for the Church
- Palm & Easter Sunday Services Music
Tax Implications
Gifts made to the DHPC Foundation during your lifetime are generally tax-deductible from the donor’s income tax at the time they are received. Gifts via wills or trusts are usually deductible for federal estate tax purposes. Please consult your tax accountant and tax attorney to get a clearer picture of how this affects your individual tax situation.