The Living Legacy: Why Neil and Jen Matulich Give Now

There's a saying Neil and Jen Matulich live by: "Do it while you're alive. Do it while you're able to see the impact of your giving." It isn't a slogan borrowed from a self-help book. It came the hard way—from losing a close friend, Jay Selby, at just 47 years old.

That loss reshaped how the Granite Bay couple thinks about everything, including what they leave behind.

Rooted in Placer County

Neil and Jen's story is woven into the fabric of Placer County. Neil arrived from San Jose in 2001 and built an electrical contracting business here from the ground up, starting in 2009. Jen was born in Carmichael and moved to the area in 1987, back when Granite Bay was still considered part of Roseville. Today, they live just 25 houses from Jen’s parents—a detail that says a lot about who they are.

They ride their Harleys all the way to Lake Tahoe without touching the freeway, adopt rescue dogs from Placer SPCA and intentionally keep their dollars local. They've watched Placer County grow from a time when residents had to venture into Sacramento County just to find a shopping mall, to a thriving region with the Galleria and the Fountains right here in the county. Their giving mirrors that same local loyalty.

A Legacy Shaped by Loss—and Love

Neil and Jen don't have children of their own. That, combined with the death of their friend Jay, brought a quiet urgency to their estate planning conversations.

"Seeing the impact of giving back now makes us want to have our names on these things in the future," Neil says. For Jen, the thread that runs through all of it is clear. "Our legacy living on is important to us," she says, "and we want to always tie it back to helping kids."

Both Neil and Jen were shaped early by generous examples. Neil's mother volunteered with an organization supporting children with disabilities, and as a kid, Neil went to the camps she helped run. Jen grew up attending charitable events and later was moved watching construction company owners walk into her bank and quietly do profound good in the community. Neither of them had to dig far for their philanthropic instincts—they were planted young.

Finding the Right Partner

When it came time to structure their charitable estate, they turned to Placer Community Foundation—a referral that came first from Jen's mother, who has served on nonprofit boards and understands philanthropic infrastructure. Their attorney, Ernie Tuttle, confirmed what she already believed: PCF was the right partner.

Neil admits he was skeptical at first. "I wasn't sure what the process would look like," he says. That changed the moment he sat down with the team at PCF. "It's not a sales pitch. They asked us what mattered to us—kids, pets and military—and they helped us find organizations that actually align with that."

What they value most about PCF, beyond the vetting rigor and the plain-language explanations, is the flexibility. "Nothing is set in stone," Neil says. "It's a living, breathing thing." That matters to people who are still discovering what breaks their hearts and drives their hope.

The Advice They'd Give Anyone Starting Out

For those curious about giving back but not sure where to begin, Neil and Jen have a clear answer: start with your passion.

"Get engaged in the organizations you already care about," Jen says. "Tour the nonprofit. Meet the people doing the work. See the smiles. That's what pulls on your heartstrings and validates why you're doing it."

They also recommend getting personally involved—joining a committee, serving on a board, showing up in whatever way your time allows. "It shouldn't just be the monetary donation," Neil adds. "See your impact. That's what keeps you going."

And if you don't know where to start? Call Placer Community Foundation. Let them ask you the important questions. Let them help you find what lights you up.

There's No Better Day Than Today

Neil and Jen Matulich aren't waiting for someday. They've seen what happens when someday never comes. Their friend Jay was 47. Their fur kids need a home. The kids in Placer County need a path. The veterans need to be remembered.

"Don't save it for a later day," Jen says simply.

If you're ready to explore what your legacy could look like—while you can still watch it grow—Placer Community Foundation is ready to have that conversation with you. There are funds already at work in this community that align with what you love. The first step is simply asking.

To learn more about planned giving and donor-advised funds through Placer Community Foundation, visit placercf.org, email info@placercf.org, or call 530-885-4920. The PCF team is ready to help you find what lights you up—and build a giving plan that reflects what you love most about this community.