Talking to Clients About Giving
Enabling your clients to make strategic philanthropic choices gives them the satisfaction of knowing their generosity will have a meaningful impact for years to come.
Starting the Conversation
A US Trust study focused on philanthropic conversations found that clients with a high net worth have a strong desire to talk openly with their professional advisors about their charitable giving intentions and options. The study found these clients wanted advisors to:
- Better understand their personal motivations for charitable giving;
- Have conversations about charitable giving that are meaningful and rooted in their personal values, rather than solely focused on the tax or financial advantages;
- Bring the topic of charitable giving up early in the professional relationship; and
- Discuss how to best include their children and grandchildren in their charitable giving.
The study is good proof that, while giving is a personal act, professional advisors can play an important role in suggesting options and identifying solutions. Our foundation would like to serve as a resource for you, in the same way that you serve a resource to your clients. We have extensive experience working with individuals, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations on their philanthropic planning.
Conversations Where We Can Help
Here are some common client situations where professional advisors have called on us for our expertise: