Your Charitable Goals Deserve a Team

At the community foundation, we are honored to work alongside individuals, families, and businesses who are passionate about supporting the causes they care about most. Many donors already have a trusted team of professionals helping them navigate important decisions about taxes, investments, estate planning, and family wealth.

But there is one step that is often overlooked: introducing those advisors to your community foundation.

It may seem simple, but a quick introduction can help create a stronger and more coordinated approach to your charitable goals.

Attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors bring valuable expertise in legal, tax, investment, and estate planning matters. Their guidance is essential in helping you make informed financial decisions and implement those plans effectively.

The community foundation brings a different perspective to the table. Our team specializes in charitable giving strategies, local nonprofit needs, philanthropic opportunities, and the charitable tools available to help donors make the greatest possible impact. We understand both the giving vehicles and the community organizations that can help bring your charitable vision to life.

While the community foundation does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice, we regularly work alongside professional advisors to help donors explore charitable options that align with their broader financial and estate plans.

For example, a donor may be considering a gift through a will, a donor-advised fund, appreciated stock, real estate, grain, or another charitable asset. Bringing advisors and the community foundation together early in the conversation often creates opportunities that might otherwise be missed.

Importantly, these conversations are not reserved for ultra-high-net-worth families. Donors at many levels can benefit from a coordinated approach to charitable planning. In fact, some of the most meaningful charitable plans begin with relatively simple conversations about values, family goals, and community impact.

Many advisors also appreciate having a charitable giving specialist as part of the conversation. Community foundations can help answer questions about philanthropic options, provide insight into local needs, and assist with the administration of charitable funds, allowing advisors to focus on the areas where they provide expertise.

So what can you do?

Take the lead. The next time you meet with your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, consider mentioning your involvement with the community foundation. Better yet, send a simple email introducing your advisors to our team.

Something as simple as:

"I'd like to introduce my advisors to the community foundation team so everyone understands my charitable goals and can work together to support them."

That single introduction can open the door to stronger communication, better planning, and a more intentional charitable strategy.

When professionals work together, donors benefit. By connecting your advisors with the community foundation, you help create a team that supports not only your financial goals, but also your desire to make a lasting difference in the community.

We look forward to hearing from you—and meeting your advisors.