As you prepare to gather with family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday, we invite you to reach out to the team at the FM Area Foundation for suggestions on how to incorporate charitable giving into the festivities.   For example: –Take this opportunity to brush up on the rich history of charitable giving in America. –Consider asking each family member to conduct quick research on a comm…

In the classic book The Go-Giver: A Little Story about a Powerful Business Idea, authors Bob Burg and John Mann share how Joe, a young professional, uses unselfishness to ultimately find business success.   Among the philosophies:    –Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.   –Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well …

Earlier this year, Bankrate and Psych Central released the Money and Mental Health study and, not surprisingly, a large number of people surveyed in the research reported that money has a negative impact on their mental health. Survey results varied across generations: Financial concerns psychologically impact 48 percent of Millennials, 46 percent of Generation X, and 40 percent of Generation Z. N…

During a routine check-in meeting, your client casually mentions that the client’s employer, a local company, was just acquired. The client and dozens of fellow employee shareholders are now flush with cash. “I’d like to use some of the money to give to charity,” the client tells you. “Let’s talk about a family fund at the FM Area Foundation.”  You try not to flinch as you mentally calculate the …

Inflation, interest rates, income tax, and the IRS are ever-present topics during discussions with your clients. Right now, there’s a lot to talk about, especially related to charitable giving.   Let's look at two examples of hot topics that may take a front seat in your client conversations this fall as you are helping your clients consider their options for structuring charitable giving and ph…

Eric, who has autism, began attending Inspire Innovation Lab five years ago after experiencing instances of eloping and self-harm, sometimes making a traditional school setting challenging.  He started the Inspire Innovation Lab summer program and was welcomed with open arms by Carrie Leopold (Executive Director) and the team.  With the support of staff and their unique approach, Eric grew comfort…

Many donors elect to use a donor- advised fund at the community foundation as an organizing tool, frequently recommending grants to their favorite charities in ways that mirror the ways they would make donations outright. Often, contributions to a donor- advised fund are in the form of highly- appreciated stock or other hard-to-value assets that generate a favorable tax outcome.  Using a donor-ad…

When the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law in August, many taxpayers were relieved that the Act did not include heavily- debated proposed tax hikes that were so prominent in early versions of the legislation. What’s weighing on a lot of taxpayers’ minds, however, even more heavily than the few changes to income tax rules, is the Act’s $80 billion in funding increases for the IRS. The IR…

Developing a thorough estate plan isn’t important only for Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. Millennials, who now make up nearly a quarter of the population in the United States, may prove to be more enthusiastic planners than their parents and grandparents, according to the 2022 Estate Planning Study: Millennial Estate Planning Continues in a Pandemic.  What does this mean for planning gifts to charity…

Advisors frequently comment that they’re surprised to discover the many ways the community foundation can help their clients, especially compared with national donor-advised fund programs affiliated with brokerage houses or financial services firms. Here are three examples of the types of comments community foundations have heard over the years from attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors: …