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Private foundations and donor-advised funds: Debunking three myths

If you’ve been involved with charitable giving for a few years, you’ve no doubt become familiar with both private foundations and donor-advised funds and their popularity as charitable giving tools. As is often the case with tax and estate planning-related topics, the differences between private foundations and donor-advised funds are sometimes the subject of confusion and misunderstanding. As yo…

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It’s not luck… It’s because of you and this community!

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner and the old sentiment “Luck ‘O The Irish,” I came across an article talking about where success originates.  Is it luck…serendipity…or hard work?  Quite the question to ponder when one looks back on where you’ve been. I feel so fortunate to be a part of the FM Area Foundation.  This organization is the largest and oldest community foundation in our r…

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Stay the course: Intentional philanthropy is critical in a downturn

Your family may be among those taking their charitable giving budgets more seriously this year, given the stock market’s challenges, rising interest rates, economic concerns, and anticipated cash crunches. At the same time, not surprisingly, community needs tend to rise during uncertain economic times. As 2023 gets into full swing, inflation, housing challenges, and economic uncertainty are press…

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How to grow your charitable giving by bundling tax savings

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…

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Keeping track of your charitable donations is more important than ever

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…

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Bunching, long-term appreciated assets, and the fruits of helping younger clients plan their charitable giving

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…

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The community foundation edge: Personal knowledge, QCD eligibility, and public support

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: …

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Donor Advised Funds: Working hard for our community

Donor-advised funds are a popular charitable giving tool. And right now is a perfect time to evaluate this planning strategy for your clients. In recent years, donor-advised funds have been one of the fastest-growing philanthropic planning tools in the marketplace. Donor-advised funds are popular because they allow an individual or family to make a tax-deductible transfer that qualifies as a char…

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