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Into the great unknown

Humans crave certainty, and that is certainly not what we have right now during election season, especially where taxes are concerned. Your clients who support charitable causes may be wondering how the election outcomes might impact their philanthropic plans. You’re probably wondering that, too! Of course, no one has a crystal ball. It is impossible […]

Event tickets: Beware of the split

Many of your philanthropy-minded clients certainly enjoy attending fundraising events for their favorite charities. Especially as community events start ramping up this fall, you’ll want to be aware of a little wrinkle in the IRS rules that may surprise your clients so much that they ask you about it. Here’s how this might go. Client: […]

At a loss for words? Tips for starting a charitable giving conversation

At a loss for words? Tips for starting a charitable giving conversationAttorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors certainly are not strangers to tough questions. Indeed, the mix of money, family, and mortality is a potent combination that almost always creates an emotionally charged planning environment, whether the matter at hand is tax planning, updating wills and […]

This may be your best move yet

If you’ve already established a donor-advised fund at the FM Area Foundation, you can understand why it’s become such a popular tool for organizing your family’s giving and serving as a springboard for so many other ways to make a difference in our region. Recently, we’ve talked with a lot of donors who work with the FM […]

Giving to others gives us lots of reasons to smile

The FM Area Foundation is honored to serve at the center of your philanthropy. Whether you’ve established a donor-advised or other type of fund, arranged for a bequest to a fund, the FM Area Foundation itself, or both, our team strives to help you organize your giving to make it easy and convenient. If you’ve […]

Less can be more: Charitable giving helps parents pass wealth to children

How much is too much? That’s a question many parents ask as they structure lifetime gifts and bequests to children in their financial and estate plans. Wealthy clients are sometimes concerned that leaving millions of dollars, or even hundreds of thousands, to their children could backfire and hinder their kids’ ability and motivation to achieve […]

Counting pennies: How to counsel frugal yet charitable clients

Over the years, you’ve no doubt experienced a wide range of what clients perceive as “wealthy.” You’ve likely also observed that clients have different assumptions about what it takes to be a “philanthropist.” The interplay between a client’s perception of personal wealth and charitable giving capacity presents interesting opportunities for client engagement. You may find yourself helping […]

Gifts of real estate: Watch every step

We’re hearing from more and more attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors that your clients are expressing interest in giving real estate to charity. This is wonderful news! You’re certainly aware that gifts of real estate to a fund at the community foundation, just like gifts of other long-term capital assets, can be extremely tax-efficient. That’s […]

Six for the summer: Mid-year reminders about charitable giving

Donate appreciated stock to your fund at the community foundation. Yes, yes, we absolutely understand how easy it is to write a check when you want to boost your donor-advised or other type of fund at the FM Area Foundation. If you can remember to pause before you pull out your pen, though, considering whether […]