Easier than you might think: Moving a donor-advised fund to the community foundation
As you advise clients on charitable giving, you’re likely aware of the growing popularity of the donor-advised fund as a flexible, tax-efficient tool for philanthropy. Many families appreciate how donor-advised funds can streamline giving, foster family engagement, and serve as a launchpad for deeper community impact. Recently, we’ve engaged with many professional advisors—attorneys, accountants, and […]
Donating business interests: Why a fund at the community foundation is the ideal recipient
If your client base includes business owners, you probably weren’t surprised by this observation in a recent Wall Street Journal article about the “stealthy wealthy”: “Behind a paycheck, the largest source of income for the 1% highest earners in the U.S. isn’t being a partner at an investment bank or launching a one-in-a-million tech startup. […]
More questions than answers: Pending tax legislation
There’s little doubt that you’ve seen extensive news coverage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1) that passed the House of Representatives by a 215-214 vote on May 22, 2025, and now moves to the Senate, where significant changes are expected before final passage. And that is the primary takeaway here: Significant changes are […]
Generational shifts: Fulfilling clients’ charitable wishes
Chances are, you’ve already begun to notice that a major transfer of wealth is happening as your Baby Boomer clients establish financial and estate plans to pass their wealth to their Gen X and Millennial children. The dollars involved are eye-popping. Most attorneys, financial advisors, and CPAs have seen the Cerulli study’s estimate that $124 trillion in wealth […]
Weighing the options: Private foundation or donor-advised fund?
When working on the charitable components of a client’s estate or financial plan, one of the first areas you’ll likely explore is the structure. Certainly, you are familiar with both private foundations and donor-advised funds as useful charitable giving tools. Before you jump into one or the other for a particular client, though, it’s essential […]
Trust matters: Your clients’ go-to resource for community impact
As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you know that trust is the foundation of your relationships with clients. Your clients are seeking a similar level of trust with the people and organizations that help carry out their philanthropic wishes. Fortunately, trust in charities has shown an increase after a recent dip. According to the 2024 […]
FM Area Foundation Distinguished Board of Directors Scholarship
The FM Area Foundation is committed to giving back to our local nonprofits. In an effort to commemorate distinguished board members who have completed three full terms with our organization, we have decided that starting in 2025 and in the year proceeding with these individuals’ dedicated service, we will establish a $500 Scholarship for individuals […]
For clients who love local causes, the FM Area Foundation is the place
Most of your philanthropic clients likely support various charities year after year. The causes they support represent a range of motivations, including personal experience, a role as a volunteer or board member, family tradition, or alignment with values and community priorities. Many of the charitable organizations your clients support are local. That’s important to note […]
“If this, then that”: Scenarios to consider as tax time approaches
As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you are well aware that you have clients’ attention when tax season rolls around. This makes it a great time to cover tax planning strategies for the current year and beyond. To help incorporate charitable giving topics into your tax season client conversations, we’ve put together tips to address […]
If this, then that: Your charitable planning cheat sheet
At the FM Area Foundation, we’ve recently been asked by attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors for “cheat sheet” resources to make it easy to determine which type of charitable planning tool is best for a particular client. We love that idea! We’re always happy to be a sounding board for any client situation where charitable […]