Resources for Advisors
Advantages of giving through a community foundation
Community foundations are one of the fastest growing and most dynamic networks in the voluntary sector. They have the extraordinary opportunity to influence the capacity of our communities to face present and future challenges - not only in their role of building financial assets and fostering creative grantmaking, but also by offering leadership and building bridges between the diverse groups that give our communities life. The 'community foundation difference' can be characterized in many ways. The following are some of the advantages of giving to a community foundation that professional advisors may wish to share with their clients.
Giving advice on charitable giving
Is giving through the Lethbridge Community Foundation right for your clients? Seven questions for estate and financial advisors.
How can I recommend charity without recommending A charity?
Estate planners, financial planners, and other professional advisors are often faced with the same challenge: You want to discuss the many benefits of charitable giving with your clients, but you want to avoid recommending specific charitable causes or organizations. The foundation allows your clients to address issues they care about, while taking advantage of maximum tax benefits under federal law.
Top 10 reasons to discuss philanthropy with clients
Research conducted by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI ) in the late 1990's with professional advisors on their motivations for, and methods of providing advice about philanthropy, revealed the following reasons for discussing philanthropy with clients.
Should your clients give through a community foundation
We help connect people to the causes they care about most. When your clients give through the Lethbridge Community Foundation, they : receive personalized service, gain local grant making expertise and support community leadership.
Life stages of giving
Moving through life, your clients' lifestyles and financial circumstances change and so do the ways they might choose to support their favourite charities and not-for-profit organizations.
Listening for charitable opportunities
Philanthropy is a very personal decision. A professional advisor can help clients realize their charitable objectives by listening for charitable giving opportunities, explaining options, and suggesting solutions. Significant giving opportunities often arise when clients are making major business, personal, and financial decisions. Our foundation can work with you and your client to recommend the best charitable solution.
Professional advisors resource guide
To assist professional advisors, Community Foundations of Canada has developed a comprehensive web-based toolkit that offers practical step-by-step information to guide you and your clients through a wide range of charitable giving options. We have also uploaded the guide in a PDF format for convenience.
Asking the giving question
One of the simplest and most important things you can do to help your clients enjoy the benefits of planned giving is to ask them the giving question - "Are there any charitable or community needs you would like to consider?" It answers the questions: Why raise charitable giving at all? Who is in need of your help? When should you raise the subject of charitable giving? How can you introduce the subject? Ways to talk about philanthropy with your clients.
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Charitable funds
Five great giving options, help your client choose the one that's right for them.
Philanthropic planning
There are times when clients initiate the philanthropic planning discussion. At these times the professional advisor can be most helpful to the client since charitable intent and interest have already been expressed. Understanding all the options a client has to work with will give definition and depth to a client's philanthropic vision.
Updated September 2009
www.lethbridgecommunityfoundation.ca
403.328.5297 office@lethbridgecommunityfoundation.ca 404 8th St South
