Although allocating all your charitable dollars during your lifetime is becoming popular, it doesn’t appeal to all donors. Some are focused on problems that will become more acute in the Read more…
Giving while living and limited-life philanthropy are choices many donors make out of grave concerns about the future. But these choices also reflect optimism about future wealth creation—that succeeding generations Read more…
Most of the time, donors make the decision to sunset their foundation while they’re still living. In an unusual step, trustees of the New York City-based Avi Chai Foundation took Read more…
The Earhart Foundation is another example of a board of trustees deciding to sunset after the original wealth creator’s death. Harry Earhart was born in 1870, one of eleven children. Read more…
A spend-down approach to your philanthropy could create a golden opportunity to have a significant impact during a short period of time. That was certainly the case with the John Read more…
Many donors concerned with preserving their intent choose to give while living or sunset, but it is still possible to operate your foundation in perpetuity—with no end date in mind—and Read more…
There are certainly many examples of philanthropies operating in perpetuity while honoring the original donors’ objectives. This article explores three of them. Some common threads tie them together: A fervent Read more…
Establishing family foundations in perpetuity is a popular choice among donors; some estimates suggest as many as two-thirds of family foundations operate in perpetuity. Often, this choice is almost automatic Read more…
Money can be an enormously destructive force within families—even money dedicated to charitable purposes. This is true even with careful planning. If your philanthropic goals include operating a family foundation, Read more…
John and Susan Sobrato have a singular philanthropic passion for their family foundation: Make California’s Silicon Valley a place of opportunity for all its residents. They are addressing their mission Read more…
While examples of donors successfully protecting donor intent across multiple generations are rare, there are some success models. For example, heirs involved with the Hilton and JM foundations, respectively, have Read more…
When it comes to choosing the right vehicle for your philanthropy, the good news is that you have many options. The challenge, of course, is deciding on the best vehicle Read more…
If you choose to use a non-operating foundation for your philanthropy, a trust is frequently the better vehicle to protect donor intent. Once your organizational structure and funding guidelines are Read more…
A strong, well-crafted mission statement is step number one when it comes to safeguarding your intent. Regardless of your giving timeframe—whether you plan to give while living, sunset your foundation, Read more…
A charitable trust is a sturdy vehicle to protect your donor intent. Once your organizational structure and funding guidelines are in place with a trust, they can only be amended Read more…
In the best of circumstances, you, your heirs, or your successor trustees will never experience a donor-intent crisis. But if one does occur, what should you do? Here are steps Read more…
Higher education can be among the most rewarding and meaningful areas for your philanthropic dollars. It can also be one of the most challenging sectors for both donor intent and Read more…
Your mission is only as strong as your people. Every day, staff members make decisions, large and small, that will determine whether your organization fulfills its mission and adheres to Read more…
The most effective donor-intent safeguards are internal: Creating a strong mission statement, picking the right timeframe and appropriate vehicle for your giving, and choosing the right people for your board, Read more…
Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are one of the simplest ways to protect your charitable intent.