Donors are reassessing their giving to maximize impact and to ensure their money is being utilized effectively and efficiently by the non-profit organizations they support. Meantime watchdog organizations are grading the non-profit community and posting their ratings online.
Mission investing offers the opportunity to potentially shape and scale desired social outcomes as a complement to effective grant making and other philanthropic activities. Success requires planning, blending program and financial teams, rigorous investment processes, and building applicable social metrics.
This paper highlights a number of approaches that may guide philanthropists in choosing their investments and in encouraging entrepreneurship. Alongside these examples, the paper features a series of case studies showing how philanthropists worldwide invest their wealth, their experience, and their skills to unlock entrepreneurial potential.
Clarifying donor intent at the outset of any conversation regarding charitable giving, and properly documenting that intent, will help both parties feel good about giving and receiving. To avoid confusion after a gift is made and to prevent costly proceedings when the intent of a gift is insufficiently documented, here are a few practical tips to g...
Philanthropically minded families are vulnerable to the misuse of the personal financial information contained in mandatory filings that become public. However, these families are not defenseless; by following the best practices in this paper, they can greatly reduce the likelihood of being victimized.
Businesses worldwide are increasingly using social media networks to advertise and communicate with potential customers and constituents. Regardless of whether a business is using social media, its employees certainly are. Here are four reasons to establish rules for how employees use social media sites.
This paper offers a practical look at how an individual or family might plot a successful road map that aligns and grows with their unique abilities, needs, and personality. The authors detail the steps in a philanthropic asset allocation process involving fact-finding, planning, and continuing assessment as seen through the eyes of three hypotheti...
The authors summarize the history of the IRS' voluntary disclosure programs to date and conclude that, indeed, it is still possible for a U.S. person to become U.S. tax compliant and avoid criminal prosecution by making a voluntary disclosure.
This guide covers wealth management and tax planning strategies to consider before year-end and into 2012. Topics include tax management, wealth transfer planning, education funding, philanthropy, retirement, liabilities management, insurance, business owner issues, tax implications of health care reform, and building a strategic plan.
Investors and advisors focused on wealth growth and preservation may see environment, social, and governance/socially responsible investing as taxing a portfolio's performance. This paper offers a framework with associated metrics for assessing ESG/SRI integration into the portfolio with the same rigor and discipline used in all other fiduciary dec...
Newsletter of the Synergos Institute dedicated to disseminating best practices and innovations in philanthropy and social investment around the world.
Nearly all states have “delegated” trust statutes, but only a few states, such as South Dakota, have “directed” trust statutes, which provide families with maximum flexibility and control regarding a trust’s asset allocation, diversification, investment management and distributions.
A Private Family Trust Company (PFTC) is typically a family owned LLC (i.e. pass through entity or corporation), authorized by a state’s Division of Banking to be a PFTC and serve as the trustee for the family’s trusts. This article outlines key considerations in establishing a PFTC and two alternatives: a Directed Trust and a Directed ...
Reporting requirements for capital asset sales have changed, and the IRS is now in a better position to verify and track your activity. This article explains the IRS’ equation: verify + track + match data + audit = increased tax collection.
New cost basis reporting rules for securities sales allow the IRS to better track an investor’s capital gains and, as a result, help the agency collect all the money it can. For investors, getting the correct cost basis recorded now is important because it will set the bar for how much they pay on future gains.