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With an array of charitable giving options, it's important to understand how each gift could affect your annual deductions. Here's a quick guide to tax deductions, out-of-pocket deductions, and required substantiation. For the individuals and families looking to go beyond the standard donation, there are a few alternate options wi...

Families of wealth often ask for views on two related topics—how to think about philanthropy versus impact investing and how to best implement a socially and/or environmentally impactful investment strategy. While common themes transcend these topics, each is distinct and presents an opportunity by allowing families to engage in a powerful combinat...

In this second paper of a two-part series on philanthropy and sustainable investing, we outline how families may wish to identify opportunities within sustainable and impact investing themes. Along with four guiding principles to help create an impactful portfolio, we discuss the broad opportunity set, how to construct and then actively manage...

Whether the goal is to improve a local community or support a more far-reaching cause, charitable giving is an important goal for many investors. From donating cash to establishing a donor-advised fund or a private foundation, there are a variety of ways to support the causes that matter to you. If deciding between establishing a donor-advised...

For charitably minded individuals, cryptocurrency investments—such as Bitcoin and Ethereum—held more than one year may provide a unique opportunity to leverage highly appreciated assets to achieve maximum impact with charitable giving. By donating cryptocurrency to charity, it can also unlock additional funds in two tax-smart ways. For more insi...

For the charitably inclined individuals and families who are exploring ways to reduce their tax expose and maximize their charitable impact in 2022, there are eight tax-smart tips for charitable giving in 2022.

Family offices are often tasked with managing a family’s philanthropy but may have limited knowledge and resources. Several best practices can help both families and family offices lead philanthropic efforts to heighten their impact.

It’s the giving season—a time of joy, wonder, togetherness, and sharing. For Kimberly Myers-Hewlett, it is also a special time that brings her back to her philanthropic roots that began with her parents teaching her brother and her the meaning of caring for others. Learning from her parents and their generous nature, Kimberly tries to b...

Doug Balfour, author of Doing Good Great: An Insider’s Guide to Getting the Most Out of Your Philanthropic Journey, and Pat Armstrong of the Abbot Downing Institute for Family Culture discuss best practices for engaging in philanthropic activities as a family. Both believe that while each family’s questions are unique to their individua...

When initiating charitable work, it is important to remember that a foundation is also a business that requires developed governance practices. As Bill Gates said, “Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity. The same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.” The processes and procedures that compris...

Across the world, philanthropy is undergoing a transformation that offers both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. With so much in flux, emerging donors and established funders are seeking new models not only for funding strategies and impact measures, but also for organizational design and management systems that will serve them well in...

What choices do you have when it comes to transparency? How open and accessible is your family foundation—to the extended family, to grant seekers and partners, to the public? What approach do your colleague foundations take, and why? This guide examines how family funders are thinking, acting—and not acting—when it comes to how t...

Much has been written comparing the administrative, financial, and programmatic criteria of private foundations and donor advised funds. It is often presented as an “either/or” choice. It’s important to know that the two can be used in tandem to achieve complementary goals of families and other donors. Some examples are illustrate...

Veronica and Greg share how investments in their donor-advised fund account have grown over the years, which has enabled them to give even more to the causes they care about.

National Center for Family Philanthropy recently spoke with Bill Leighty about how he’s helped keep the Leighty Foundation’s memories alive by recording its history. While many foundations use external production companies, Bill created his family’s legacy videos himself—using his own technological know-how, video equip...