Talking to your clients about charitable giving
Tips to get you started

This time of year is one of the busiest for professional advisors meeting with their clients. In conversations regarding tax and estate planning, advisors may consider asking questions to gauge their clients’ philanthropic interests. Doing so can build even stronger relationships with clients, and advisors may become known as a valuable resource with special knowledge of philanthropic options.

Here are some questions advisors can ask their clients to get the conversation started:

• What do you value most about money?
• Where do you volunteer? 
• What charitable causes do you support?
• Does your family have a charitable giving plan?
• Do you know about the tax benefits of charitable giving?
• How would you like to see your community in the future?
• Are you interested in leaving a legacy for yourself and/or your family in your community?

Silicon Valley Community Foundation is a resource for professional advisors and can provide information and advice based on clients’ unique circumstances.  Such services provided by the community foundation are:

• Accepting gifts of highly appreciated stock, real estate, and other assets
• Advising fundholders on community programs relevant to their areas of interest
• Providing networking opportunities for fundholders with community leaders, nonprofit organizations and fellow fundholders
• Decreasing administrative work for fundholders by processing grant letters and checks from funds and investing fund assets

Issue-specific giving is just one example of how your clients might focus their charitable giving plan. In observance of Earth Day on April 22, the environment is a leading concern for many. For example, community foundation fundholder Allen Hancock is concerned about protecting the environment and teaching youth the value of nature. His family has dedicated their philanthropy to environmental organizations throughout California and Oregon. To read more about the Hancock family’s philanthropy, click here.

Similarly, the community foundation works with such nonprofit organizations as GRID Alternatives, a San Francisco-based nonprofit providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. Click here to read more about the work GRID Alternatives does and how the community foundation has supported their solar power program.

Karyn Cilker, professional advisor relations officer, is available to professional advisors who have questions about the community foundation and its services.  She meets with advisors and/or their clients to answer any client’s charitable giving questions along with the appropriate community foundation staff member.  She can be reached at 408.278.2287 or kjcilker@siliconvalleycf.org.