The following articles were republished in or written for Talking about Philanthropy, our e-newsletter for professional advisors.

The Business of Giving

"A Golden Age of Philanthropy"

On Wall Street, June 2007

The article explores the vested interests of financial institutions to preserve affluent clients' assets for the next generation by providing education to children about "responsible stewardship," the act of becoming stewards of inherited wealth by growing and preserving assets and responsible philanthropy instead of diminishing wealth through extravagant purchases.

"The Business of Giving"
The Economist, February 2006

An overview of current trends transforming the field of philanthropy into a more sophisticated means of doing good in the world, examining such topics as philanthrocapitalism, social entrepreneurs, and the work of Bill Gates and other luminaries.

Family Philanthropy

"The Donor Advisor - The Critical Role of the Advisor
in Family Philanthropy "
National Center for Family Philanthropy (PDF format)
This essay describes the growth of philanthropy and offers views from donors on how they think advisors can best support them in pursuing their charitable interests.

"Engage Adult Children in Philanthropy"

February 2006

Professional advisors can build deeper and longer-lasting relationships with their clients and among their clients' family members by engaging adult children in philanthropy.

"Family Philanthropy Made Easy: Philanthropy and the Professional Advisor "
Stuart Bear, talking about philanthropy, 2003

Advisors who encourage philanthropic giving can help clients become more involved in their communities and pass their values on to children and grandchildren.

"Passing on More than Your Values"
Allianz Study, February 2006

An Allianz survey reveals how American families are passing on their final wishes in trillion-dollar wrapping paper.

Philanthropic Vehicles

"Melt Down: On Private Foundation Terminations"
Bloomberg Wealth Manager , October 2004

Examines conditions that have caused a growing number of private foundations to terminate and suggests alternative decisions clients should consider before creating private foundations.

"Private Foundations Reconsidered"
Tax Facts, 2003

Donor advised funds at community foundations offer attractive alternatives for charitable families considering private foundations.

"Charitable Remainder Trusts: Tools You Can Use"

Gary D. McDowell and Mary Alice Fleming, December 2003Describes valuable considerations for using charitable remainder trusts to solve estate planning challenges.

"Need a Simple Solution for Foundation Fatigue? Try a Donor Advised Fund"

Hazen Graves, October 2003

A Donor Advised Fund offers great solutions for clients who seek more favorable tax advantages, access to skilled professional staff, and relief from burdensome administrative duties related to private foundations.

"Planning with Charitable Lead Trusts Part 1"
"Planning with Charitable Lead Trusts Part 2"
John Bedosky, 2003

This series of two articles describes how awareness of the attendant advantages and pitfalls of the various forms of charitable lead trusts can allow advisors to optimize clients' gift plans.

Estate Planning

"Charitable Remainder Trusts and Unrelated Business Taxable Income"

Bruce Paulson, Spring 2007

The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 makes treatment of unrelated business taxable income much less onerous thanks to several provisions that might've passed beneath your radar.

"Pension Protection Act of 2006
Contains Charitable Incentives Using IRA Assets"

September 2006

Explains the details of how qualified IRA holders can direct charitable gifts up to $100,000 per year from their IRAs without incurring income taxes during 2006 and 2007.

"An Integrated Look at Charitable Remainder and Charitable Lead Trusts"
Bruce Paulson, 2004

Describes charitable remainder and charitable lead trusts and discusses the best ways to integrate these philanthropic tools with clients investment and charitable goals.

"Crafting an Enduring Legacy"
Long-term wealth transfer planning, 2004
Charitable planning provides valuable opportunities for advisors to help clients overcome the relationship challenges particular to wealthy families.

"Estate Planning on Purpose"
John Fulton, 2003

Donor advised funds at a community foundation offer advisors and families access to unique resources that can help parents transfer values to their children, in addition to assets.

"Leaving Qualified Plan Assets to Charity"

Marlo Weber Turcotte, June 2003

Introduces advisors to the variety of options for their clients to efficiently gift all or a portion of IRAs and other qualified plan assets to charity.

"Good News for Minnesota AMT Payers"
May 2003

Clients who've paid the alternative minimum tax are eligible to file an amended return to claim a refund for charitable contributions to non-Minnesota charities.

Philanthropy and Giving

"Write a Check? The New Philanthropist Goes Further"

NY Times, March 2007

Many wealthy Americans are creating a strategic plan for charitable gifts to be carried out in their lifetime and not as bequests. They are choosing the problem they want to help solve, researching how best to solve it, and involving themselves and their families deeply in the effort.

Minnesota 2007 Grantmaking Outlook Report

Minnesota Council on Foundations

This report assesses the 2007 grantmaking outlook based on a December 2006 survey of 91 member foundations and corporate giving programs (41 private foundations, 27 corporate foundations and giving programs, and 23 community/public foundations).

"Nation's Richest Focus on Building Wealth and Giving It Away"

Dow Jones, 2007

Leading advisors are rethinking their recommendations for wealthy clients to maximize and preserve wealth, and working with established philanthropies is a major focus.

"Why the $41 Trillion Wealth Transfer Estimate Is Still Valid: A Review of Challenges and Questions"
John J. Havens & Paul G. Schervish, 2003
Despite the economic downturn and the fall of the equity markets, the nationally noted projection that a wealth transfer of at least $41-trillion will take place in the United States by the year 2052 remains valid, according to researchers at the Boston College Social Welfare Research Institute (SWRI), which issued the original projection in 1999.

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