The days are getting shorter and the year-end is getting closer! Of course, year-end is always a busy time for financial, tax, and estate planning advisors. Between reviewing investment portfolios, evaluating tax strategies, and helping clients prepare for the coming year, there’s plenty to cover. You may wonder how on earth you’ll find the bandwidth to also meet with clients about charitable giving.

Fortunately, charitable giving doesn’t have to be a separate conversation. In fact, some of the most productive charitable planning discussions begin with a question you’re probably already asking:

“How did your life change in 2026?”

Listen carefully to a client’s answer to this question. Does the client mention retirement? Unexpectedly high income? A new grandchild? Joining a favorite nonprofit’s board of directors? These are just a few examples of developments that can create opportunities for charitable planning. Here’s how:

Retirement

If a client mentions retirement, you could ask: “Do you plan to get more involved with your favorite causes?” This opens the door to helping the client plan for their charitable giving over the next few years, and perhaps even updating an estate plan or beneficiary designation to include a charitable gift through their estate plan to a Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) or another charitable organization. What’s more, a discussion about retirement is a natural lead-in to helping clients age 70½ or older explore the benefits of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from their IRAs. QCDs can’t go to Donor Advised Funds, but they can support other funds at CFAAC, including Field of Interest funds such as Environment Anne Arundel or the Women and Girls Fund, or the Fund for Anne Arundel, which responds to the county’s most pressing needs. Our team can share the details your clients’ IRA custodians will need to send a QCD to CFAAC. 

High income

If a client mentions that their income was higher this year than expected, it makes sense to ask: “Are you considering increasing your charitable giving?” If the client says yes, you can provide more detail on year-end planning techniques that could help your client achieve their philanthropic goals alongside financial goals. A Donor Advised Fund at CFAAC is one of the simplest options: your client can make a gift this year, take the deduction in 2026, and recommend grants to local nonprofits on their own timeline. CFAAC also accepts gifts of appreciated stock, which can help clients avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation. Our team is happy to walk through options with you. 

Growing family

If a client tells you about a new grandchild, you could ask: “As your family grows, have you thought about ways to pass along your values and philanthropic priorities to the next generation?” You can go even deeper by suggesting that a Donor Advised Fund at CFAAC can provide a structure for involving family members in giving decisions, supporting favorite causes together, and passing along philanthropic values. Our team regularly works with families across generations to make a difference in Anne Arundel County and beyond. Please loop us in; we are here to support you as you serve your clients. 

Expanding community involvement

If a client tells you about joining a nonprofit’s board of directors, you could ask: “Does this new role change how you think about your charitable giving plan?” If the client says yes, the easiest thing to do is suggest bringing CFAAC into the conversation. “The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County is a terrific resource and sounding board for anything related to philanthropy,” you can say. “I’ll reach out to my contact there and suggest that the three of us jump on a 15-minute call or Zoom next week.” CFAAC’s Community Needs Assessment Report, Poverty Amidst Plenty, can also help new board members see where their organization fits within the county’s broader needs. 

As always, CFAAC is happy to help. Whether you’re looking for ideas to start a conversation, exploring a particular charitable planning strategy for a specific client, or anything in between, we’re here to serve as a resource for you and your clients. Contact Thomas Perkins, Director of Gift Planning, at thomas@cfaac.org or 410.280.1102 ext. 103.