As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you know that trust is at the foundation of your relationships with clients. Your clients rely on you to help them make thoughtful decisions, including how they give back to the causes they care about.
Fortunately, trust in charities has shown an increase after a recent dip. According to the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer and the Independent Sector's Trust in Nonprofits and Philanthropy report, trust in nonprofits climbed by 5 percent to 57% in 2024, following a four-year decline. This increase positions nonprofits as the most trusted sector compared to government, business, and media.
Still, your clients are expecting more from the organizations they support. They want transparency, accountability, and reassurance that their charitable giving is making a real impact.
At the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC), we’re responding to that need to better support you and your clients as they navigate their philanthropic goals.
Trustworthy information about particular charities
CFAAC is a valuable source for objective, timely information about specific charities and the impact of particular programs. By working with us, your clients can leverage a transparent and trustworthy resource to help them make informed decisions about the causes they care most about.
Wide-ranging expertise about community needs
Our insight into the most pressing challenges facing Anne Arundel County is evidenced in our Community Needs Assessment Report, Poverty Amidst Plenty. This in-depth, data-driven report helps us guide your clients toward opportunities where their giving can have the greatest impact—whether in education, mental health, housing, the environment, or economic mobility.
Broad set of tools for structuring charitable gifts
CFAAC offers a broad range of charitable giving vehicles. In addition to Donor Advised Funds, your clients can choose other types of funds such as:
- Designated Funds that support specific charities they care about.
- Field of Interest Funds focused on particular causes like health, education, or the environment.
- Multi-Generational Funds to involve clients’ children and grandchildren.
These flexible options allow your clients to give in ways that are meaningful to them and aligned with their long-term goals.
Enhanced support for tax-efficient giving
We continue to partner closely with advisors to help design giving plans that are both impactful and tax-smart. Whether your clients are thinking about year-end giving or planning their legacy, we can help structure their philanthropy in a way that makes the most of their charitable intent.
A stronger commitment to advisor partnerships
We want to be a resource you can count on whenever charitable giving comes up in conversation. Whether your client is looking for insight into a specific nonprofit or looking to make a lasting difference in the community, our team is here to help.
Trust matters, and at CFAAC, we’re committed to earning and keeping it by being a reliable partner to you and a helpful guide for your clients’ giving. Reach out anytime at info@cfaac.org or 410.280.1102. We’re always happy to talk.