Generational Philanthropy: Key Points for Professional Advisors

 

For many clients, wealth is about more than passing down assets. It’s about passing down values, purpose, and opportunities to make a lasting difference. Professional advisors can help clients create a charitable legacy that strengthens family engagement, prepares future generations for responsible stewardship while supporting thoughtful, tax-efficient wealth planning.

Include adult children

One of the most effective ways to prepare the next generation is to include adult children in charitable planning conversations. Discussing family values and giving goals before wealth transfers occur can help create informed, engaged future stewards.

Professional advisors can help clients by:

• Encouraging open conversations about giving and family values.
• Educating heirs on charitable planning strategies, including gifts of appreciated stock, closely held business interests, real estate, and other complex assets.
• Documenting and communicating the family’s philanthropic mission to preserve continuity.
• Establishing clear governance and decision‑making frameworks.
• Aligning charitable strategies with values, goals, and overall estate plans.

Timing matters

Introducing charitable planning before major liquidity events — such as the sale of a business or appreciated real estate — can provide clients with greater flexibility and more charitable planning options than waiting until after the transaction closes.

How La Crosse Area Community Foundation can support you

Our goal is to help you deliver exceptional service to you and your clients while strengthening charitable impact across the region. We work alongside attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors by providing local charitable expertise, gift planning support, and knowledge of community needs.

Whether your client wants to support a favorite nonprofit, involve future generations in family giving, or establish a lasting charitable legacy, we can help:

• Establish charitable funds that support clients’ goals today while creating a legacy of giving for generations to come.
• Accept gifts of cash, appreciated assets, estate distributions, and other planned gifts to establish charitable funds.
• Help identify charitable strategies that align with your clients’ financial, tax, and philanthropic objectives.

Think of La Crosse Area Community Foundation as an extension of your advisory team. We’re here to provide charitable planning expertise, local knowledge, and giving solutions that help your clients achieve their philanthropic goals.