Major Charitable Giving / Philanthropy Plan

Giving meaningfully is one of the most rewarding things wealth makes possible, and a little structure helps your generosity go further, for the causes you care about and for your own plan. Done thoughtfully, giving can reflect your values, support your family, and be tax-smart all at once. And like every milestone, it’s not just the gift, it’s all the stuff attached to it. And remember, every path is unique; these are suggestions, not advice.

Decide what you want your giving to do

• Clarify the causes and outcomes that matter most to you, focused giving tends to do more good than scattered giving.
• Decide whether to give now, while you can see the impact, or through your estate, or both.
• A planned-giving officer at a community foundation can help you shape a gift with lasting impact.

Choose how to give

• A donor-advised fund lets you give flexibly over time from a single contribution.
• A charitable trust, including one that can pay income back to you or your family, is a powerful tool worth exploring with an advisor.
• For larger or ongoing philanthropy, a private foundation may fit; an estate attorney can help you weigh it against simpler options.

Give in the smartest way

• Gifting appreciated assets, rather than cash, can do more for both you and the cause, a CPA can show you how.
• Coordinate larger gifts with your tax planning so your generosity is as efficient as it is generous.
• Update beneficiary designations, naming a charity directly can be simple and tax-efficient.

Build it into your plan and your family

• Update your Will to include the causes and organizations you want to support.
• Consider involving your children or grandchildren, so giving becomes part of your family’s story for the next generation.
• Keep your giving plan, trust documents, and gift records in your Gentreo Digital Vault.

You don’t have to design it all at once. Decide what matters most to you, loop in an advisor for the structure, and Gentreo helps you keep it organized.

More giving. Less guesswork.

Gentreo is not a law firm or a substitute for a law firm or attorney or an attorney’s advice. Gentreo provides self-help services at your specific direction.