As tax season draws to a close, we're reminded of the benefits of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) that offer ease and flexibility for donors to maximize their impact by streamlining their charitable contributions through one giving vehicle.

Charitable giving is an important element of financial, tax, and legal planning, but with so many paths to choose from, it can be easy to get lost along the way. Brad Britton, Director of Planned Giving and General Counsel at The Columbus Foundation, explains how to map out a successful charitable plan—and the many options to consider along the way.

Explore the charitable IRA rollover technique and how it can easily be used to strategically fund long-term philanthropic goals through the creation of Designated Funds, Scholarship Funds, Field of Interest Funds, and Unrestricted Funds.

Charitable giving is an important element of financial and legal planning, but successfully navigating charitable conversations with clients can often be harder than we think. In this issue of Charitable Insights, we explore the charitable conversation disconnect between advisors and clients, along with techniques to better navigate such discussions.

Director of Capacity Building & Community Knowledge Danielle Tong shares how support for the comprehensive well-being of nonprofits through capacity building helps them go further faster—and why investing in things you can't always see is critical to ensuring the ongoing health of our community's social sector.

Philanthropic planning is an important element of overall legal and financial planning. By discussing charitable goals with your clients, you can help them increase their impact, decrease tax liability, and leave a lasting legacy. Along the way, you deepen your relationship with them as you give them a space to talk about their values and priorities.

Scholarships provide life-changing financial support to students and empower the next generation to pursue their dreams. As students return to school, we’re dedicating this edition of Charitable Insights to Scholarship Funds—how they work, who should start a fund, and their benefits for students—as well as for you and your clients.

Most people are uncomfortable talking about grief and loss. So why should professional advisors do it?

While this past year brought many challenges, it also included signs of hope and kindness. Across central Ohio and the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a surge in grantmaking from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), but this is not the first time DAF assets were mobilized on a large scale to address crises.

For more than 75 years, the Foundation has served as the vehicle through which thousands of people have expressed their own ideals and optimism through philanthropic investment in our community. While the work continues, and the hills to climb remain steep, we applaud the generosity of our donors’ commitment to our community and those who call it home.