Given the current charitable environment, it’s no surprise that philanthropic expertise is an increasingly relevant niche for attorneys and financial services professionals. So where can you develop that expertise? The Columbus Foundation has teamed up with The American College of Financial Services and is offering the opportunity to be part of a study group that will help you advance your career and become your client’s go-to person for all of their philanthropic needs.
Charitable giving is a substantial force in the United States. According to Giving USA, Americans gave $427.71 billion to charity in 2018. That’s roughly 2.1% of gross domestic product. But that tremendous generosity does not occur in a vacuum. It is facilitated by a number of essential players in addition to the philanthropists providing the actual funding. The expertise of financial advisors, attorneys, trust officers, insurance agents, and nonprofit professionals is vital in fueling an effective and thriving philanthropic sector.
Whether you work with clients who are interested in exploring charitable gifts within a financial plan, business exit plan, or estate plan, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation is a great place to start. CAP® is a three-course, masters-level credential offered by The American College of Financial Services. Ideal for financial advisors, trust officers, attorneys, accountants, life insurance agents, and nonprofit development professionals, the CAP® program provides advisors and fundraisers with a common body of knowledge and a common credential enabling them to collaborate effectively at the planning table.
The curriculum consists of three courses, which provide an insight into the process of philanthropic planning, including, but not limited to, tax, tools, and techniques:
- Planning for Philanthropic Impact in the Context of Family Wealth: This course focuses on how clients and donors can use financial planning, estate planning, and gift planning to advance their personal financial goals for self and family, while also having a positive impact on their community.
- Charitable Giving Strategies: This course focuses on explaining and placing the most common charitable strategies—both one by one and within an overall plan—to achieve donor goals for self, family, and community.
- Gift Planning in a Nonprofit Context: This course focuses on what nonprofits call “gift planning.” The course is designed to help board leaders, advisors, and nonprofits collaborate to create, count, and steward significant gifts.
The CAP® designation provides the knowledge and tools necessary to help your clients articulate and advance their highest aspirations for self, family, and society. If you’re interested in growing your business, better serving clients, expanding your professional network, or becoming a more virtuous force in your community, CAP® can launch you toward swiftly achieving those goals.
The best thing about CAP® is you don’t have to go it alone. For the seventh year, The Columbus Foundation is partnering with The American College and past CAP® graduates to facilitate a study group for professionals who are interested in earning the CAP® designation. The study group, which will run from April through November, has only 15 spaces available. If you or a colleague could benefit from the CAP® designation, please contact Lisa Jolley at ljolley@columbusfoundation.org or 614/545-3244 to learn more.
