Advisor Knowledge Hub
Case study: A QCD conversion in action
If you know the basics of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) but have a hard time envisioning exactly what to say and do when they come up in a client conversation, you are not alone! Whether...
Keep going: Why donor-advised funds are still essential
For many CPAs, estate planning attorneys, and financial advisors, the end of 2025 brought a whirlwind of charitable planning activity among high-earner clients. That’s because many taxpayers wanted...
What’s new in the numbers: A checklist for charitable tax rules in 2026
Well before 2025 made way for 2026, you were no doubt already tracking the various IRS thresholds that are subject to adjustment, as well as the new tax laws’ impact on planning techniques. But have...
A key to client retention: Consider charitable planning
Retaining clients is a cornerstone of long-term business success, no matter the profession or industry. As the saying goes, keeping an existing client—and earning additional work from that client—is...
2025 action required: Last call for current tax rules
As you counsel clients through year-end tax planning, the community foundation encourages you to remind them that 2025 presents a critical window of opportunity for charitable giving before major...
Planning for clients’ incapacity: Why charitable intentions matter
The team at IECF is honored to work with attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors to help clients turn generosity into lasting impact. Of course, as you work with your charitable clients, you...
Rare but powerful “charitable exits”: Know it when you see it
If your client base includes business owners, you’re no doubt at least generally aware of the benefits of giving closely-held business interests to charity. Beyond that, though, the details may get...
Bread and butter strategy: QCDs for clients 70½ and older
As the economic and legislative environment continues to evolve, advisors are sharpening every tool they have to help clients meet both their financial and charitable goals. Provisions enacted as...
Donor-advised funds: Flexible, tax-friendly, and just the beginning
As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you’ve no doubt noticed that financial publications’ coverage of donor-advised funds is increasing. This is no surprise, considering that these popular...
Three clients. Three solutions. One common theme.
We’ve rounded the corner into the fourth quarter! As the calendar year draws to a close, you’re likely well aware that charitable giving is not only important to your clients first and foremost as...
Inherited IRAs: A charitable solution?
Remember the good old days when your clients could withdraw the money they inherited in their parents’ IRAs over the course of their lifetimes, thereby deferring the income tax for as long as...
Two reasons to celebrate charitable giving (and three steps to engage your clients)
There’s a lot to celebrate about charitable giving in October! National Estate Planning Week For many attorneys, financial advisors, and CPAs, estate planning and charitable giving is part of your...
One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Three big picture pointers
“So what does it mean for charitable planning, really?” That’s a question our team has been fielding from attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors ever since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act became law...
Tongue twister: OBBBA, IRAs, QCDs, and FAQs
If your head is spinning, it’s for a good reason! Let’s face it–the rules for using IRAs to give to charity were complicated before the OBBBA got thrown into the mix. Let’s address five frequently...
Floor to Ceiling: Four Factors Shaping Corporate Giving
At IECF, we work with business leaders and business owners to structure charitable giving plans that achieve the company’s goals for its employees and the community. In many cases, corporate giving...
Gifts of artwork: Worth a look, but be careful
If you’ve noticed a surprising uptick in recent years among your younger clients investing in artwork, it is not your imagination! A survey of 1,007 U.S. high net worth individuals (each with at...
Quiet types: Spotting clients who prefer to give anonymously
At Inland Empire Community Foundation, we’re dedicated to helping your clients achieve their charitable goals. We’re honored to serve as your trusted resource for tax-efficient giving strategies,...
Timing is everything: Mapping out clients’ 2025 charitable giving plans
It’s never been easy to navigate the ever-shifting tax rules to help clients structure charitable gifts, and now it’s even trickier. Major changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA),...
Tax law changes: Time to study up?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, after the House of Representatives approved the Senate’s changes to H.R. 1, which passed the House by a narrow...
Charitable mindset: What are clients thinking?
Don’t you wish you could read your clients’ minds? Understanding what clients really care about is crucial to constructing any estate or financial plan. When it comes to charitable giving, you can...
Start with numbers: A case study for charitable clients
As an estate planning, tax, or wealth advisor, you play a critical role in helping your clients maximize the impact of charitable giving while also optimizing tax benefits. Unfortunately, a 2023...
Easier than you might think: Moving a donor-advised fund to IECF
As you advise clients on charitable giving, you’re likely aware of the growing popularity of the donor-advised fund as a flexible, tax-efficient tool for philanthropy. Many families appreciate how...
Donating business interests: Why a fund at IECF is the ideal recipient
If your client base includes business owners, you probably weren’t surprised by this observation in a recent Wall Street Journal article about the “stealthy wealthy”: “Behind a paycheck, the largest...
More questions than answers: Pending tax legislation
There’s little doubt that you’ve seen extensive news coverage of the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" (H.R. 1) that passed the House of Representatives by a 215-214 vote on May 22, 2025, and now moves...
Philanthropy: It’s a marathon, not a sprint
As 2025 continues to deliver twists and turns, it’s important to keep talking about philanthropy. Charitable giving is a vital strategy for your clients, even in times of economic uncertainty. Here...
A happier alternative? Moving from a private foundation to a donor advised fund (DAF)
The number of private foundations in the United States is nearing 150,000 with combined assets topping $1 trillion, so it’s no wonder that a lot of people immediately think about establishing a...
Charitable remainder trusts: What, where, who, why, when, and how?
If you’ve represented charitable families over the years, you’ve certainly heard the term “charitable remainder trust,” sometimes called a “CRT.” You might have even helped clients set them up. For...
Weighing the options: Private foundation or donor-advised fund?
When you’re working on the charitable components of a client’s estate or financial plan, one of the first areas you’ll likely explore is the structure. Certainly, you are familiar with both...
Trust matters: Your clients’ go-to resource for community impact
As attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, you know very well that trust is at the foundation of your relationships with clients. Your clients are seeking a similar level of trust with the people...
Refresher course: Charitable gift annuities
Several advisors have shared with us recently that they’re fielding more questions about charitable gift annuities (CGAs). It’s quite possible that CGAs are landing on clients’ radars these days for...
