Earlier this month, we gathered at the Purple Room in Palm Springs for our second Professional Advisors Celebration. It was a delight to spend time with these trusted partners while enjoying a fabulous meal and live jazz. Our conversations confirmed what we already knew: these experts care about the Inland Empire and believe in the power of giving to create change for the good of all.
Professional advisors are essential to our work at IECF. Many donors consider their tax-savvy plans while also thinking, “I want to give back,” and an advisor helps figure out how. These conversations are often the starting point for long-term charitable plans that stay close to home.
By connecting generosity with smart planning, advisors help donors think strategically and turn charitable gifts into legacies that last for generations. Their partnership is helping us build a culture of philanthropy across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Sergio Bohon, a financial adviser at Wells Fargo Advisors and IECF past board chairman, shared his story of creating the Bohon Family Community Fund through IECF. He explained why he chose to work with us: because we hold a long history of community leadership and can offer expert guidance in allocating resources. After serving six years on our board, Sergio became a Professional Advisor Champion, referring clients to the foundation to make sure their giving has an enduring impact.
We’re grateful to our board members, past and present, who continue to guide this work with vision and integrity, and to our Professional Advisor Champions (the 40 advisors who’ve created planned gifts or permanent charitable funds with us) for leading by example.
Brie Griset Smith, CSPG, Chief Development Officer, offered special thanks to our honorary host committee members: Sergio Bohon, Scott Discount, Wilfrid C. Lemann, Teresa Rhyne, and Phil Savage IV. She also noted, “We’re grateful for the region’s wealth management, tax, and legal experts who link arms with us as we work to create a vibrant region. Their passion, expertise, and collaboration make them a vital part of our team.”
Michelle Decker, IECF President and CEO
With nearly 85 years of history as Inland Southern California’s community foundation, we bring deep local knowledge and an understanding of the nonprofits doing critical work on the ground. We offer flexible tools that make charitable giving easier and more effective: donor-advised funds, scholarship funds, endowed funds, planned giving options, and more. As Michelle Decker, President and CEO said, “When advisors work with IECF, they’re helping shape the future of a region that’s been underfunded and overlooked for too long.”
With the help of professional advisors, we’re fostering new levels of generosity, creating an awareness of local need, and aligning resources around what our communities actually require to thrive. The Inland Empire deserves investment, and we’re excited to work alongside advisors to deliver that.
To learn more about ways we can partner with you and your clients, contact our Charitable Giving Team at giving@iegives.org or call 951-241-7777.
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