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Professional advisors are constantly looking for ways to provide "value-added services" at competitive fees in order to retain existing clients and recruit new ones. Providing the services your clients expect is simply good business for you and your firm - as well as good for your client and our community.

It is important to note that in 2001, 84% of Americans gave to charity. Your clients need good advice to make charitable giving decisions that are appropriate in their financial, familial and business situations. Professional advisors often play the most critical role in the completion of charitable gifts.

Charitable and planned giving can be complex, due to the unique circumstances of your client and their goals. Your ability to serve your client may be enhanced by having a valuable - and free - resource at your disposal to assist in the planning and implementation of your client's philanthropy.

Our goal at the Community Foundation is to be the resource on charitable and planned giving for our entire community - and this includes you!

Your partner - the Community Foundation

Your clients have dreams and resources, but their time is precious. They want to invest in charitable causes they care about. You have the skills and knowledge to best serve your clients' financial and legal interests. We have the local knowledge and expertise to best serve their philanthropic interests. It's a perfect partnership.

Whether you need a "silent partner" to provide behind-the-scenes consultation or an active participant with your client, we can tailor our support of your efforts to your needs and those of your client. We provide a variety of services for your consideration; these services will help you strengthen your relationship with your clients.

The Community Foundation provides many valuable services as your partner including:

• The Charitable Giving Guide (Download Adobe PDF document), a 21-page brochure that provides an overview for your clients on estate planning and charitable giving.
• The Planned Giving Design Center (www.pgdc.com/cfsm/), a free online resource service that includes research materials, IRS publications and online gift illustration software
• The Planned Giving Center^SM which provides telephone and in-person consultation on charitable giving.
• Tax information about how Community Foundation options may benefit your clients.

You may wish to review the Making a Gift section of our Web site for valuable information on Creating a Fund, Existing Funds of the Community Foundation, or geographic Affiliates. Our Planned Gifts section for donors even includes some Sample Language for estate planning documents.

How to get started serving your clients - three simple questions to ask

In order to start engaging with your client about charitable opportunities (and to begin providing those important value-added services), noted national charitable planning expert Kathryn W. Miree, J.D. suggests that professional advisors ask three simple questions when meeting with a client about their financial and estate plans. Ask your clients:

1. Do you have charitable organizations that you currently support on an annual basis?
2. Do you want to include a gift to any of these organizations or other charitable organizations as a part of your estate plan?
3. If there were a way to make a gift to charity largely out of federal estate tax dollars, would you be interested in exploring options to accomplish this goal?

These simple questions will begin the process of supporting your clients' needs in this area - and fulfill your commitment to them to provide support for all they wish to accomplish.

It is also appropriate to ask these questions any time a client has a change in their financial situation or is contemplating a significant decision such as retirement, receipt of an inheritance, or the sale of a business. The Community Foundation can help you and your client make the most of these situations, to maximize their generosity.