Many individuals and families spend significant time shaping a charitable plan they feel good about, establishing a donor-advised or other type of fund at the community foundation, updating IRA beneficiary designations, and outlining the types of causes they want to support. Once the plan is in place, life naturally moves forward, and it’s easy to assume everything will unfold exactly as intended.
But charitable plans can outlive the paperwork. Family dynamics shift. Attorneys and financial advisors retire. Organizations merge or change direction. And your own philanthropic priorities may evolve. Even when your charitable intention stays strong, the documents meant to reflect your wishes can become outdated. That can create confusion later, especially for family members or advisors trying to honor your intentions during an already stressful time.
The solution is simple: treat your charitable plan like any other important aspect of your financial life and review it periodically. This doesn’t mean reworking everything every year. It simply means checking to be sure what’s written still matches what you want.
A Quick Annual Review Can Make a Big Difference
If you have a donor-advised fund at the community foundation, consider meeting with our team once a year to review key details, including:
- Successor advisors: Are the people you’ve named still the right fit, and do they understand your wishes?
- Legacy intentions: Would you like to leave a portion of your fund to support the community foundation’s mission in the future?
- Estate documents: Has your attorney included the correct fund name and language in your will or trust?
- Beneficiary designations: If you’ve named your fund as a beneficiary of a retirement account or life insurance policy, is the fund listed correctly? Have your financial and tax advisors updated their records?
- Lifetime engagement: Are there opportunities to involve children or grandchildren in your giving now?
- Statement of purpose: Would a brief note explaining why you care about certain causes help guide future generations or advisors in carrying out your intent?
We’re Here for You
These check-ins are always our pleasure. The community foundation is your home for charitable giving, and our team is here to support you, today and for generations to come.
Even a short conversation each year can bring peace of mind and strengthen the long-term impact of your generosity.
