Through dedicated partnership and expertise, we can help you develop deliberate, high-impact charitable strategies to optimize your philanthropy investments.
Our Capabilities: Philanthropy Strategy
Questions to Consider
Are you establishing or revitalizing your philanthropy strategy?
Aiming to engage the next generation in your charitable vision?
Looking to decrease tax exposure and maximize the impact of your philanthropic capital?
Whether you are looking to define the purpose of your capital, revitalize and strengthen your philanthropic priorities, create vehicles to minimize your tax exposure and increase your impact in society, or engage the next generation in your charitable vision, William Blair believes that a strategic approach to philanthropy expands your opportunities to create impact.
Our experienced philanthropic team begins the process by helping you to define the purpose of your capital and your philanthropic mission. They then work to integrate your philanthropy strategy with your wealth management, tax, and estate planning structure.
Did You Know?
Specific areas of expertise include:
- Creating a sound and durable investment policy, governance, and legacy planning
- Implementing and managing tax-efficient charitable vehicles, including donor-advised funds, private family foundations, charitable trusts, etc.
- Providing research, best practices, trends, and networking opportunities
- Identifying charitable focus areas and developing grant-making programs and processes
- Researching and building relationships with charities and grantees
- Structuring grants and managing philanthropic reporting
Amid the great wealth transfer, we have developed deep experience and expertise helping families engage the next generation in charitable giving. Our team works alongside clients to:
- Teach the younger generations about philanthropy, services, and financial literacy
- Involve the next generation in your family’s charitable activities
- Create and design multigenerational philanthropy goals and roles
- Host family meetings and board meetings, develop family volunteer events and opportunities, and arrange community site visits
Client Story
After gifting assets and establishing trusts for her children and grandchildren, our client turned her focus to engaging the family in their charitable foundation. William Blair’s philanthropic advisory team designed a framework to both educate the next generations on the origins of the family’s wealth and philanthropic intent and built a plan to help them forge their own giving identities while respecting their grandparents’ legacy.
We now facilitate several family meetings throughout the year to: collaborate on who, what, and where to give; introduce thoroughly researched giving opportunities; build grantee relationships; and build out family volunteer commitments. Educating the next generations on measuring and creating impact and understanding the purpose of its collective philanthropic capital has been a key element in bringing the family together and to set the stage for future giving and family connectivity. Our team has become an integral advisor in this family’s philanthropy strategy and its implementation.
