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October Is a Month to Celebrate Giving

October is a busy month for those of us who care about giving back, and especially those of us who know what Q4 means in the giving world. But between National Estate Planning Week and DAF Day 2025, it’s also a perfect time to celebrate the many ways charitable giving creates impact, and to help your clients think about how their generosity fits into their long-term plans.

National Estate Planning Week

For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, estate planning is an ongoing conversation. You remind your clients all the time to keep their wills, trusts, and financial plans up to date. Still, those reminders can easily slip to the bottom of the list.

That’s what makes National Estate Planning Week (October 20–26) so valuable. It gives you a reason to check in—especially about the parts of the plan that reflect your clients’ values and charitable goals. It’s a natural time to ask not only, “Are your beneficiaries current?” but also, “Do you want part of your legacy to go toward the causes you care about most?”

And that’s where your local community foundation can make those conversations easier, more productive, and more personal.

Here are three simple ways to engage your clients this October.

1. Start with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

A timely way to break the ice is by talking about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). It’s changed the rules for charitable deductions in a big way—especially for clients who have been unsure about itemizing in the past.

For high-income earners, 2025 is a rare opportunity to “front load” charitable gifts before new deduction limits take effect. Opening a donor-advised fund (DAF) at the community foundation allows clients to take advantage of this window while giving them flexibility to support nonprofits over time.

It’s a straightforward way to position giving as both a smart financial move and a meaningful one.

2. Revisit Estate Gifts

Once charitable giving is on the table, it’s easy to extend the conversation to the estate plan itself. Many people who are generous during their lifetimes haven’t thought much about continuing that giving through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation.

Encourage clients to review what’s already in place. Some will have made charitable provisions they’ve forgotten about; others may have never considered it. You can help them see how a simple addition—a bequest to a favorite nonprofit or a legacy fund at the community foundation—can turn their lifetime of generosity into something that lasts for generations.

These conversations don’t need to be complicated. Often, all it takes is asking, “Would you like your giving to continue after you’re gone?” and letting the client explore what that might look like.

3. Lean on the Community Foundation

When it comes to charitable planning, you don’t have to do it alone. The community foundation exists to make these discussions easier for both you and your clients.

Our team can help build a customized giving plan that fits a client’s broader financial goals. That might include:

A donor-advised fund to simplify annual giving and take advantage of current tax opportunities.
A designated fund to receive Qualified Charitable Distributions for clients over age 70½.
Ongoing support for community initiatives that align with your client’s interests.
Documentation for future estate gifts that reflect the client’s intent and values.

We handle the details, reporting, and grant administration, so you can focus on your client relationships and their overall strategy.

DAF Day 2025

And speaking of donor-advised funds—mark your calendar for October 9, which is DAF Day 2025. This national celebration recognizes the role DAFs play in modern philanthropy.

For advisors, it’s a great opportunity to reintroduce the concept to clients. A DAF can streamline their giving, help them manage timing around deductions, and strengthen the connection between their wealth and their purpose.

When those funds are established at the community foundation, they do even more good. Clients benefit from local insight—our team knows which nonprofits are doing the most effective work in areas that matter most to them. Together, we can help your clients make informed, impactful decisions that benefit both their families and their community.

October is the perfect time to start these conversations. National Estate Planning Week and DAF Day provide easy, organic ways to check in with clients, revisit their goals, and celebrate their generosity.

The community foundation is here to help make it all happen—this month and every month. Thank you for the important work you do in helping your clients create lasting legacies of giving.