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Tips for Serving Clients Who Love Local Giving

If you find that your clients are looking for local giving opportunities, our community foundation is ready to collaborate with you and your clients, offering guidance on maximizing the impact of their local giving contributions to address both current and future community needs. We’re committed to enhancing the quality of life in our community, ensuring every gift makes a meaningful difference.

Philanthropy plays a significant role in enriching our communities, especially for those who feel a strong connection to their local area. For financial advisors and philanthropy professionals, understanding how to best serve clients passionate about local giving is crucial. Below are tips based on the successful approach of the Athens Area Community Foundation to help you guide your clients in making impactful local contributions.

Understand the Power of Local Foundations

Engage with local organizations like the Athens Area Community Foundation to leverage their expertise in local philanthropy. These foundations offer a deep understanding of the community’s needs and can ensure that your clients’ donations make a substantial impact locally. They provide a personalized approach, helping clients to see the direct effect of their generosity in the community where they live, work, and have a personal investment.

Facilitate Meaningful Philanthropic Discovery

Many clients may not know where to start with their giving, so it is your job to help them discover their path. By collaborating with local foundations, you can help them find causes that resonate with them deeply. These foundations have the resources and knowledge to guide your clients through the process of establishing a fund that aligns with their values and desires, making their philanthropic journey both joyful and fulfilling.

Bring Local Expertise into Client Relationships

Utilize the local expertise and flexibility that foundations offer to enhance your advisory services. Foundations like the Athens Area Community Foundation are equipped with first-hand knowledge of local organizations and a variety of fund options. This can add a significant layer of service to your client relationships, providing advice that aligns with each client’s philanthropic vision.

Highlight the Importance of Local Support

Inform your clients about the critical role philanthropy plays in supporting local communities, especially as governmental funding becomes scarcer. Foundations can direct funds to where they are needed most, from disaster recovery to supporting families in need, workforce development, and historic preservation. This ensures that clients’ contributions are effectively addressing the most urgent local challenges.

Offer Strategic Philanthropic Solutions

For clients interested in creating a lasting legacy, discuss the benefits of establishing an unrestricted fund with the local community foundation. This allows them to contribute to the community’s long-term vitality, ready to address future challenges. Additionally, for older clients, highlight tax-efficient giving strategies like Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs, which can satisfy their philanthropic goals while optimizing their financial and estate planning.

Encourage Engagement with Community Foundations

Invite your clients to reach out to the Athens Area Community Foundation or similar organizations to explore the various ways they can support local needs. This engagement can help them fulfill their philanthropic goals, benefiting both current and future generations and meeting their financial, tax, and legacy planning objectives.

Encourage Wise Local Giving with AACF

By following these tips and collaborating closely with local foundations, you can offer your clients a fulfilling path to making a difference in their communities. The Athens Area Community Foundation and similar organizations provide valuable resources and expertise to ensure that every contribution counts, helping your clients achieve their philanthropic visions and support the places they hold dear. Whether it is ongoing endowments, disaster recovery initiatives, support for local families, or preserving your town’s history, these efforts are often the most rewarding for you and your client alike.