As one of the newest team members here at the Lincoln Community Foundation – I certainly appreciate the value of an introduction. While meeting with the folks in LCF’S charitable network, one of the things that has stood out to me during my first weeks on the job is the thoughtfulness that donors bring to their philanthropy.
I've enjoyed learning about the organizations and causes that people care about and the legacies they hope to build. In many cases, trusted professional advisors including attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors are helping donors make important decisions about taxes, investments, estate planning and family wealth.
There’s one more step, however, that is often overlooked: Connecting the dots.
If you are a donor or fund holder at LCF, or plan to establish a fund soon, please consider introducing your advisors to our Philanthropy Services team. A simple introduction can make a tremendous difference in ultimately achieving your charitable goals.
Here’s why:
- Attorneys, CPAs and wealth managers are experts in many aspects of financial and estate planning, and their work is essential in helping you develop and implement strategies through legal documentation, tax filings and other technical guidance. Not all advisors, however, are experts in charitable giving.
The Lincoln Community Foundation, by comparison, brings to the table specialized knowledge about charitable giving strategies, local nonprofit needs, philanthropic tools that may be best suited for your particular situation and the types of assets you might consider giving to achieve your goals.
- While LCF does not provide legal, tax or financial advice, our Philanthropy Services team stays closely attuned to charitable planning trends and opportunities. In turn, we can keep you and your advisors informed about what to watch for as you are making plans.
When you establish a fund at LCF as part of your charitable plan, our team will handle the paperwork and administration to create and manage that fund. This is often a relief to your advisors, not to mention a relief to you!
Importantly, collaborative conversations among donors, advisors and the team at the Foundation are not only for complex estates or very large gifts. Even relatively straightforward charitable plans can benefit from collaboration between your advisors and the Lincoln Community Foundation.
In many cases, donors discover giving opportunities they might not otherwise have considered. What’s more, many advisors appreciate having philanthropic specialists available to help explore charitable strategies that benefit both the donor and the causes they care about most.
So, what can you do?
If we haven't met yet, I'd love to connect with you!
Whether you're considering a new charitable fund, reviewing an existing fund, updating your estate plan or simply making sure everyone is on the same page, we would be glad to be part of the conversation. A simple email introducing each of your advisors to LCF’s Philanthropy Services team is often all that is required to open the door to better communication and stronger planning.
When professionals work together, the result is often a more coordinated and impactful charitable plan. By connecting your advisors with the Foundation, you help create a team that can support both your financial goals and your desire to make a lasting difference.
Thank you for all you do to make our community a better place. We look forward to hearing from you – and meeting your advisors soon!
Daniel Russell
Senior Philanthropic Advisor
danielr@lcf.org
402-474-2345
