Build your philanthropy knowledge

What kind of nonprofits do donors trust the most? What could the Charitable Act mean for your clients? How much are donors giving to organizations that support women and girls? Add to your charitable giving expertise to continue to add value to your clients’ philanthropic planning. Check out this round-up of philanthropy news bites! 

• A recent survey about trust offered a few eyebrow-raising insights, including that nonprofits placed second in trust behind small businesses, and smaller, local nonprofits are more highly trusted than larger, national entities. Respondents also felt that nonprofits involved with human services, animal welfare, healthcare, youth development, and the arts were the most trusted to “do the right thing.” This is encouraging news for your clients who work with the Community Foundation, which, by definition is focused on local issues and a deep, grass roots knowledge of the community and the organizations that improve quality of life.  

• Many eyes are on the Charitable Act, which, if passed, would allow for deductible charitable contributions that exceed the standard deduction. The Charitable Act proposes to restore the pandemic-era “universal charitable deduction” and raise the cap from $300 for individuals ($600 for joint filers) to approximately $4,600 for individuals ($9,200 for joint filers).  

• Among the earliest to sign the Giving Pledge, in 2011, Charles Feeney died on October 9, 2023 in San Francisco. His modest style of philanthropy evolved over 40 years from near-anonymity to highly visible, with more than $8 billion donated, including more than $1 billion to Cornell University. Feeney embodied a “give-while-you-live” spirit. An inspiration to many philanthropists, Feeney’s legacy may be of particular interest to your clients who’d like to leave a legacy–perhaps anonymously–by working with the Community Foundation.   

• Giving to women-focused organizations in 2020 made up less than two percent of all charitable giving despite a nine percent increase from 2019, according to the Women & Girls Index from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. As your clients’ awareness of gender issues increases, remember that the Community Foundation can help your clients hone their knowledge of particular local nonprofits that are dedicated to serving women’s interests in health, education, public policy, anti-violence, and gender equality.  

 This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.