Partner and Engage
Connecting experts and cultivating philanthropic knowledge.
Atlanta Charitable Advisor Network
The Atlanta Charitable Advisor Network (ACAN) is a collaboration of the Community Foundation, the Atlanta Jewish Foundation and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. With deep relationships in the Atlanta community, these three organizations are uniquely positioned to bring together the city’s charitably-minded professional advisors and provide opportunities for education, knowledge-sharing and networking.
ACAN programming is designed to provide advisors with tools and inspiration to engage their clients in greater, more fulfilling charitable giving plans. It includes:
- Balser Symposium and Celebration
- Philanthropic Advisors Leadership Institute (PALI)
- Balser Giving Circle
Balser Symposium and Celebration
Since 2007, our organizations have collaborated around an annual program, which has been split into two events in the past few years: the Balser Symposium and the Balser Celebration. These events bring together professional advisors to network with one another and learn about trends and technical issues regarding charitable planning and giving.
The Symposium provides a carefully curated combination of speakers, presented virtually, for continuing education credits. The Celebration brings advisors together, in person, for vibrant networking, celebration of the PALI graduating class and the Balser Giving Circle grant presentation. Register here to attend the Celebration.
Want to know more? Join the ACAN LinkedIn group.
Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute (PALI)
The Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute (PALI) provides financial, legal and tax professionals with exclusive training to better incorporate charitable planning into their professional practices and client services.
PALI participants gain understanding about their philanthropic clients’ values-driven motivations — and how to unearth those values in a productive way. They discover how to communicate complex concepts related to charitable planning while nurturing strong, lasting professional relationships with other participants.
PALI is a highly regarded leadership development and networking program, with an alumni roster of more than 200 professionals across the greater Atlanta community.
PALI sessions are held at nonprofit organizations throughout Atlanta to offer participants a first-hand perspective of the community’s needs, as well as the benefit these programs provide. Participants receive continuous education about the nonprofit community before discussing values-based and charitable planning issues.
Applications for the 2025–26 program open on May 1.
Balser Giving Circle
The Balser Giving Circle is open to advisors who have completed the PALI program. The voluntary group contributes to a pool of funds, identifies shared values, reviews nonprofit grant applications and recommends grant awards. This opportunity provides a similar grantmaking experience to that of their clients’ donor-advised funds. Advisors participating in the Giving Circle develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Atlanta-area nonprofits, and have exclusive opportunities to build relationships with nonprofit leaders and one another.
Atlanta Charitable Advisor Network
