The 2014 U.S. Trust® Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy examines giving patterns, priorities and attitudes of America’s wealthiest households. Since 2006, this biennial study has been written and researched in partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

The largest, longest running series of its kind, the study is an important barometer for wealthy donors’ charitable engagement and viewpoints, offering valuable insights that inform the strategies of their peers, nonprofit professionals, charitable advisors, and others. The following is a summary of key findings from the full 89-page report.

Financial Advisor Magazine

Reducing Guesswork
By Karen DeMasters

Randolph Brinton, a financial advisor and senior vice president at Ferris, Baker Watts Inc. in Baltimore, had a client who wanted to give 10 different charities $5,000 a year each by selling some securities and other assets. It was a doable job, but a time-consuming one for both the advisor and the client. The solution was to give the lump sum to the Baltimore Community Foundation and let it sell the assets and dole out the money.

To use an overworked cliché, it was a win-win solution all the way around. “Giving the money to the Baltimore Community Foundation was a simple way for us to accomplish the client’s goal, and it helped the foundation and it strengthened my relationship with the client because I helped him accomplish what he wanted,” says Brinton, who works frequently with the foundation.

Clients expect professional advisors to suggest charitable opportunities...or they might assume it is not a good option for them.  This article suggests how to introduce charitable giving in discussions with clients and why.

Broching the Philanthropy Barrier

 It's often a missed opportunity.  Although many affluent investors want to support their favorite causes while also integrating philanthropy into their financial plans, many financial advisors fail  to broach the topic of charitable giving with their clients--even though they are uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role in developing clients' giving strategies.