Year-end is a busy time for financial, tax, and estate planning advisors. Between reviewing portfolios, evaluating tax strategies, and preparing clients for the coming year, there’s plenty to cover.
Fortunately, charitable giving doesn’t have to be a separate conversation. Some of the most productive charitable planning discussions can begin with a question you may already be asking:
“How did your life change in 2026?”
A client’s answer may reveal more than a personal milestone. Retirement, unexpectedly high income, a new grandchild, or a new volunteer role can create opportunities to connect charitable giving with the people and causes that matter most.
At The Erie Community Foundation, we’re here to help you turn those conversations into thoughtful giving plans.
Retirement: Connect the Next Chapter with Meaningful Giving
If a client mentions retirement, consider asking:
“Do you plan to get more involved with your favorite causes?”
This question can open a conversation about how clients want to spend their time, use their resources, and support their community in the years ahead. It may also be an opportunity to review estate plans and beneficiary designations to reflect their charitable intentions.
For clients age 70½ or older, retirement discussions can also introduce Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), which allow eligible donors to transfer funds directly from an IRA to an eligible charitable organization. QCDs cannot support donor-advised funds, but other eligible funds at The Erie Community Foundation may offer a way to support meaningful causes. Our team can help you explore appropriate options.
Whether your client wants to give during retirement or leave a future gift, we can help connect their charitable goals with a lasting legacy.
Higher Income: Explore Giving Opportunities
If a client shares that their income was higher than expected this year, ask:
“Are you considering increasing your charitable giving?”
Their answer can lead to a discussion about giving strategies that complement the tax and financial planning already underway.
For example, a donor-advised fund at The Erie Community Foundation allows clients to make a charitable contribution now and recommend grants to eligible nonprofits over time. Depending on their circumstances, gifts of appreciated assets may also be worth exploring with their professional advisors.
Our team can help you review giving options that align with your client’s interests, resources, and long-term goals.
For more conversation starters and planning considerations, explore our guide to seven year-end giving conversations.
A Growing Family: Share Your Values
News of a new grandchild or another family milestone offers a natural opening to ask:
“As your family grows, have you thought about ways to pass along your values and philanthropic priorities to the next generation?”
Charitable giving can bring family members together around shared interests and introduce younger generations to the needs of their community.
A donor-advised fund at The Erie Community Foundation can provide a structure for involving family members in giving decisions, supporting favorite causes together, and building a tradition of generosity. These conversations can help clients think about both the impact they want to make today and the values they hope will endure.
Community Involvement: Revisit Giving Priorities
If a client mentions joining a nonprofit’s board or becoming more involved with a local organization, consider asking:
“Does this new role change how you think about your charitable giving plan?”
A closer connection to a nonprofit may inspire clients to revisit their giving priorities or consider how to provide sustained support.
This is a good opportunity to bring The Erie Community Foundation into the conversation. Our team can serve as a sounding board, share knowledge of community needs, and help explore giving approaches that reflect your client’s interests.
To arrange a brief introductory conversation with you and your client, email Steve Weiser, Vice President of Philanthropic Services.
We’re Here to Help
Your client does not need to have every detail decided before beginning the conversation. We would be happy to sit down with you and your client, listen to what matters most to them and explore options that fit with the financial and estate-planning work already underway.
We respect the relationship you have built with your client and see our role as a partner in the charitable planning process.
Together, we can help your clients inspire generosity, engage the people and causes they care about, and empower communities across our region, today and tomorrow.
For more information, contact Steve Weiser, Vice President of Philanthropic Services, at SWeiser@ErieCommunityFoundation.org or 814.413.7345.
The Erie Community Foundation does not provide legal, tax or financial advice. Donors should consult their professional advisors to determine how charitable strategies may apply to their individual circumstances.