Charitable Giving & Philanthropy
If giving back is key to enhancing your legacy, let us work with you to maximize the benefits.
Charitable Giving & Philanthropy
Many individuals and families set aside wealth to give back to their communities, religious organizations or other charities.
Our team works with clients to maximize their gift and tax benefits with philanthropy, wealth and legacy goals in mind.
Charitable giving continuum
Contact usThere are essentially only three places your assets can go when you pass away – your heirs, the government for taxes and charity. And, you can only leave so much to your heirs before taxes are incurred. By giving to charity, you can control the tax element, and determine how those dollars are spent through your contributions.
Baker Tilly and Baker Tilly Wealth Management professionals work with our clients to understand their charitable goals. Then, we select from basic, intermediate and advanced options to develop your charitable plan.
While our professionals are versed in all of the above charitable giving techniques, we have highlighted the four most common below:
- outright gifts
- donor advised funds
- private foundations
- charitable remainder trusts
Outright gifts
Many donors decide to give outright gifts to charitable organizations during their lifetime. Outright gifts can include cash, property, stock, etc. and can be used to establish or add to a fund.
Benefits
- Outright gifts can be made during a donor’s lifetime or after their death
- Significant tax benefits, including income tax, capital gains tax and estate tax savings
Donor advised funds
Donor advised funds (DAFs) are a charitable giving technique overseen by a public charity. They manage charitable donations in support of organizations, families or individuals.
DAFs enable donors to manage charitable giving in tax-smart and meaningful ways. Donors can enjoy the best tax advantages available, make grants on their flexible timetable and build their enduring charitable legacy. There are several donor scenarios where a DAF could be beneficial. Our advisors can help you navigate if a DAF is right for you.
Benefits of a DAF
- Assets can be managed at any amount by donor’s financial advisor
- Flexibility in accepting a variety of simple or complex assets including cash, publicly traded securities, closely held stock, real estate, life insurance policies and more
- Donors can recommend grants to charities throughout the U.S. and overseas
- Donors decide when and how they want to make charitable grants, which can be scheduled in advance
- Donors can distribute final grants at death or appoint successor advisors in perpetuity
Private foundations
A private foundation is a legal entity set up with one objective in mind: charitable contributions or activity. The funding for a private foundation usually originates from a single person, family or corporation instead of public fundraising. As the donor, you can decide your mission, your board and where to invest funds. But most importantly, the foundation can exist after you pass away. It will not only become a living family endowment but also perpetuate your legacy.
Benefits of establishing a private foundation
- Donors control the timing of the ultimate donation of their funds
- Donors can leave a charitable family legacy
- Donors have greater control and flexibility
- Significant tax benefits, including income tax, capital gains tax and estate tax savings
Charitable remainder trusts
A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is an irrevocable trust that creates a philanthropic legacy. CRTs also become an income stream for the person the trust creator designates.
A CRT trustee may sell assets of the trust at any time without the trust incurring capital gain taxes. Without this tax cost, the trust will have full use of the proceeds to diversify the charitable portfolio. This allows a larger amount to work for the donor and the charity.
Benefits of CRTs
- The income beneficiary has income stream for the term of the trust
- Remainder interest goes to the charity
- The client gains an income tax charitable deduction in the year of the contribution to the CRT
- Highly appreciated, low-basis stock can be sold without the imposition of a capital gains tax
- The client leaves a charitable legacy
- CRTs create a current-year charitable contribution deduction
- CRTs reduce your taxable estate
Questions regarding your options for charitable giving?
Each charitable giving option has complex benefits and drawbacks. Our professionals can work with you to build the right charitable strategy for you and your family members.
Our professionals
Disclosure
Baker Tilly Wealth Management, LLC (BTWM) is a registered investment advisor. BTWM does not provide tax or legal advice. BTWM is not an attorney. Estate planning can involve a complex web of tax rules and regulations. Consider consulting a tax or legal professional about your particular circumstances before implementing any tax or legal strategy. The information provided here is of a general nature and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any individual or entity. In specific circumstances, the services of a professional should be sought.
BTWM is controlled by Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, operate under an alternative practice structure and are members of the global network of Baker Tilly International Ltd., the members of which are separate and independent legal entities. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed CPA firm that provides assurance services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and consulting services to their clients and are not licensed CPA firms. ©2024 Baker Tilly Wealth Management, LLC