It’s Time to Flip the Script on Year-End Planning

One powerful way to do that? Ask your clients about their charitable giving—and not just for tax reasons.

If you’re a tax advisor, wealth manager, or estate attorney, philanthropy might not be on your usual checklist. But it should be. Because your role isn’t just about growing and preserving wealth. It’s about helping clients live boldly. And for many clients, charitable giving is how they pursue their biggest dreams for the world. 

Today more than ever, their generosity matters. Communities are facing unprecedented challenges, and the charitable organizations that serve them are stretched thin.  

Your clients look to you for thought partnership. And with the right tools, you can help them become the changemakers they want to be. 

So this fall, flip the script. Don’t wait for your clients to ask. Start a conversation about giving. At the Minneapolis Foundation, we’re ready to help—with talking points, giving tools, and expert support tailored to your clients’ goals. 

Your clients have spent their lives working, running businesses, and building resources. As an expert in your field, you have helped them grow and manage their wealth. Now it’s time to help them grow their impact—and they want you to start that conversation. 

Here’s what we know:

• 90% of affluent clients want their advisor to talk about charitable giving within their first few meetings. 
• Less than half feel their advisors are good at discussing personal and charitable goals with them. 
• Among those who have discussed philanthropy with their advisors, only 17% say their advisor was the one to bring it up. 

This is your chance to change that. 

Yes, charitable giving has tax implications. But the most powerful conversations start with what your clients care about, not just what they can deduct. 

Here’s how to reframe common year-end scenarios: 

Scenario 1: A client in his 50s finalized the sale of his business earlier this year. He understands that making a large charitable gift would reduce his taxes. He wants to give back to his community and cares about education, but he doesn’t know which organizations he wants to support. 

Flip the script: Instead of focusing on the tax benefits, go deeper and engage in a conversation about what your client cares about. Try this: “Starting a DAF is a terrific first step to meaningful giving. By opening a fund at a community foundation, you’ll have access to philanthropic experts, learning opportunities, and other resources to help you make an impactful plan to support students and schools.” 

Scenario 2: A married couple in their mid-50s has three children in their 20s. Several years ago, they began making annual distributions into a commercially held DAF for tax purposes. These clients have used the DAF to donate to their alma mater, their kids’ schools, and a few nonprofits. The fund started with $100,000 and now has a balance of $300,000. 

Flip the script: Instead of simply scanning the numbers and recommending another DAF contribution, ask the next question. Try this: “It’s been an incredibly challenging year for the nonprofit sector. Let’s talk about getting those resources into communities you care about.”  

Scenario 3: A family has had a private foundation for about a decade. Five years ago, they began struggling to meet the foundation’s 5% annual giving requirement. Their advisor team helped them set up a DAF at a community foundation to hold some of those charitable assets while they figured out a strategy for their foundation. Now the DAF has grown to nearly $150,000, and the family still feels stuck.  

Flip the script: Instead of just advising the family to make another DAF gift to meet their 5% minimum, add value to your relationship by helping them address the root problem. Try this: “Your community foundation can help you clarify your charitable vision and strategy. Let’s connect with their team so you can get these resources flowing into the community.” 

Wherever your clients are on their giving path, we’re here to help you guide them. 

Open a Donor Advised Fund: A simple way to turn a year-end gift into the start of an impactful giving strategy. 

Transfer a DAF to a community foundation: Connect your clients to deep community knowledge and personalized support not available at commercial providers. 

Create an Investment Alliance: Continue managing your clients’ charitable assets—while we partner with you to help them give with confidence and clarity. 

Let’s make philanthropy a meaningful part of your year-end planning conversations. We’ll provide the tools. You bring the leadership. Visit our professional advisor resource page to get started.