The Lenawee Community Foundation is seeking nominations for three awards recognizing individuals whose service and leadership make a lasting difference in our community. The Lenawee Leadership Award, Stubnitz Award, and Incito Award will be presented at the Foundation’s Annual Celebration next spring.

“Lenawee County is stronger because of people who generously give their time, talents, and leadership to help others,” said Paula Trentman, Executive Vice President of the Lenawee Community Foundation. “These awards give us an opportunity to celebrate those individuals, share their stories, and recognize the difference they are making for the people and places we call home.”

Awards at a Glance

The Lenawee Leadership Award honors an individual or couple who exemplifies the principle that the future of our county will be determined by the quality of its leadership. Selection criteria include residency and volunteer service in Lenawee County, sustained leadership, and volunteerism in areas such as civic projects, culture, health, education, or social services. Formerly known as the Maple Leaf Award, the Lenawee Leadership Award reflects a countywide focus and recognizes leadership that enhances the quality of life in Lenawee.

The Stubnitz Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates exemplary commitment to Lenawee County through volunteer service with health and human service organizations and efforts to help meet the basic needs of local residents. The award is named in memory of Maurice Stubnitz, founder of Stubnitz-Greene Spring Corporation in Adrian and a dedicated community philanthropist.

The Incito Award honors an individual age 40 or younger who has emerged as a community leader through a commitment to volunteerism, philanthropy, and service with Lenawee Cares and other organizations throughout the community. Incito means to inspire, excite, spur, increase, hasten, or urge forward. The award recognizes an active volunteer who exemplifies a spirit of caring and community leadership.

The Lenawee Community Foundation is honored to recognize the volunteers and leaders whose generosity and service help bring health, happiness, and hope to Lenawee County, now and into the future.

Nominations are due Friday, Dec. 11, 2026. Nomination forms are available online at the Lenawee Community Foundation’s Awards page, https://lenaweecommunityfoundation.com/about-us/community-awards/.

Questions or requests for a nomination form may be directed to Kirsten Stiver at the Lenawee Community Foundation at kirsten@lenaweecf.com or 517-263-4696.

About Lenawee Community Foundation

The Lenawee Community Foundation is a charitable organization created by and for the community. By connecting people who care with causes that matter, the Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to strengthen Lenawee County today and for generations to come. Through grants, scholarships, community initiatives, and charitable funds, the Foundation helps bring health, happiness, and hope to our community, now and forever.

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For more information, please contact: Kirsten Stiver, 517-263-4696, kirsten@lenaweecf.com

The post Who inspires you? Nominate them for a Lenawee Community Foundation award appeared first on Lenawee Community Foundation.

Think about the different ways your assets may eventually be distributed. Some may pass through a will or revocable trust. Others, including IRAs, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and certain financial accounts, may pass according to beneficiary or transfer-on-death designations.

Creating the legacy you envision means thinking not only about who and what you want to support, but also how your charitable wishes will be carried out. If you’d like part of your estate to make a lasting difference through the Lenawee Community Foundation, you and your professional advisors might consider several approaches:

Name a fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation as a beneficiary of an IRA or other retirement account. You can generally designate a charitable beneficiary to receive all or a percentage of an IRA or retirement account while leaving other assets to family members or other beneficiaries. Retirement assets can be especially worthwhile to discuss with your professional advisors because of their potential tax advantages when left to a qualified charitable organization.

Leave a specific amount through your will or trust. You may choose to leave a particular dollar amount to establish or add to a fund at the Foundation. Your attorney can help incorporate the appropriate language into your estate planning documents.

Leave a percentage of your estate through your will or trust. Rather than specifying a dollar amount, you might direct a percentage of your estate to a charitable fund. Because the gift adjusts along with the value of your estate, this approach can offer flexibility as circumstances change over time.

Create a fund to support organizations or causes you love. Your estate gift could establish or add to a designated fund benefiting a favorite nonprofit or a field-of-interest fund supporting an area that has been especially meaningful to you.

Create a legacy that responds to Lenawee’s changing needs. An unrestricted gift to the Lenawee Community Foundation gives the Foundation flexibility to respond to the needs and opportunities of tomorrow, including those we cannot yet anticipate. It’s one way your generosity can continue bringing health, happiness, and hope to Lenawee County for generations to come.

These approaches don’t have to stand alone. Your charitable estate plan may include more than one asset, beneficiary designation, document, or type of fund. What matters most is that the pieces work together to reflect your wishes and the legacy you hope to leave.

National Estate Planning Awareness Week is about more than checking “make a will” off your to-do list. It’s an opportunity to look at your entire estate plan and consider whether your documents and beneficiary designations still reflect the people, causes, and community you care about most.

If charitable giving has been an important part of your life, we’d be honored to help you make it part of your legacy. Our team can work alongside your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor to explore charitable options and create a plan that carries your generosity forward, now and for generations to come.

Your legacy can tell the story of what mattered to you. We’re here to help you write the next chapter.

The post Estate planning: More than just a will appeared first on Lenawee Community Foundation.

Here’s what caught our attention.

Generous tech

Tech millionaires are turning to donor-advised funds to save on taxes while giving to charity
–CNBC

A wave of newly wealthy tech employees is using donor-advised funds to contribute appreciated company stock, potentially avoiding capital gains taxes, securing charitable deductions, and giving themselves time to decide which nonprofits to support. The trend is a good reminder for advisors that IPOs and other liquidity events can create significant charitable opportunities—and that the best results often come when charitable planning begins before the transaction. When clients begin talking about a potential exit, even one that may be years away, consider bringing our team into the conversation early.

Philanthropy beyond DAFs

Philanthropic Planning Is Wealth Management’s Next Competitive Frontier, Beyond DAFs
–InvestmentNews

Donor-advised funds are important tools, but they are not the whole philanthropic toolbox. This article explores why high-net-worth clients increasingly expect wealth advisors to help them consider a broader range of charitable structures and how that expertise can help advisors strengthen relationships not only with clients, but also with the next generation. The Foundation offers a range of fund types and charitable planning options that can help you and your clients build lifetime and legacy giving plans aligned with their financial and charitable goals.

Donor-advised fund insights

Five Core Truths About Donor-Advised Funds
–WealthManagement.com

This article takes on some common misconceptions about donor-advised funds, highlighting their usefulness for coordinating charitable giving and facilitating complex gifts, their significant grantmaking to charities, and their increasingly important role in charitable and succession planning. For advisors, the takeaway is that donor-advised funds have become an increasingly important part of the philanthropic landscape—and understanding how they actually work can help clients make better charitable planning decisions. Donor-advised funds are one of several charitable giving options our team can help you and your clients explore.

Even more donor-advised fund insights

Donor-Advised Fund Strategies For 2026
–Financial Advisor Magazine

This article looks at donor-advised funds through a 2026 planning lens, including how advisors can use donor-advised funds as part of broader tax and charitable strategies rather than simply as repositories for year-end gifts. The bigger opportunity is to help clients coordinate the timing, assets, and ultimate purpose of their charitable giving with the rest of their financial plans. Our team can work alongside you to help clients explore the charitable components of a coordinated giving strategy.

Big givers

Chickens, Pigs Could Be Big Winners From AI’s $300 Billion Philanthropy Wave
–Forbes

The AI boom is creating a new class of young, newly wealthy donors—and potentially an enormous new pool of charitable capital. This fascinating article explores how some of these donors are gravitating toward measurable, evidence-driven causes such as farm-animal welfare, illustrating both how sudden wealth can reshape philanthropy and why advisors working with newly wealthy clients have an opportunity to help turn rapidly created fortunes into intentional charitable plans. Closer to home, our knowledge of Lenawee County’s needs and nonprofits can be a valuable resource as you help clients of all ages and stages identify opportunities for meaningful community impact.

More big giving

Most Billionaires Practice ‘Slow Philanthropy.’ MacKenzie Scott Is a Major Exception
–Fortune

Why do people with enormous charitable capacity sometimes give relatively little of their wealth away each year? This article explores “slow philanthropy” and contrasts it with MacKenzie Scott’s faster, trust-based approach to giving. It raises an interesting issue for advisors: Sometimes effective charitable planning is not only about choosing the right structure or maximizing tax benefits, but also about helping clients feel comfortable actually putting charitable resources to work. Our team can be a sounding board as you help clients consider not only how to give, but also what they hope their generosity will accomplish.

Celebrating a life of giving

Dolly Parton’s Other Legacy: A Fortune Given Away, Dollar by Dollar

–New York Times

Dolly Parton’s philanthropy was unusually practical and personal, directing her wealth toward needs she understood firsthand—from childhood literacy and disaster relief in Tennessee to wildlife conservation and COVID-19 vaccine research. Her approach emphasized simple, direct action, and trust in recipients, a powerful example of how personal values can shape a meaningful charitable legacy.

Her generosity is especially close to home for us. The Lenawee Community Foundation is the local partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Lenawee County. Through our Lenawee Imagination Library program, we raise the funds needed to cover the local cost of participation, allowing Lenawee County children to receive a free book delivered to their homes each month at no cost to their families.

Dolly’s commitment to giving with purpose continues to be both inspirational and aspirational for our team, the advisors we work alongside, and the donors who make this work possible.

IRS has its eyes on assets

IRS Eyes Charitable Donation Abuse in New Audits, Tax Pros Say
–Bloomberg Law

The IRS is taking a closer look at charitable contributions of hard-to-value assets, including privately held business interests and art, with tax professionals reporting particular scrutiny of valuation, qualified appraisals, and substantiation requirements. For advisors, this is an important reminder that complex charitable gifts require careful planning and documentation— that bringing our team into the conversation early can help address the charitable side of the transaction before the client takes action.

Exits and opportunities

How Advanced Charitable Exit Planning Drives AUM Growth
–Financial Advisor Magazine

Business exits can be important charitable planning moments, particularly when advisors raise the subject before a transaction is already underway. This article explores how strategies involving charitable trusts, donor-advised funds, and gifts of business interests can help address a business owner’s tax and philanthropic objectives while also helping advisors deepen relationships and potentially retain more assets under management after the sale. It’s another good reminder to bring charitable planning into the conversation as early as possible.

The checkbook (cringe) lives on!

Retirees Over 70½ Can Send $111,000 a Year From an IRA to Charity Tax-Free. The Average One Donates From Checking Instead.
–24/7 Wall St.

Many charitably inclined retirees are still giving from their checking accounts even though a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) may offer a more tax-efficient route for eligible IRA owners. The article is a useful reminder that advisors can add value simply by asking how a client is making charitable gifts: Sometimes changing the asset or account used to make the same gift can produce a very different tax result. Our team can help your clients explore eligible ways to make QCD gifts, including, where appropriate, gifts to designated, field-of-interest, and unrestricted funds. Remember that QCDs cannot be made to donor-advised funds.

What’s the takeaway?

Even a quick skim of these articles reveals a common thread: Charitable planning opportunities are showing up everywhere—from newly minted tech wealth and business exits to retirement accounts, complex assets, and the rapidly evolving world of donor-advised funds. Just as important, the articles reinforce that good charitable planning is about more than finding a tax break or selecting a giving vehicle. It’s about helping clients make thoughtful decisions about what to give, when to give, and what they hope their generosity will accomplish.

When those conversations come up, our team is here as a resource. We welcome the opportunity to work alongside you and your clients to turn charitable goals into thoughtful plans and meaningful community impact.

The post Reading roundup: What’s worth a skim in charitable planning appeared first on Lenawee Community Foundation.

And that planning is increasingly important. Americans are living longer, and our population is aging. The share of Americans age 65 and older has grown from 12.4% in 2004 to roughly 18% today, with projections estimating that about one in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2030. Research also indicates that 37% of extended families of older adults in the United States include an older relative with dementia.

Against this backdrop, families are having important conversations about wills, trusts, financial accounts, health care wishes, and other plans for the future. Your charitable intentions deserve a place in those conversations, too.

No matter your age, it’s worth considering what you want your generosity to accomplish over the long term. Perhaps you’ve supported the same organizations for decades and want that support to continue. Maybe there’s a particular cause you hope your family will continue to champion. Or perhaps you want a portion of your estate to remain in Lenawee County, responding to needs and opportunities that may arise long after your lifetime.

Talking about those wishes now, and putting an appropriate plan around them, can provide valuable clarity for you, your family, and your professional advisors.

Make Your Intentions Clear

Planning ahead becomes especially important as we age. Health circumstances can change, and some people experience changes in memory or decision-making capacity. Family members may also take a greater role in helping manage a loved one’s financial affairs.

When charitable intentions haven’t been discussed or documented, questions can arise. Imagine a parent who has supported a particular organization for 30 years and wants that support to continue. Family members who understand the history behind that generosity are better equipped to honor those wishes than family members encountering them for the first time.

Making your intentions known today can help ensure the people you trust understand not only what you want to accomplish, but why it matters to you.

Share the Story Behind Your Giving

A charitable plan can provide valuable context for family members and advisors. Depending on your goals, that might mean establishing a fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation during your lifetime, documenting plans for a future charitable fund, including charitable provisions in your estate plan, or involving family members in giving while you can experience that philanthropy together.

Those conversations can be about much more than money. They offer an opportunity to share the experiences, people, and values that shaped your generosity. And when children and grandchildren are included, they have an opportunity to share what matters to them, too.

In this way, charitable planning can help pass along not only assets, but also a family’s values and love of community.

Leave Room for Life to Change

Making your wishes known doesn’t mean locking yourself into decisions that can never change. Your interests may evolve. Organizations change. New community needs emerge. Your financial circumstances may change, too.

The goal is clarity, not rigidity. By discussing your charitable intentions and establishing a plan, you create a foundation that you, your family, and your advisors can revisit as circumstances change.

The Lenawee Community Foundation can help you build flexibility into your charitable plans, including options that allow your generosity to respond to the changing needs of Lenawee County for generations to come.

Plan Ahead to Provide Peace of Mind

Financial institutions and professional advisors have important safeguards and procedures to help protect older adults when questions arise about unusual transactions, diminished capacity, financial exploitation, or undue influence.

Thoughtful planning can help reduce uncertainty before those questions ever arise. Ideally, your family and advisors won’t have to determine your charitable intentions for the first time during a difficult or stressful moment. Instead, they’ll have a clearer understanding of the wishes you’ve already shared and documented.

One of the most meaningful gifts you can give the people you trust is clarity about what matters to you.

Start the Conversation

At any stage of life, the Lenawee Community Foundation can help you explore important questions: What do you want your giving to accomplish? Which organizations or causes mean the most to you? Would you like children or grandchildren to be involved? Should your giving continue beyond your lifetime? How much flexibility would you like your plan to have as organizations and community needs change?

Our team can work alongside your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor to help translate those answers into a charitable plan that complements your broader estate and financial plans.

Planning ahead can’t answer every question the future may bring. But it can give the people you trust a clearer roadmap for carrying out your wishes and continuing the generosity that has mattered to you throughout your life.

Your charitable legacy begins with a conversation. We’d be honored to be part of it.

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But families change over time. Children and grandchildren may move to different parts of the country. Board meetings can become harder to schedule. And responsibilities such as tax filings, investment oversight, recordkeeping, and compliance with complex rules may begin to take time and energy away from the joy of giving.

For some families, that leads to an important question: Could a donor-advised fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation offer a simpler way to carry our charitable legacy forward?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But if your family is beginning to explore the possibility, these five steps can help guide the conversation with your family, professional advisors, and the Foundation.

1. Take Stock of What’s Working and What’s Not

Start by considering how well your private foundation serves your family today. Is it still helping you accomplish what you hoped it would? Are family members actively engaged, or has much of the responsibility fallen to one or two people?

Sometimes the answer isn’t that the private foundation has stopped working. It’s simply that your family’s circumstances and needs have evolved. Taking an honest look at where you are today can help you determine what you want your philanthropy to look like tomorrow.

2. Bring Your Professional Advisors Into the Conversation

Transitioning from a private foundation to a donor-advised fund involves important legal, tax, and financial considerations. Your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor can help you evaluate the options, understand the tax and legal implications, and determine whether a transition makes sense for your family’s circumstances.

The Lenawee Community Foundation can be part of that conversation from the beginning. Our team can work alongside your professional advisors to explain how a donor-advised fund works, answer questions about the transition, and help you explore ways to preserve the identity and charitable purpose your family has built over the years.

In many cases, your donor-advised fund can continue under a familiar family or foundation name, allowing the legacy you’ve created to carry forward while simplifying the work behind it.

3. Consider Who Will Carry Your Giving Forward

One of the strengths of a donor-advised fund is flexibility. As you consider a transition, our team can help you think through who should serve as advisors to your new fund.

You can name family members to recommend grants today and designate successor advisors to help future generations participate in your family’s philanthropy. Much like a private foundation’s board of directors, fund advisors can play an important role in carrying forward your family’s charitable vision, but without many of the administrative responsibilities that come with operating a private foundation.

4. Make the Transition

If your family decides to move forward, the transition can often be handled efficiently, although careful planning is important. Generally, the private foundation distributes its remaining assets to the Lenawee Community Foundation to establish or add to the donor-advised fund after reserving sufficient funds for final accounting, legal, tax preparation, and other closing expenses.

Your professional advisors can then help complete the foundation’s final tax return and any required state filings, while our team helps ensure your new fund is ready to continue your family’s charitable work.

5. Keep Making a Difference

Once the transition is complete, your family can continue supporting the organizations and causes you care about, often with significantly less administrative responsibility. Instead of spending time on compliance and paperwork, you can focus more of your energy on what inspired your foundation in the first place: the joy of giving and making a difference.

And your family’s philanthropy can continue to evolve. Whether you’re supporting longtime favorite organizations, exploring changing community needs, or involving children and grandchildren in giving decisions, the Foundation can provide local knowledge and personalized support to help you make your charitable impact meaningful for generations to come.

Every family’s circumstances are different, and transitioning from a private foundation to a donor-advised fund is an important decision. If you’re wondering whether it could be the right fit for your family, we’d be honored to be part of the conversation.

Together with your professional advisors, we can help you explore your options and find a path that honors what you’ve built while carrying your family’s generosity forward, now and for generations to come.

The post From private foundation to donor-advised fund: A five-point checklist appeared first on Lenawee Community Foundation.

—“Whereas careful estate planning can greatly assist Americans in preserving assets built over a lifetime for the benefit of family, heirs, or charities.”

—“Whereas estate planning involves many considerations, including safekeeping of important documents, documentation of assets, operation of law in the various States, preparation of legal instruments, insurance, availability of trust arrangements, charitable giving, inter vivos care of the benefactor, and other important factors.”

—“Whereas alternatives to disposition of assets after death, such as planned gift-giving, may accomplish a benefactor’s goal of providing for his or her family and favorite charities.”

What’s especially noteworthy is the intentional inclusion of charitable giving throughout the resolution. For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a good time to consider whether you’re asking each client a simple question that can open an important conversation sometimes overlooked in the estate planning process:

“Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?”

Sounds simple, right? It’s just thirteen words. Still, advisors may not address charitable giving as consistently or thoroughly as clients would like, according to the 2026 TPI Study of the Philanthropic Conversation, which surveyed high-net-worth clients and wealth advisors, trust and estate attorneys, accountants, and other tax professionals.

Here’s what stands out in the findings:

—80% of HNW clients agreed that advisors have an obligation to engage them in conversations about charitable activity.

—93% of clients who discussed philanthropy with advisors considered the advisor’s role important.

—While 99% were satisfied overall, only 61% reported being very satisfied with charitable planning discussions.

The key takeaway: There may be an opportunity to go deeper. Keep in mind that even clients who have never thought of themselves as philanthropists may welcome the opportunity to fully discuss and structure their charitable intentions beyond their lifetimes, such as through a charitable bequest to a favorite organization or a fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation, or by naming a charity as the beneficiary of retirement assets. Raising the subject in more than a cursory way can also lead to broader conversations about family, values, getting the next generation involved, and legacy—conversations that can help you better understand what matters to your clients.

So ask the thirteen-word question—“Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?”—but don’t stop there. If the client answers “yes,” listen closely to what they say. As the conversation develops, consider bringing our team in as a resource. We can help you and your client explore giving vehicles and approaches that align with the client’s intentions while you continue to guide the overall legal, tax, and financial planning.

We’re honored to be your first call when charitable giving comes up in conversations with your clients. Five of our favorite words to hear from tax and estate planning advisors are, “Could you help us with …” The answer is always: We’d be happy to.

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The annual outing raises funds to help cover the cost of processing donated deer, turning the generosity of local hunters and donors into nutritious meals for neighbors throughout Lenawee County. Venison is distributed through local food pantries and meal programs, helping provide a valuable source of protein to individuals and families facing food insecurity.

In 2025, local hunters donated enough venison to provide 12,651.5 pounds of lean protein, the equivalent of nearly 51,000 meals for Lenawee County neighbors. Since Hunters Helping Lenawee began in 2010, the program has connected hunters, donors, processors, and local food providers around a shared goal: helping ensure our neighbors have food on the table.

“Hunters Helping Lenawee is a wonderful example of what can happen when people throughout our community come together around a shared purpose,” said LCF Executive Vice President Paula Trentman. “Every hunter who donates a deer, every business that sponsors the outing, and every golfer who participates helps bring health, happiness, and hope to neighbors right here in Lenawee County.”

Registration is $400 per four-person team. Hole, cart, and team sponsorship opportunities are also available. Proceeds from the outing directly support Hunters Helping Lenawee and the cost of processing donated venison.

To register, become a sponsor, or learn more, contact Madison Roberts, Grants & Programs Fellow, at Madison@lenaweecf.com or 517.263.4696.

About Hunters Helping Lenawee:

Hunters Helping Lenawee, a program of the Lenawee Community Foundation, connects local hunters with opportunities to donate deer that are professionally processed and distributed through food pantries and meal programs across Lenawee County. Since 2010, the program has helped turn a local natural resource into nutritious meals for neighbors in need.

About Lenawee Community Foundation:

The Lenawee Community Foundation is a charitable organization created by and for the community. By collecting donations and investing them for lasting impact, the Foundation funds grants, scholarships, and local initiatives to address community needs, support nonprofits, and enhance the wellbeing of Lenawee County. More than just an organization, the Lenawee Community Foundation is an opportunity for individuals, families, and businesses to leverage the power of collective giving to make sure their community stays strong and supported for years to come.

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For more information, please contact: Kirsten Stiver, 517-263-4696, kirsten@lenaweecf.com

The post Hunters Helping Lenawee Golf Outing returns September 27 to help put local venison on the tables of neighbors in need appeared first on Lenawee Community Foundation.

Understandably, most conversations and commentary about this transfer focus on the assets themselves. Who will inherit the family business? What will happen to the investment portfolio? How should the estate plan be structured? Naturally, those are important questions! But many families are beginning to ask something deeper: “What values do we want to pass along, too?”

A recent Kiplinger article exploring the Great Wealth Transfer makes the point that the strongest family legacies are built not simply by transferring assets, but by intentionally passing along values of generosity through shared charitable experiences and conversations. It encourages families to involve younger generations in philanthropy early, making giving a collaborative, multigenerational experience rather than a one-time financial transaction.

For many people, philanthropy is one of those values. If you’re among them, here’s food for thought:

—A charitable legacy isn’t simply about the gifts that are made after you’re gone. It’s also about helping your children and grandchildren understand why giving has been important throughout your life. In many ways, the conversations, traditions, and shared decisions surrounding philanthropy can become just as meaningful as the financial inheritance itself.

—Now is a great time to begin mapping out your legacy if you’ve not done so already. For starters, August is widely recognized as Make-A-Will Month, in large part because the downtime of late summer offers a perfect window to address open estate planning issues.

—According to the latest Giving USA report, charitable bequests totaled more than $62 billion in 2025, increasing nearly 20% over the previous year. Bequests were the fastest-growing source of charitable giving, underscoring how important estate gifts have become to nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve.

—A charitable bequest can be surprisingly simple. You might leave a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to your donor-advised fund, or designate another type of charitable fund at the community foundation, to continue supporting the organizations and community priorities that matter most to you.

—For example, by naming your children or other loved ones as successor advisors of your donor-advised fund at the community foundation, you’re inviting them to continue the family’s tradition of generosity by recommending grants to the organizations and causes they believe will make a difference. This opportunity is itself a meaningful inheritance!

—For individuals and couples with especially large estates, charitable planning also may reduce the federal estate tax ultimately borne by the estate, helping preserve more of the remaining assets for heirs. This consideration applies to relatively few families because the federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per individual in 2026, but when it does apply, it really matters because gifts and bequests to qualified charities generally are deductible in determining the taxable estate. Your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor can help determine whether estate tax planning is relevant to your particular circumstances.

—Even when estate taxes are not a concern, a charitable bequest can still become one of the most meaningful gifts you make. You may, of course, provide for family members while also supporting the causes and organizations that have mattered throughout your life.

Estate plans are designed to transfer wealth. A charitable legacy has the power to transfer something even more lasting. The Lenawee Community Foundation would be honored to work with you and your estate planning advisors to arrange charitable bequests, establish a donor-advised or other charitable fund, and build a legacy your family can continue long into the future.

The post A “big” inheritance may not be all financial appeared first on Lenawee Community Foundation.

To be considered, projects must:

1. Demonstrate community value and build youth assets.
2. Provide evidence of active youth participation, youth volunteerism, and partnerships with the Lenawee Community Foundation and its programs.
3. Acknowledge that submission does not guarantee funding.
4. Be written by or in collaboration with youth.

Preference will be given to projects that benefit communities across Lenawee County and commit to raising matching dollars.

Lenawee YOUTH Council members will review grant applications for eligibility and will make recommendations to the Lenawee Community Foundation Board of Directors.

Applications are due by Oct. 1, 2026, and recipients will be notified by Dec. 1, 2026. All grant applications must be submitted electronically. To apply, visit https://goapply2.akoyago.com/lenaweecf. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation before submitting a request.

The Lenawee YOUTH Council is open to all youth ages 12–21 in Lenawee County, offering leadership development, community service opportunities, and a voice in shaping the future of their community.

For questions or assistance, please contact Madison Roberts at 517.263.4696 or email madison@lenaweecf.com.

About Lenawee Community Foundation:

The Lenawee Community Foundation is a charitable organization created by and for the community. By collecting donations and investing them for lasting impact, the Foundation funds grants, scholarships, and local initiatives to address community needs, support nonprofits, and enhance the wellbeing of Lenawee County. More than just an organization, the Lenawee Community Foundation is an opportunity for individuals, families, and businesses to leverage the power of collective giving to make sure their community stays strong and supported for years to come.

### For more information, please contact: Kirsten Stiver, 517-263-4696,

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Whether financial or personal, major milestone moments often bring a sense of accomplishment. They can also bring something else: an opportunity to pause and reflect—and be smart about the next big move. For many people, that’s when the questions start changing. At some point along the way, instead of asking themselves, “What’s my next big thing?” they shift to “What matters most?” and “What kind of impact do I want to leave behind?” That’s one reason so many charitable conversations begin after a significant financial event, which is why significant financial events often lead to high-profile philanthropy announcements, as recently occurred in connection with the sale of the Seattle Seahawks.

Many people in this situation find they have the time and flexibility to think more intentionally about the causes, organizations, and communities that have shaped their lives—especially now that they have the financial resources to act on their intentions. Some want to express gratitude for opportunities they’ve received. Others hope to create opportunities for future generations or honor family members. Still others simply want to make sure the success they’ve enjoyed continues benefiting others for years to come.

As you look ahead in your life and anticipate big milestones, consider taking steps early so that you’re prepared to implement a philanthropy plan. For example, here are a few things you can do even years before a significant liquidity event:

—Consider establishing a donor-advised fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation so you can get familiar with the mechanics and the resources available at the community foundation. You’ll be able to set aside charitable dollars while taking the time to thoughtfully consider which organizations you would like to support over the months and years ahead, especially following a financial transaction.

—In addition to your donor-advised fund, you might also want to establish one or more designated funds to provide lasting support for the specific organizations you care about. These funds can provide support during your lifetime or receive an estate gift under your will or trust. 

—Some people also establish a field-of-interest fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation as part of their charitable giving “portfolio” to address particular community needs, as well as unrestricted funds that allow the Lenawee Community Foundation to respond to the area’s greatest opportunities for generations to come.

Remember, in the case of private business interests, from a capital gains perspective, you may be far better off establishing charitable arrangements well before a transaction is underway. Please consult your tax advisors and the Lenawee Community Foundation team as you think about an exit plan for your closely held business. Of course, if you’ve recently experienced a liquidity event and haven’t yet established a charitable plan, it is not too late!  

Whether you’ve already experienced a significant financial event—or expect one in the future—we’d love to talk. The Lenawee Community Foundation can help you explore charitable options that reflect your values, support the causes you care about, and create a legacy that extends far beyond a single moment of success.

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