What’s going on here?

Business succession planning is becoming increasingly important as a growing share of American wealth is tied to privately held companies. According to the National Center for the Middle Market at The Ohio State University, approximately 200,000 U.S. companies generate annual revenues between $10 million and $1 billion. At the same time, a recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted the growing ranks of wealthy Americans whose fortunes were built through private business ownership and equity growth. For many of these business owners, a succession event may represent the largest liquidity event of their lifetime. For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, these trends point to a growing need for thoughtful planning around business transitions, wealth transfer, and charitable legacy strategies.

What is most important for advisors to know?

The single most important takeaway is that charitable planning should be part of the succession conversation as early as possible. Whether a client is preparing to sell a closely held business, transfer ownership to family members, explore an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), or simply begin thinking about life after the company, charitable planning deserves a seat at the table early in the process.

Too often, philanthropy enters the conversation only after a transaction is well underway or already complete. By then, some of the most effective planning windows may be closed. By asking the right questions early, you can help your clients support meaningful causes, potentially reduce taxes, involve family members in giving, and create a lasting charitable legacy.

What questions should I ask my clients?

Here are four “must ask” questions and why they are important, plus a word of caution.

1. Have you thought about including charitable giving in your business succession plan?

Many business owners have most of their wealth tied up in their companies. When a sale or ownership transition occurs, the resulting tax consequences can be significant. In some situations, contributing a portion of closely held business interests to charity before a transaction may allow a client to support charitable goals while potentially reducing capital gains tax exposure.

Again, timing is key. Once letters of intent are signed or a transaction becomes binding, certain charitable planning opportunities may no longer be available. That’s why advisors should raise charitable planning discussions long before the deal reaches the finish line.

Remember that charitable planning is not limited to third-party sales. Clients considering ESOPs, family transfers, recapitalizations, redemptions, or other succession strategies may also benefit from exploring charitable opportunities.

2. Are there causes or organizations that helped shape your business, your employees, or your family’s values?

Business succession often prompts reflection. Many owners begin thinking not only about what they have built, but also about the communities, schools, nonprofits, and organizations that contributed to their success. This conversation can help clients identify charitable priorities that might otherwise be left unexplored. It also creates an opportunity to discuss how a business transition could become a catalyst for meaningful community impact instead of simply a financial event.

3. Would you like your children or grandchildren to be involved in charitable decisions after the transition?

For many families, succession planning is about more than transferring wealth. It is also about passing along values. A donor-advised fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation can provide a flexible way for family members to participate in charitable decisions over time. Rather than making all charitable decisions immediately after a sale, a family can establish a fund, potentially involve multiple generations in recommending grants, and create a structure that supports ongoing conversations about philanthropy and community impact.

4. Are you interested in creating a charitable fund that can support multiple organizations over time?

Many business owners want to make a significant charitable commitment during a liquidity event but are not yet ready to determine exactly which organizations should receive support. A donor-advised fund can help bridge that gap. Clients can contribute assets during a high-income year, potentially receive a charitable deduction if eligible, and then recommend grants to charitable organizations over time. This flexibility allows clients to separate the timing of a charitable contribution from the timing of individual grant decisions.

A word of caution

Some clients may initially assume that a private foundation is the best vehicle for implementing their charitable goals alongside a business exit or succession plan. However, private foundations can be subject to complex rules governing self-dealing, excess business holdings, required distributions, investments, and other activities, not to mention the unfavorable tax deductibility rules for gifts of closely held stock to a private foundation as compared with a donor-advised fund. For many business owners, a donor-advised fund can provide a simpler alternative with significantly less administrative burden and, in many cases, more favorable tax treatment.

Our team is happy to work alongside you and your clients to explore charitable planning opportunities anytime you encounter a pending business succession situation. We’re honored to be your partner in helping clients create lasting impact through charitable giving.

The post Business succession planning: Four questions and one word of caution appeared first on Lenawee Community Foundation.

Many people create a charitable giving plan during a particular season of life. Perhaps you established a donor-advised fund after selling a business, included charitable gifts in your estate plan when your children were young, or began supporting favorite causes after retirement.

Over time, however, your life changes—and so does our community. Families grow, financial circumstances shift, priorities evolve, and new opportunities to make a difference emerge. Organizations you care about may expand their missions or collaborate with others to address changing community needs. Just as you periodically review your financial and estate plans, it’s worth taking time to revisit your charitable plans as well.

If it has been a few years since you’ve reflected on your charitable goals, our team would be honored to be part of the conversation. Here are a few questions to consider:

Are the causes I support today the same ones I cared about ten years ago?

Many donors find that their interests evolve over time. You may have become passionate about education, environmental conservation, healthcare, animal welfare, faith-based initiatives, or other causes that were not top priorities years ago. Your charitable giving can evolve right alongside you.

Does my charitable plan still reflect my family’s values?

Children and grandchildren often develop interests and perspectives of their own. Many families discover that charitable giving provides a meaningful opportunity to discuss generosity, shared values, and community impact across generations. Those conversations often become part of the family’s legacy.

Have I reviewed my retirement account beneficiary designations recently?

If you’ve already worked with your advisors to update beneficiary designations, that’s wonderful. Even so, it’s wise to revisit those documents every few years. If you haven’t considered naming your fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation or another charity as a beneficiary of IRAs and other retirement accounts, it may be worth exploring the charitable and tax advantages with your professional advisors. We’re always happy to work alongside your attorney, CPA, or financial advisor to help carry out your charitable intentions.

Do I know how local needs have changed?

Communities are always evolving, and Lenawee County is no exception. While many longstanding needs remain, new opportunities to strengthen our community continue to emerge. The Lenawee Community Foundation team stays closely connected with local nonprofit organizations and community leaders, helping donors understand where philanthropy can make the greatest difference today—and tomorrow—right here in Lenawee County.

Am I making my giving as simple as possible?

Giving should be meaningful, not complicated. Many donors appreciate opportunities to simplify their philanthropy. Whether through a donor-advised fund, another type of fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation, or a combination of giving strategies, we can help you create an approach that is organized, flexible, and aligned with your goals.

Refreshing your charitable plan doesn’t always require major changes. Sometimes a simple conversation is enough to confirm that everything remains on track. Other times, donors discover new opportunities to strengthen their impact, engage family members, or support emerging community needs.

Whatever season of life you’re in, we’re here to help. It’s our privilege to partner with individuals and families who care about Lenawee County, helping ensure their generosity continues to reflect their values and create lasting impact—for today and for future generations.

We look forward to the conversation.

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In many of these conversations, parents and grandparents ask how they can involve teens. The teenage years are a wonderful time to begin exploring philanthropy together. Teens are old enough to understand community challenges, develop passions of their own, and make thoughtful decisions about how they want to make a difference.

Research supports what many families have experienced firsthand. A landmark study published in the Journal of Adolescence found that altruistic behaviors—such as helping others and serving the community—not only appeal to adolescents, but actively raise their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.

Even with the best intentions, getting teens involved can sometimes feel challenging. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are ten simple ways to begin.

1. Ask what they care about

Many adults begin by talking about charities they support. Instead, start by asking your teen what matters most to them. They may be passionate about animals, the environment, education, healthcare, mental health, or helping neighbors in need. Listening first creates opportunities for meaningful conversations and deeper community engagement.

2. Volunteer together

Giving involves more than writing checks. Spending even just an hour volunteering as a family can help teens see firsthand how nonprofit organizations strengthen our community and why charitable support matters.

3. Let them help make giving decisions

If your family has a donor-advised fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation, consider inviting your teen to recommend a portion of your annual grants to nonprofit organizations they believe in. Even small decisions can help build confidence and encourage thoughtful conversations about generosity. Some families even choose to establish a donor-advised fund for a child or grandchild when they reach adulthood, using cash or appreciated assets to help launch a lifetime of charitable giving.

Looking for another meaningful way to inspire philanthropy? Encourage your teen to explore the Lenawee YOUTH Council. Through the Council, young leaders learn about community needs, make real grant decisions, and help direct charitable dollars where they can make the greatest impact. Over the past two decades, Lenawee YOUTH Council members have awarded more than $1.1 million in grants and community projects, bringing health, happiness, and hope to their peers and the broader community.

4. Visit local nonprofits

Many nonprofit organizations welcome visitors and offer tours or informational meetings. Seeing an organization’s work firsthand often leaves a lasting impression. Even a short visit can spark meaningful conversations. Our team is always happy to suggest organizations and help make introductions.

5. Encourage curiosity

Invite your teen to research a cause they care about and learn about organizations working to address it. This helps develop critical thinking while introducing concepts like nonprofit missions, effectiveness, and community impact. If you’re looking for ideas, we’re always happy to recommend resources. The Lenawee YOUTH Council is a program of the Lenawee Community Foundation where students gain leadership experience, meet new people, and see firsthand how their ideas can create lasting change—right here at home.

6. Share your family’s story

Charitable giving often reflects deeply held values. Sharing stories about why your family supports certain causes can help teens understand that philanthropy is about more than financial gifts, it’s about creating positive change. Those personal stories often become lasting family traditions.

7. Help them give their own money

Whether it is a portion of an allowance, earnings from a summer job, or birthday money, encouraging teens to make their own charitable gifts can be a powerful learning experience. It always feels more “real” to spend your own money, and charitable giving is no exception. When young people choose to give, they begin to see themselves as part of something bigger.

8. Introduce teens to community leaders

Think of all the people you know who are making a difference every day—whether they work for a nonprofit, volunteer, serve on a board, or lead community initiatives. Meeting people who are improving Lenawee County can inspire teens to imagine how they might make an impact, too.

9. Include them in Lenawee Community Foundation events

Many Lenawee Community Foundation events offer opportunities to learn about community needs, celebrate local impact, and connect with others who care about Lenawee County. For teens who want to become even more involved, the Lenawee YOUTH Council offers hands-on opportunities to build leadership skills, participate in grantmaking, and make a difference alongside their peers. Ask us about upcoming events and programs that may be a great fit.

10. Focus on progress, not perfection

There is no single right way to nurture generosity. The goal isn’t to create a philanthropist overnight. Instead, create opportunities for curiosity, learning, and participation. Small moments today can become lifelong habits of generosity tomorrow.

One of the greatest gifts we can give the next generation is the confidence to make a difference. At the Lenawee Community Foundation, we’re honored to help families build a legacy of generosity that strengthens Lenawee County, now and for future generations.

Is there a teen in your life who wants to make a difference?

The Lenawee YOUTH Council empowers young people ages 12–21 to build leadership skills, learn about community needs, and help shape the future of Lenawee County through service and philanthropy.Explore the Lenawee YOUTH Council

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Indeed, recent headlines are a reminder that initial public offerings can create significant charitable planning opportunities. For example, CNBC’s article on SpaceX millionaires and wealth management, The Wall Street Journal’s “Tech’s Next IPO Wave Promises a Charitable Windfall,” and Business Insider’s coverage of newly wealthy SpaceX employees all point to the same theme: Liquidity events can quickly turn founders, executives, early employees, and investors into high-net-worth charitable clients.

Of course, for attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, the key is to bring up the topic of charitable planning as early as possible—ideally before shares are sold and before clients make irrevocable tax, investment, or estate planning decisions.

You may be curious about how IPOs and charitable planning might come together for your clients and how the Lenawee Community Foundation can help! Consider three scenarios for inspiration:

Scenario 1: Founder or executive with highly appreciated stock

A founder or executive approaching an IPO may be holding shares with very low basis and significant expected appreciation. Depending on timing, restrictions, and tax rules, contributing a portion of appreciated shares to a fund at the Foundation may help your client support charitable goals while potentially reducing exposure to capital gains tax. A donor-advised fund, field-of-interest fund, or designated fund, for example, can allow the client to create a long-term charitable strategy while maintaining flexibility after the IPO dust settles.

Scenario 2: Employee with a sudden wealth event

As recent SpaceX coverage illustrates, IPOs can create thousands of newly wealthy employees who may never have needed sophisticated charitable planning before. These clients may be juggling concentrated stock positions, tax liabilities, estate planning needs, and family conversations about wealth. A donor-advised fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation can provide a simple, organized way to set aside charitable dollars in a high-income year and then recommend grants over time as the client becomes more intentional about giving. This strategy is called “bunching.”

Scenario 3: Investor or family seeking legacy and multigenerational community impact

Some clients who benefit from IPO activity may already have significant wealth and want to use the liquidity event to formalize a philanthropic legacy. These clients may be good candidates for multiple charitable funds, such as a donor-advised fund for flexible family grantmaking, a scholarship fund to support education, and an unrestricted or field-of-interest fund to address changing community needs over time. Our team can work alongside you and your client’s full advisory team to align tax planning, family goals, and charitable impact.

Finally, and importantly, what’s the common thread across all three scenarios? Timing. Once an IPO, sale, or lock-up expiration is underway, some planning options may be limited. Advisors who ask charitable questions and bring the LCF team into the conversation early can help clients turn a major financial event into meaningful support for the causes they care about.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss clients’ charitable opportunities related to IPOs, appreciated stock, business interests, other complex assets—and anything else related to philanthropy. We’re here to help. It is our honor to be your first call on matters of charitable giving.

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Charitable planning beats AI?

In the article “Why Charitable Efforts Are the Advisor’s Edge in an AI-Driven World” appearing in Financial Advisor Magazine, the author suggests that charitable planning may become an increasingly significant way for advisors to differentiate themselves as artificial intelligence automates more traditional planning and investment functions. The article argues that conversations about philanthropy, legacy, and personal values create opportunities for advisors to build deeper client relationships in ways that technology cannot easily replicate, reinforcing the advisor’s role as a trusted counselor rather than simply a technical expert.

Donor-advised funds continue to grow. . .

In Financial Advisor Magazine‘s article “Making Sense of the DAF Surge: Five Things Financial Advisors Should Know,” the author takes a look at the continued growth of donor-advised funds and the factors driving their popularity. Among the key takeaways are that donor-advised funds simplify charitable giving, allow donors to separate the timing of tax deductions from grantmaking decisions, and facilitate gifts of appreciated assets. The article also notes that many clients increasingly expect charitable planning to be integrated into broader wealth management conversations, making familiarity with donor-advised fund strategies an important competency for advisors.

. . .and that is good news for charities.

The article “DAF Fundraising Report: Nonprofit Takeaways” on Candid’s website highlights findings showing that donor-advised fund donors are often highly engaged philanthropists who give repeatedly and frequently make larger charitable gifts over time. The report encourages nonprofits to strengthen relationships with donor-advised fund donors, improve stewardship efforts, and make it easier for donors to recommend grants through their charitable giving accounts. This article is useful to advisors because it connects the dots between donors, donor-advised funds, and nonprofit organizations.

What’s the takeaway?

Remember that our team can provide a wide range of solutions for your clients’ charitable giving needs, including donor-advised funds, legacy planning, information about community needs and nonprofits, and ways to involve family members in philanthropy. We’re here to be a trusted charitable giving resource for you and your clients. 

Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in serving our community.

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Over time, many donors discover that they want something more. They want to learn about local needs, connect with nonprofits making a difference right here in Lenawee County, involve family members in giving decisions, and work with a trusted local partner who understands the place they call home. For these donors, transferring a donor-advised fund to the Lenawee Community Foundation can be a natural next step.

The good news is that moving a donor-advised fund is often easier than people expect. Here’s a simple look at how the process works.

Step 1: Start a Conversation

The first step is simply to reach out. Our team will take time to learn about your charitable goals, answer your questions, and explore how a donor-advised fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation can help you create the impact you envision.

Many donors are surprised to learn that they don’t have to choose between convenience and local expertise. In addition to the flexibility of a donor-advised fund, you’ll gain personalized guidance, deep community knowledge, and a long-term partner committed to strengthening Lenawee County.

Step 2: Create a Fund That Reflects Your Values

One of the most enjoyable parts of the process is designing a fund that reflects your family’s charitable vision. You can choose a fund name, such as the Smith Family Fund, designate fund advisors, and discuss how future generations might become involved. Many donors use this opportunity to create a structure that encourages family conversations about generosity and community impact, while benefiting from the Foundation’s experience and philanthropic expertise.

Step 3: Establish Your New Donor-Advised Fund

We’ll provide a simple fund agreement outlining how your fund will operate and who may recommend grants to nonprofit organizations. The process is straightforward, and our team will guide you every step of the way.

Step 4: Recommend a Grant to Transfer Your Fund

Once your new fund is established, you can contact your current donor-advised fund provider and recommend a grant to the Lenawee Community Foundation for the benefit of your newly created fund. In many cases, this can be completed online in just a few minutes.

Step 5: Confirm the Details

To help ensure a smooth transfer, be sure to use the exact name of your new fund and any instructions provided by the Foundation. We’ll gladly coordinate the details with you and answer questions throughout the process.

Step 6: Decide How Much to Transfer

Some donors transfer the entire balance of an existing donor-advised fund at once. Others prefer to transfer a portion first and move additional assets later. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The right decision depends on your charitable goals, giving plans, and Some donors transfer the entire balance of an existing donor-advised fund at once. Others prefer to transfer a portion first and move additional assets over time. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The right choice depends on your charitable goals and what works best for you and your family. Some donors even choose to maintain their existing donor-advised fund while also establishing a locally focused donor-advised fund or another charitable fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation.

Step 7: Put Your Philanthropy to Work Right Here in Lenawee

After the transfer is complete, you can begin recommending grants from your donor-advised fund. Whether you’re supporting longtime favorite organizations or discovering new opportunities to make a difference, our team is here as a trusted resource. Many donors find that this deeper connection to the community—and the opportunity to give with local insight—becomes one of the most rewarding aspects of their philanthropy.

A donor-advised fund is a simple, flexible way to organize your charitable giving. By bringing your fund to the Lenawee Community Foundation, you’ll also gain a local philanthropic partner dedicated to helping you make a lasting difference, now and for future generations.

If you’d like to explore whether transferring your donor-advised fund is right for you, we’d love to start the conversation.

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Tackling the details is important. Effective charitable planning also requires something broader, and that’s context. That’s why our team is committed to keeping you up to date on research and trends that affect philanthropy and related strategies at a macro level. Indeed, charitable planning does not occur in a vacuum; it exists within a rapidly evolving nonprofit sector and a dynamic legislative and regulatory environment.

In that spirit, we’re sharing three important trends and updates:

Philanthropy—including your clients’ gifts—supports a larger and more complex nonprofit sector than ever before.

Charitable giving is going strong! In 2025, Americans contributed an estimated $617 billion to support causes ranging from local nonprofits and places of worship to educational institutions and animal welfare organizations. This fell just short of the record set during a pandemic-related surge in philanthropy, but nevertheless, 2025 represents one of the highest levels of charitable giving ever recorded.

Consistent with that trend, in its recent report, The U.S. Tax-Exempt Sector Explained: The Growing Role of Nonprofits in America, the Bipartisan Policy Center highlights the significant growth of the nonprofit sector over the past several decades. Nonprofits today provide essential services, strengthen communities, advance education and healthcare, and address needs that government and the private sector often cannot meet on their own. This signals an important reminder to advisors that charitable planning is not simply a tax exercise. Helping your clients support charitable organizations can have meaningful implications for communities and local economies well beyond the organizations receiving the gifts.

Charitable planning tools continue to evolve.

PG Calc’s recent article, The State of Play: Navigating the Current Landscape of QCD Legislation and DAF Regulations, provides a helpful review of ongoing discussions in Washington surrounding Qualified Charitable Distributions and donor-advised funds. These tools continue to offer valuable planning opportunities for many clients, and the article serves as a reminder that charitable planning strategies are shaped by legislation, regulation, and public policy discussions. Advisors who stay informed about potential changes are often better positioned to help clients adapt as the charitable planning landscape evolves.

Clients increasingly expect charitable planning to be integrated into broader financial and estate planning conversations.

Philanthropy is becoming more sophisticated, more visible, and more interconnected with wealth transfer, retirement planning, tax planning, and legacy goals. A recent article in Financial Advisor Magazine highlighted once again the importance of philanthropy to high net worth families, which in turn means that advisors who work with these clients must be familiar with donor-advised funds and other charitable planning tools. Clients often look to their trusted advisors not only for technical expertise, but also for perspective on how charitable giving fits into their overall financial picture.

The bottom line is that context matters! By working with our team to stay informed about trends affecting nonprofits, charitable incentives, and philanthropic planning, you can better serve your charitable clients and help them achieve both their financial and estate planning goals while creating lasting community impact.

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What’s especially notable is that in recent years, Congress has expanded planning opportunities by indexing annual giving limits for inflation ($111,000 per person in 2026) and allowing certain one-time QCDs (“Legacy IRAs”) to fund charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. And now, proposed legislation known as the “Charity Parity Act” would, if enacted, extend QCD treatment beyond IRAs to include employer-sponsored retirement plans such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s. This potential change in the law would remove the extra step of rolling assets into an IRA before making a charitable gift, simplifying the process for many donors whose retirement savings remain primarily in workplace plans.

Consider a typical client scenario. Your client, age 74, is taking Required Minimum Distributions (“RMDs”) from a traditional IRA. Because the client claims the standard deduction, charitable gifts do not generate additional tax savings. By instead directing a portion of the RMD to a qualified charity as a QCD, the client can satisfy part or all of the RMD obligation without increasing taxable income. In many cases, this can also help reduce Medicare premium surcharges and lessen the taxation of Social Security benefits, creating planning advantages beyond the charitable deduction itself.

Here are three examples of how the Lenawee Community Foundation can help your client achieve charitable goals through QCDs:

1. A client directs a QCD from an IRA to Lenawee’s Health, Happiness, and Hope Fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation to support broad community needs. The client satisfies part or all of the client’s annual RMD requirements while supporting flexible grantmaking that addresses changing priorities in the region.
2. A client uses a QCD to contribute to a field-of-interest fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation focused on causes such as education, healthcare, the arts, or environmental conservation. This allows the client to support a specific area of passion while relying on the Lenawee Community Foundation’s expertise to identify effective nonprofit organizations over time.
3. A client makes a QCD to an existing designated fund or scholarship fund held at the Lenawee Community Foundation. For example, the client may support a favorite local nonprofit through a designated fund or help students pursue higher education through an endowed scholarship fund, all while reducing taxable income through a QCD.

Keep in mind that charitable giving with IRAs goes beyond current gifts to charity! As part of advising clients about their IRAs, be sure to check their beneficiary designations. Not only is it tax advantageous for a client to name a fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation or other public charity as beneficiary of an IRA, but it’s also a best practice to avoid problems in the future. (Retirement plan beneficiary designations continue to show up in cautionary tales!)

For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, developments related to QCDs are worth watching closely. QCDs increasingly serve as a natural connector among retirement planning, philanthropy, and legacy conversations. Just as importantly, QCD discussions often open the door to broader planning opportunities, helping clients align financial goals with the causes and communities they care about most. As always, please reach out to the Lenawee Community Foundation anytime! 

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The Knight family’s generosity was a source of pride for the late Marilyn Underhill, daughter of V.C. and Velma Knight. Reflecting on her parents’ legacy, she once shared, “My parents came from humble backgrounds, but they did well financially and were able to help hundreds of people in their lifetimes.”

Velma passed away in 1980 and V.C. in 2005, but their legacy continues to change lives across Lenawee County thanks to their foresight and generosity. Since 2008, the V.C. and Velma Knight Memorial Fund has provided nearly $675,000 in grants to local programs, supporting everything from food security and mental health services to homeless prevention and childcare scholarships.

Rooted in the Knight family’s values of service, compassion, and local investment, the fund continues to make a lasting difference for the people and communities of Lenawee County.

V.C. Knight was a pioneer in the air conditioning industry and the founder of Addison Products Company. Velma was a lifelong Bible scholar with a heart for helping others. Today, they are remembered not only for their accomplishments but for their compassion, and for choosing to create a legacy that keeps giving.

Grants are awarded to programs that address basic needs, health, and human services in Lenawee County. To honor the donors’ wishes and create the greatest possible impact, priority will be given to proposals that:

• Provide direct services to individuals and families
• Leverage resources through partnerships or matching funds
• Can be sustained without ongoing Foundation support
• Encourage collaboration and avoid duplication of existing services
• Promote volunteerism and community involvement

All grant applications must be submitted electronically by August 1, 2026.
To apply, visit https://goapply2.akoyago.com/lenaweecf.

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

The Lenawee Community Foundation is honored to continue the work V.C. and Velma Knight began, and grateful to their daughter Marilyn for preserving and extending their commitment to building a stronger, more compassionate community.

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.

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All of this is wonderful! There’s one more step, however, that is often overlooked: Connecting the dots. If you are a donor or fund holder at the Lenawee Community Foundation, or plan to establish a fund in the near future, please consider introducing your advisors to the Lenawee Community Foundation team. A simple introduction can make a tremendous difference in ultimately achieving your charitable goals. Here’s why:

• Attorneys, CPAs, and wealth managers are experts in many aspects of financial and estate planning, and their work is essential in helping you develop and implement strategies through legal documentation, tax filings, and other technical guidance. Not all advisors, however, are experts in charitable giving.
• The Lenawee Community Foundation, by comparison, brings to the table specialized knowledge about charitable giving strategies, local nonprofit needs, philanthropic tools that may be best suited for your particular situation, and the types of assets you might consider giving to achieve your goals.
• The Lenawee Community Foundation certainly does not offer legal, tax, or financial advice, but we absolutely stay current on legal, tax, and charitable developments. In turn, we can keep you and your advisors informed about which trends to watch.
• When you establish a fund at the Lenawee Community Foundation as part of your charitable plan, our team will handle the paperwork and administration to create and manage that fund. This is often a relief to your advisors, not to mention a relief to you!

Importantly, collaborative conversations among donors, advisors, and the Lenawee Community Foundation are not only for ultra-high-net-worth families. Even relatively straightforward charitable plans can benefit from collaboration between your advisors and the Lenawee Community Foundation. In many cases, donors discover giving opportunities they might not otherwise have considered. What’s more, many advisors appreciate having philanthropic specialists available to help explore charitable strategies that benefit both the donor and the causes they care about.

So, what can you do? We invite and encourage you to take the lead! A simple email introducing each of your advisors to the Lenawee Community Foundation team is often all that is required to open the door to better communication and stronger planning. The Lenawee Community Foundation is always happy to join a conversation with you and your advisors, but a baseline introduction is the most critical part. 

When professionals work together, the result is often a more coordinated and impactful charitable plan. By connecting your advisors with the Lenawee Community Foundation, you help create a team that can support both your financial goals and your desire to make a lasting difference. We look forward to hearing from you—and meeting your advisors! Thank you for all you do to make our community a better place. 

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