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Beyond the Numbers: Fostering and Maintaining Client Relationships through Philanthropy

Feb 26, 2025 3 Min Read

Are you looking to take your client relationships to the next level?

Through a partnership with the Community Foundation, you can enhance your role as an advisor and grow a strong bond of trust. Here are some tips! 

Learn your client’s personal passions and philanthropic goals.

Every good relationship begins with great questions! 

In your initial meetings with your new client, prioritize learning more than just their portfolio by asking questions to identify their hobbies and interests. Take note of these details, such as their favorite player or author or country they’ve visited, and remember to ask follow up questions or check in at a later date.

Then incorporate one key question to unlock the next step in your relationship: What are your giving goals?

Perhaps your client hasn’t developed a giving plan or doesn’t know how to turn their passion into action. When you ask this question, you can assess your client’s current plan of giving and their hopes for future philanthropy.

Connect with other professionals to offer solutions and contacts that align with your client’s goals.

Now that you know your client’s interests and current giving goals, you can guide them to resources to assist in achieving their goals. This is where the Community Foundation is an asset to you and your client! 

First, partner with our Professional Advisors Network (PAN)! Our network of attorneys, financial planners, bankers, CPAs, and other related professionals volunteer their time to share knowledge and resources so you can tailor solutions to your client’s needs. Through this partnership, you enrich your client’s experience by helping them find people and organizations that are as committed to their chosen cause as they are.

Second, find a giving plan that aligns with your client’s passions and preferences!

The Community Foundation offers Five Ways to Give:

When you collaborate with the Community Foundation and our team of experts, you and your client can find a giving plan suited to your client’s needs.

Exceed your client’s expectations.

What began as a simple question can become a full-fledged giving plan. With your guidance and partnership with the Community Foundation, you can offer seamless solutions to simplify an often daunting process.

Once your client has grown their fund, we’ll grant money to organizations building up our community and addressing the issues important to your client. With each grant, your client can cross one goal off their list, and you can continue fostering a strong relationship with your client for years to come.