The Heart of Legacy Planning

Legacy planning isn’t just about transferring wealth — it’s about passing down what matters most: one’s values, passions and desire to make a difference. Many people want their lives to reflect more than what they’ve earned; they want their life to reflect who they are. Whether it’s supporting education, healthcare, arts or other community initiatives, charitable giving becomes a personal way to express those values. 

For professional advisors, these conversations offer a unique opportunity to connect financial planning with a client’s personal story, ensuring both their wealth and their heart live on.

Here are five tailored giving strategies that help clients’ generosity continue long after they have passed on:

1. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): For those who want flexibility, DAFs allow clients to make a charitable gift now, receive an immediate tax benefit and give thoughtfully over time. With guidance from the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia (CFNEG) and access to its over 50 nonprofit fundholders, clients can find meaningful ways to make a local impact.
2. Bequests: Including a nonprofit or foundation in a will ensures clients leave a lasting gift to the causes they love, even after they’re gone.

3. Charitable Trusts: Trusts can provide for loved ones while also giving back. With charitable remainder and lead trusts, clients create a legacy that benefits both family and community.

4. Beneficiary Designations: Naming a nonprofit as a beneficiary of retirement accounts or insurance policies is a simple but powerful way for people to ensure their final act reflects their life’s purpose.
5. Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs): CGAs allow clients to make a significant charitable contribution while receiving fixed income for life. This arrangement enables them to support a cause close to their heart and ensure a steady income stream during retirement. Upon the donor’s passing, the remaining funds go to the designated charity, creating a lasting legacy of giving that reflects their values.

At the Community Foundation, we understand that giving is personal. And when wealth is used to inspire good, it becomes more than a financial transaction — it becomes a statement of care and purpose. Giving through the above strategies allows individuals to reflect on the people and causes that shaped their lives and ensures future generations will benefit from their generosity.