"It never was loving that emptied the heart, nor giving that emptied the purse." ~ Unknown

• Why Give
• What to Give
• Ways to Give
• How Much to Give

As with any important endeavor in your life, thoughtful planning is an important part of charitable giving.

• Giving Questions
• Next Steps
• A Donor Bill of Rights

GIVING QUESTIONS

Before sitting down with a professional advisor to determine how you would like to structure your giving, answer the Giving Questions below. Your honest, thoughtful responses to these questions will better prepare you for your discussions with your advisor, saving you time and money, and will help you and your advisor develop a charitable giving plan that best reflects your life's experiences, values, goals and passions.

1. Why are you interested in charitable giving? (see Why Do We Give?)
2. What would you like to accomplish with your giving? What are your passions, values and goals for your giving?
3. How would you like to be involved in, or manage, your giving?
4. How much money do you want to commit to your philanthropy during your lifetime and how much after your death?
5. Do you want to involve others in your giving, either inside or outside your family? If so, who?
6. Are there time-sensitive tax considerations influencing your giving decision?
7. Are you comfortable with a legally binding commitment for a period of time?
8. Do you need income from your financial assets now? If so, please describe these needs.
9. Would you like your charitable giving to be part of your retirement planning? If so, in what ways?
10. How have you given to charity in the past?

NEXT STEPS

PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS

If you don't have a professional advisor to help you with your charitable giving plan, or would like more information, see Working with Professional Advisors.

A DONOR BILL OF RIGHTS

PHILANTHROPY is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

I.

To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.

II.

To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.

III.

To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.

IV.

To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.

V.

To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition.

VI.

To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.

VII.

To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.

VIII.

To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization or hired solicitors.

IX.

To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.

X.

To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful and forthright answers.