Giving Insights

By Lesley Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) can be a powerful charitable planning tool for clients age 70½ and older. At Arkansas Community Foundation, eligible clients can direct QCDs to a designated fund, field-of-interest fund, scholarship fund, or unrestricted fund—or directly support the Community Foundation’s overall mission and work. Because QCDs are so […]

By Jody Dilday, Philanthropic Advisor At Arkansas Community Foundation, we’re always looking for resources that can help advisors have better charitable planning conversations with their clients. Four recent articles share a common theme: the best charitable planning rarely starts and ends with a tax deduction. Instead, philanthropy can become part of larger conversations about a […]

By Lesley Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor For many attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, the end of summer signals the beginning of year-end planning. As clients turn their attention to tax and financial planning, it’s a good time to revisit charitable strategies that could help them meet their 2026 goals. One strategy worth putting on the table […]

By Jody Dilday, Philanthropic Advisor] As an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, you know that donating appreciated stock held for more than one year can be more tax-efficient than writing a check. The client’s charitable deduction is generally based on the stock’s fair market value, while the charity can sell the stock without triggering capital […]

As a professional advisor, you’ve likely seen a shift in how clients think about legacy. More families are moving beyond the traditional “leave everything to heirs” mindset and asking broader questions about stewardship, purpose, and long-term impact. That shift creates an opportunity for deeper planning conversations. Regular estate plan reviews remain essential. Not just to […]

For advisors, recent tax law changes may feel like old news. For many clients, however, the implications are only now becoming clear. As awareness grows, charitable planning conversations are becoming more important than ever. Several changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are reshaping how clients approach giving: A new floor on itemized charitable […]

As charitable planning becomes more integrated into family wealth strategies, one question is surfacing more often: What happens to charitable assets when a marriage ends? For many couples, philanthropy reflects shared values and long-term goals. But in divorce, those charitable assets, whether donor advised funds, trusts, or a private foundation, can become part of broader […]

March 3, 2026

By Ashley Coldiron, Chief Development Officer As an attorney, CPA, or financial advisor, you probably work with several clients who own a family business. You’ve likely also considered the role of strategic philanthropy in family business succession planning to help clients get ready for an eventual exit. So how does strategic philanthropy actually play out […]

March 3, 2026

By Jody Dilday, Philanthropic Advisor Recent rulings reinforce a familiar but critical message: charitable tax benefits depend on strict compliance. Strict substantiation matters.In Gibson v. Commissioner, a substantial noncash charitable deduction was disallowed—not because the gift lacked charitable intent, but because substantiation requirements were not met. Contemporaneous acknowledgments, qualified appraisals, and Form 8283 thresholds are […]

March 3, 2026

By Lesley Roberts, Philanthropic Advisor Because its Women’s History Month, March offers a natural moment to reflect on the evolving role of women in philanthropy. According to Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Women Give 2024: 20 Years of Gender & Giving Trends, women are increasingly leading charitable decisions. This happens both gradually, as […]