Donor Advised Funds: A Strategic Philanthropic Journey

Yesterday, I was proud to speak at the 24th Annual CAGP National Conference. The education session I led was about Donor Advised Funds and how they can be used by donors, professional advisors and charities in a strategic way to maximize community impact. I had the great fortune of delivering my session to a packed room of over 60 delegates and was thrilled with the audience interaction and questions (thank you!).

I also pulled together a panel discussion for the 2nd half of my presentation. The panel featured Bob Goldberger, advisor with Richardson GMP as well as one of his clients who established a Donor Advised Fund and one of the charities that she supported through her Fund, Interval House. It was a great opportunity to better understand all of the motivations and decisions that go into strategic philanthropy, from all steps within the value chain.

This presentation was a great way to share specifics about Donor Advised Funds and also dispel many myths that surround them. There are so many options available for donors, depending on what they need today, and in the future - and I'm proud to say that Community Foundations really offer a super solution in most scenarios. We all work with individuals and families, understand what they want to accomplish and help them execute their plans.

At Toronto Foundation, we focus our efforts on our Fundholders and enable them to have impact with issues, not only institutions.

This CAGP Conference was a great opportunity for me to carve out my space in the Canadian Planned Giving ecosystem and I'm proud for getting as involved as I did in the organizing. I look forward to more opportunities to learn, grow and share with my great peers locally here in Toronto, and across our great country. Thanks to you all! There is plenty more to come...

Especially because as of today, April 1, 2017 - I have been promoted to Director, Philanthropy. Big things ahead for sure. (and no, that's not an April Fool's joke).