Estate Attorneys: Why Partnering with a Philanthropy Advisor Is a Smart Move for You and Your Clients
Help your charitably-inclined clients make a meaningful impact—without adding hours to your workload. Learn how partnering with a philanthropy advisor can streamline the process and elevate your service.
Leave the legal documents to you and the philanthropic strategy & execution to me.
As a trust and estate attorney, you wear a lot of hats: tax strategist, family diplomat, legal interpreter, and occasionally, therapist. You guide clients through some of the most complex and sensitive decisions of their lives. And increasingly, those clients are expressing interest in making philanthropy a meaningful part of their estate plans.
That’s a wonderful thing. Charitable giving can provide lasting impact, reduce estate tax liability, and offer a powerful sense of purpose. But turning a client’s philanthropic intent into a well-executed plan? That’s a lot of work—and it’s not always in your ideal wheelhouse.
That’s where a philanthropy advisor comes in.
Charitable Planning Is More Than a Line in the Will
You’ve probably had a client say, “We want to give some of our estate to charity,” and suddenly you’re fielding questions about donor-advised funds, private foundations, impact metrics, and family values. These are big, emotional conversations that can quickly go beyond the scope of traditional estate planning.
Yes, you can build out a charitable component in the documents. But if you’re also expected to define the family’s mission, explore causes, evaluate nonprofit partners, and draft a 10-year grantmaking strategy? That’s a different kind of work, one that can eat up hours better spent on what you do best.
A Philanthropy Advisor Can Lighten the Load
By looping in a philanthropy advisor early, you gain a collaborator who specializes in helping clients define their goals, navigate family dynamics around giving, and choose the most appropriate giving vehicles. That means:
Clients are supported through the personal and strategic side of giving
You don’t need to spend non-billable time chasing down programmatic details
The charitable plan is fully developed and ready to integrate into legal documents
Your clients feel more confident and satisfied with their legacy plan
You’re still the lead advisor, but now you have a teammate who can handle the nuance and follow-through that philanthropy often requires.
It Enhances Your Client Relationships
Bringing in a philanthropy advisor doesn’t just save time - it deepens the quality of service you’re providing. Clients today, especially those with significant wealth, are looking for holistic guidance that goes beyond financial efficiency. They want to know their money will do good in the world, and that it will reflect the values they hold dear.
When you connect them with someone who can help articulate that vision and make it actionable, they see you not just as their attorney, but as a strategic partner in their broader legacy.
A Simple Step That Pays Off
You don’t have to become a philanthropy expert to offer expert-level support. You just have to know when to bring one in. So the next time a client expresses interest in charitable giving—or even just hints at wanting to “make a difference,” consider introducing a philanthropy advisor into the process. It’s a win-win: for you, for your client, and for the causes they care about.
