Support Your Clients' Philanthropic Goals

WYCF Professional Advisor Updates - Summer 2026

Hello! 

Thank you for working with the Wyoming Community Foundation. We enjoy the conversations we have with attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors as you help your clients navigate charitable planning in an ever-changing environment. It is a privilege to work with you to align your clients’ philanthropic goals with their broader financial and estate plans. 

As tax policy and market conditions continue to shift, many of you are seeing new dynamics in your conversations with clients. Our team is closely monitoring these trends so we can help support your work. 

• Charitable planning is changing, and your clients are commonly falling into two groups. Wealthy individuals are navigating long-term strategies tied to legacy and wealth transfer, while younger, first-time charitable givers are driven by new incentives. Learn how to understand these differences.  
• For clients with private foundations, simplifying the structure may be top of mind. Transferring assets to a DAF at WYCF can reduce administrative burdens, but a thoughtful transition—including proactive communication with nonprofit grantees—is essential for strong relationships and community impact. 
• The possibility of a sustained down market can impact how clients think about giving. A case study shows how you can help clients stay focused, identify tax-efficient opportunities, and remain responsive to increasing community needs during uncertain times. 

Please consider WYCF to be your first call whenever the topic of charitable giving arises. We look forward to working with you! 

Best, 

The WYCF Philanthropy Team 

Serving charitable clients: Dual strategies emerge 

As tax laws and market dynamics shift, it is important for professional advisors to be aware of two increasingly distinct groups of donors. On one hand, the high federal estate tax exemption and new restrictions on itemizing charitable deductions are creating new needs for your clients with $30 million+ in assets. On the other hand, the new charitable deduction for non-itemizers offers an entry point and incentive for your clients who are new in their careers or building wealth. 

Research shows just how pronounced this divide is. Individuals with a net worth of $30 million+ (ultra-high-net-worth donors) play an outsized role in philanthropy and charitable giving. But, policy changes are encouraging participation at the other end of the spectrum, bringing in new donors even if their initial gifts are modest. The result is a growing and more concentrated philanthropic landscape. 

For your ultra-high-net-worth clients, charitable giving is rarely about a single gift, rather it is integrated into long-term planning around wealth transfer, business succession, and family legacy. These clients may be evaluating complex assets, timing considerations, and multigenerational involvement. Conversations tend to focus on strategy—how philanthropy aligns with identity, values, and long-term impact. WYCF can help you navigate these discussions by offering flexible structures, local insight, and support for involving the next generation. 

By contrast, clients earlier in their wealth-building years—including the children and grandchildren of ultra-high-net-worth clients—may be giving in a more gradual way. The availability of a charitable deduction for non-itemizers creates opportunity to introduce philanthropy as part of their financial lives sooner than in the past. The focus is often on making habits, identifying causes, and understanding how to prioritize giving. Even relatively small gifts can serve as the foundation for lifelong philanthropic engagement. (Note that the new deduction for non-itemizers applies only to cash gifts and is not available for gifts to DAFs.)  

These two groups are not just separated by wealth—they are operating under different planning horizons and motivations. Recognizing these distinctions can help you tailor your conversations; some clients may benefit from sophisticated planning strategies, while others need a clear and accessible entry point. 

One final but important point:  

Regardless of whether a client itemizes or doesn’t itemize, pay close attention to clients who are age 70 ½ and over and who own IRAs. Qualified Charitable Distributions are a powerful and tax-advantaged tool for clients to transfer up to $111,000 per taxpayer (2026 limit) to support favorite causes. Also, proposed legislation may open the door for your clients to use QCDs to fund their DAFs at WYCF. Right now, clients can use QCDs to fund field-of-interest, donor designated, unrestricted funds, and certain other types of funds at WYCF, but not DAFs.     

As always, we are here to support both ends of this spectrum. Whether your client is structuring a complex gift involving closely held assets or taking the first steps toward organized charitable giving, our team can help you identify the right approach. 

Transferring a private foundation? Remind clients to communicate 

As you work with clients who have established a private foundation, it is not uncommon for the conversation to eventually turn to whether this structure still makes sense. What once was a logical vehicle for organizing a family’s philanthropy can become administratively challenging, especially as leadership transitions to the next generation. In many cases, transferring a private foundation’s assets to a DAF at WYCF can offer a simpler and more flexible path forward. 

You may already be familiar with the benefits of a DAFs; reduced administrative responsibilities, decreased complex tax compliance requirements, and more focus on charitable goals rather than ongoing operations. The technical mechanics of the transition are also relatively straightforward: 

• Confirm that the private foundation’s board has approved the termination and documented the decision appropriately. 
• Establish a DAF at WYCF, often structured to mirror the private foundation’s name and governance approach. 
• Grant the bulk of the private foundation’s remaining assets to the new fund, leaving a reserve to cover final expenses. 
• Satisfy outstanding liabilities and complete the private foundation’s final tax filings and state-level dissolution requirements. 

While these steps are important, the transition is more than mechanics. It is an opportunity to reposition the family’s philanthropy for the future—reducing administrative friction while preserving and enhancing, the impact of the family’s giving. 

One aspect of the transition is easy to overlook: communication with grantees. For many private foundations, relationships with nonprofit organizations have developed over years—sometimes decades. In some cases, grantees may rely on annual or recurring support.  

When a private foundation winds down, a lack of clear communication can create confusion or uncertainty for the organizations that have come to depend on that funding. As a trusted advisor, you can play an important role in helping your client plan for this transition thoughtfully and WYCF can serve as a sounding board. Our team has close relationships with hundreds of nonprofit organizations in Wyoming communities. Here are five tips for a client’s communication plan that you can help develop with the support of the WYCF team: 

• Encourage your client to communicate early and clearly with key grantees. Your client does not want nonprofits to hear about the transition from anyone else.  
• The communication itself does not need to be complicated. A straightforward email message explaining that the private foundation is transitioning to a DAF—and that the family remains committed to charitable giving—can go a long way.  
• If possible, the client should reach out personally to each nonprofit grantee to let them know that they will be receiving email communication. This is a powerful way to maintain and deepen trust.  
• If the client intends to continue supporting certain organizations, it is helpful to reassure those nonprofits that future grants may be recommended through WYCF.  
• Messages can also affirm the mission of WYCF and the broader resources and network it provides to both your clients and the nonprofits they’ve supported for many years.  

As always, we are here to help you and your clients navigate both the technical and relational aspects of this process. Whether your client is ready to move forward now or simply beginning to explore options, our team is honored to work alongside you to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition to support your clients’ charitable objectives. 

Case study: Charitable giving in a down market 

As you guide clients through ongoing market uncertainty, you may be noticing that conversations are as much about perspective as performance metrics. While headlines may or may not ultimately signal a prolonged downturn, the possibility of a bear market can influence how clients think about everything from retirement timelines to charitable giving. As an advisor, you have an opportunity to help clients stay grounded and intentional, even when emotions are running high. 

Consider this scenario. 

When David and Laura arrive at your office for their annual planning meeting, the tone feels different from prior years. In their early 70s and recently retired, David and Laura have always approached financial decisions with a long-term mindset. But today, Laura opens the conversation with a note of concern. 

“We’re not panicking,” she says, “but it’s hard to ignore what’s going on in the markets. It just feels unsettled.” 

You nod. You’ve been hearing similar sentiments from many clients. Even when portfolios remain relatively strong, uncertainty alone can create stress. Studies have shown that financial concerns weigh heavily on emotional well-being across generations, and market volatility tends to amplify those feelings. 

As you walk through David and Laura’s portfolio and estate plan, the numbers tell a reassuring story. Their overall financial plan is still on track, and their estate plan still reflects their goals. But you recognize that this moment calls for more than reassurance. It is an opportunity to reframe how charitable giving fits into the bigger picture. 

“You’ve both been incredibly consistent in your support of local organizations,” you say. “Tell me how you’re feeling about giving this year.” 

David pauses. “We still want to give,” he says. “We just don’t want to make a mistake if the market gets worse.” 

That hesitation is familiar. Rather than pulling back entirely, many clients simply need a way to move forward with confidence. 

You start with a simple reminder. 

“Not all stocks are down.” 

You point to a portion of their portfolio that has performed well over time. These appreciated positions present an opportunity. By contributing long-term appreciated stock to their DAF at WYCF, David and Laura may be able to avoid capital gains tax while supporting the causes they care about. Even in a volatile market, this strategy remains one of the most efficient ways to give. 

Laura leans in. “So even now, that still makes sense?” 

“It often does,” you reply. “And it can give you flexibility. You can make the gift now, receive the tax benefits, and then take your time recommending grants.” 

The conversation begins to shift. Instead of focusing solely on uncertainty, David and Laura are now thinking about options. 

You also gently raise another point. 

“Market cycles come and go, but community needs don’t pause.” 

You explain that periods of economic strain often increase demand for nonprofit services, particularly for households already feeling the effects of inflation and rising costs. WYCF is closely connected to these needs and can help ensure that their giving is as impactful as possible. 

Finally, you mention a strategy they have not yet used. 

“Because you’re both over 70 ½, we should also look at Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRAs.” 

You walk them through how a QCD could satisfy required minimum distributions while avoiding income tax on those amounts. For clients in their stage of life, it is a straightforward and effective way to continue supporting charitable priorities regardless of market conditions.  

“You can direct your QCDs to certain types of funds at WYCF,” you explain. “You can’t use them to add to your DAF (at least not yet), but you can support WYCF’s strategic priorities to help the whole region thrive.”  

By the end of the meeting, David and Laura feel a renewed sense of clarity. They decide to move forward with a gift of appreciated stock to a DAF and explore a QCD over the summer to avoid the year-end rush. Also, they feel reassured that their charitable giving does not need to stop simply because the market feels uncertain. 

Situations like this are increasingly common. Even the possibility of a downturn can shape client behavior, but it can also open the door to meaningful planning conversations and help keep charitable giving going strong across our community. WYCF is here to help you navigate these discussions—offering practical strategies, local insight, and support for your clients’ charitable goals in every type of market environment. 

The team at the Wyoming Community Foundation is a resource and sounding board as you serve your philanthropic clients. We understand the charitable side of the equation and are happy to serve as a secondary source as you manage the primary relationship with your clients. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or financial planning advice.