Balancing gifts to heirs with the community’s future

By Robin Elmerick, Sr. Director of Effective Philanthropy

The next time you meet with your estate planning attorney or financial advisor, it may be worth revisiting not only how your assets will be distributed, but also the kind of legacy you hope to leave behind. 

Many families today are rethinking traditional estate planning approaches. Rather than automatically passing all assets to heirs, some donors are considering how their wealth can support both future generations and the long-term wellbeing of the communities they care about. As financial circumstances, tax laws, and family dynamics evolve – regular estate plan reviews have become more important than ever. 

Here are a few trends shaping those conversations: 

Some heirs may not need or want every asset
In certain situations, heirs may choose to disclaim inherited assets, allowing them to pass to contingent beneficiaries in a more tax-efficient way. This can be especially relevant for assets like traditional IRAs that may carry significant tax consequences. While these strategies require careful legal guidance, they reflect a broader shift toward more thoughtful, flexible estate planning. 

Strategic giving is becoming more local
Many donors are becoming more intentional about their philanthropy, focusing on causes that align closely with their values and create visible, long-term impact. Increasingly, that means supporting organizations and initiatives close to home. Across Central Indiana, donors are investing in efforts that strengthen quality of life, expand opportunities, and build stronger connections across the region, from food security to civic infrastructure and community connectivity. Our team can help you explore philanthropic tools and strategies that bring clarity, structure, and lasting impact to the giving goals that matter most to you. 

Hands-on involvement matters
Donors who use giving tools like donor-advised funds are often deeply engaged in their communities, not only financially, but personally. Many volunteer their time, serve on nonprofit boards and stay closely connected to the organizations and causes they support. This combination of generosity and involvement can create a more meaningful and lasting philanthropic experience. 

To learn how these trends might apply to your own plans, we invite you to contact CICF. Our team can work alongside you and your advisors to structure a charitable giving plan that reflects your values, supports the people and causes you care about, and helps strengthen Central Indiana for generations to come.

About the author

Robin Elmerick, senior director of effective philanthropy has been with CICF since 2019. A certified Impact Philanthropy Advisor, she works closely with fundholders to help them define their philanthropic strategies and maximize their impact. With a background in nonprofit leadership and consulting, she is passionate about bridging the needs of the community with the missions of nonprofits and the passions of our fundholders, aligning all three to create meaningful change in Central Indiana and beyond.