Resources for Professional Advisors
Explore resources created by the CICF team and its partners.
May 26, 2026
How can we spark generosity in our own lives and throughout our region? That was the question at-hand at the recent TEDxIndianapolis Salon, “Generosity for a New Era,” hosted in partnership with Central Indianapolis Community Foundation.
May 21, 2026
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.
May 20, 2026
Taken together, these trends clarify where Central Indiana can focus next, from scholarship design to employer support and community partnerships that help more students follow through on their plans.
May 4, 2026
A post-tax-season guide from the CICF Collaborative on smarter charitable giving. Learn three common donor regrets and practical fixes: donating appreciated assets, bunching gifts, and getting documentation right.
April 22, 2026
A post-tax-season guide from CICF on smarter charitable giving. Learn three common donor regrets and practical fixes: donating appreciated assets, bunching gifts, and getting documentation right.
March 27, 2026
Most charitable gifts are simple: you write a check, click “donate,” or send a stock transfer. But every so often, generosity shows up in a form that’s a little more complex. Recently, one of our nonprofit partners, FACE Low-Cost Animal Clinic, found themselves in that exact moment.
March 23, 2026
New tax rules make charitable planning more nuanced in 2026. This article previews how CICF can help donors and their advisors think through deductions, documentation, QCDs, and giving strategies with greater clarity.
March 20, 2026
A client’s charitable hesitation is not always about tax strategy. This article shows how CICF helps advisors move client conversations forward by addressing concerns about control, family dynamics, timing, and too many choices.
March 20, 2026
Tax season is one of the best times for charitable planning. This article previews how CICF can help professional advisors navigate QCDs, business succession, and gifts of appreciated assets with clients.
February 20, 2026
At CICF, one of the most common questions we field from donors and their advisors is whether charitable funds can be distributed directly to specific people in need as opposed to larger organizations.
February 20, 2026
Most clients rely on a team of professionals to guide them through tax, legal, and financial decisions. This is where collaboration (including working with the team at CICF) becomes especially important.
February 20, 2026
Many nonprofit donors still default to writing checks. Should they? While checks feel simple and reliable, they introduce real friction for both donors and charities.
February 4, 2026
...These unanswered questions and competing trends are all reshaping the role of philanthropy within the estate plan.
January 29, 2026
In 2026 new tax laws may impact charitable giving strategies for some people. Here are the changes that you’ll want to be aware of, and, most importantly, share with your tax advisors as soon as possible to determine how these changes might impact your situation
January 15, 2026
Important reasons why discussing charitable giving is beneficial for both you and your client.
January 15, 2026
Important reasons why discussing charitable giving is beneficial for both you and your client.
December 15, 2025
Check out this list of FAQs to get up to speed on what you need to know to best serve your philanthropic clients in 2026.
December 10, 2025
Stay up to date on techniques and tax law changes impacting your philanthropic clients. We’re sharing seven articles that we found particularly helpful as 2025 wraps up and we begin to look toward 2026.
December 10, 2025
DAFs at a community foundation, as opposed to a national financial institution, can be a more personal, more locally-oriented way to give.
December 10, 2025
With major charitable deduction changes taking effect in 2026 under the OBBBA, year-end 2025 presents a critical window for optimizing both tax strategy and philanthropic impact.
November 7, 2025
Right now, many families across Central Indiana are facing financial strain, experiencing rising costs of food, rent, and healthcare. We know many of your clients may be asking how they can help.
November 7, 2025
Right now, many families across Central Indiana are facing financial strain, experiencing rising costs of food, rent, and healthcare.
October 17, 2025
This article highlights how our team helps structure philanthropy, engage the next generation, and connect clients with meaningful community opportunities.
October 17, 2025
In this article, we clear up three common myths about charitable giving under the new OBBBA law—covering Qualified Charitable Distributions, new deduction “floors” and “caps,” and the upcoming “above-the-line” deduction for non-itemizers.
September 16, 2025
Charitable deductions may increasingly land on the IRS’s radar, especially as the IRS begins to deploy even more AI-powered audit tools and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)’s 0.5% AGI deduction floor and new charitable deduction caps kick in next year.
September 16, 2025
When it comes to philanthropy, private foundations and donor-advised funds stand at the forefront of popular giving vehicles for donors.
September 16, 2025
At CICF, we’re committed to staying on top of changes in the tax laws that could impact the charitable planning advice you provide to your clients.
September 5, 2025
It’s more important than ever to stay informed about how changes in the tax law may affect your charitable giving.
August 15, 2025
If you’ve noticed a surprising uptick in recent years among your younger clients investing in artwork, it is not your imagination!
August 15, 2025
As you continue (or begin) conversations about charitable giving with your clients, one important question often arises: How would your clients like their giving to be acknowledged and recognized?
August 15, 2025
It’s never been easy to navigate the ever-shifting tax rules to help clients structure their charitable giving, and now it’s even trickier.
May 27, 2025
With public education funding in decline, the CICF Collaborative hosted a May 14 bus tour to show fundholders how philanthropy can help fill critical gaps.
March 20, 2025
The goal of this effort was to educate lawmakers about the unique role of community foundations and to advocate for specific policy priorities related to charitable giving and donor-advised funds (DAFs).
December 2, 2024
November 19, 2024