Is It Time to Revisit Your Charitable Plan?

Written by Robin Elmerick, Senior Director of Effective Philanthropy

Many charitable plans begin during an important season of life. Maybe you established a donor-advised fund after selling a business. Perhaps you updated your estate plan when your children were young, or retirement gave you the opportunity to think more intentionally about the legacy you wanted to leave.

Those moments are often the beginning of a meaningful philanthropic journey.

But life doesn’t stand still, and neither should your charitable plan.

Families grow. Financial circumstances change. New interests emerge. And our community continues to evolve, creating new challenges and new opportunities to make a difference. Just as you periodically review your financial and estate plans, it’s worth checking in on your philanthropy from time to time.

Try starting with a few simple questions.

Have you reviewed your charitable plans recently?

Beneficiary designations, estate plans, and charitable provisions deserve the same periodic attention as the rest of your financial plan.

If you’ve named your donor-advised fund or another charitable organization as a beneficiary of retirement assets, it’s worth confirming that those documents still reflect your wishes. And if you haven’t yet explored those options, a conversation with your advisors may uncover opportunities that align both your philanthropic and financial goals.

Are you still passionate about the same causes?

Many people discover that their giving naturally evolves over time. Perhaps you’ve developed an interest in housing, mental health, food insecurity, or another issue that wasn’t on your radar a decade ago.

Your charitable plan should reflect the causes that matter most to you today.

Do you know what’s changing in Central Indiana?

This is one of our favorite conversations to have.

Some of the organizations you’ve supported for years may be tackling new challenges or expanding their work. New nonprofits are emerging. Longstanding organizations are collaborating in creative ways. Community priorities and needs continue to evolve.

One of our greatest strength as philanthropic advisors within a community foundation is helping donors understand what’s happening across Central Indiana and connecting them with organizations making a meaningful difference. Sometimes those conversations affirm your current giving. Other times, they introduce opportunities you may never have discovered on your own.

Is your giving as simple and enjoyable as it could be?

Philanthropy should bring joy, not unnecessary complexity.

Whether you give through a donor-advised fund, another type of charitable fund, or a combination of strategies, the right structure should make it easy to support the causes you care about while adapting as your goals evolve.

A conversation is a good place to start

Updating your charitable plan doesn’t necessarily mean making major changes.

Often, a conversation simply confirms that everything is still aligned with your values and goals. Other times, it leads to new ideas, new partnerships, or new ways to involve your family and deepen your impact.

The best charitable plans aren’t the ones that never change. They’re the ones that continue reflecting the people behind them.

If it’s been a while since you’ve talked to your philanthropic advisor about your plans, we would love to reconnect. Whether you’re considering a new direction or simply want to check in on your current plan, your philanthropic advisor is always happy to serve as a sounding board as you continue your philanthropic journey.

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.