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Questions Professional Advisors Should Ask Their Clients
In order to determine your clients' motivation for
and knowledge of charitable giving, you should consider
asking the following questions, which were developed
by Joe Breiteneicher, The Philanthropic Initiative*
(www.tpi.org).
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What
are their values? What have been the principles
that have guided how they have lived their lives,
raised families and run businesses?
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What
charitable interests have they already pursued
as an outgrowth of their values?
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What
have they learned from their giving? What would
they do differently? Would they feel confident
expanding their giving?
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What
has been the most satisfying charitable gift they
have ever made? Why?
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How
do they view their wealth in connection to their
community, to society?
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What
role has philanthropy played in their family?
What role would they like it to play? What value
would it be to their children and grandchildren?
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What
core values would they like to express through
their giving? What do they want to stand for?
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When
they think about the challenges facing their community,
what are their major concerns? Are any of these,
or should any of these, be the focus of their
giving?
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What
would they like to accomplish with their giving?
What do they think is possible? |
*Originally published in the 1996 Trusts and Estates
magazine article, "Advisor's Enthusiasm Helps
to Shape Client's Charitable Role."
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