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Wake up call: OBBBA changes and client conversations
While advisors may already be familiar with recent tax law changes, many clients are just beginning to understand their impact. With new deduction floors, caps, and opportunities for non-itemizers, thoughtful planning matters more than ever. Even simple conversations about charitable strategies can help clients navigate complexity with confidence.

Tina O'Brien
May 53 min read


Rare but useful: Planning with charitable lead trusts
Charitable lead annuity trusts (CLATs) are complex but increasingly relevant, especially in light of recent IRS guidance suggesting added flexibility. For the right client—particularly those with appreciating assets and estate tax exposure—a CLAT can support charitable goals while enabling efficient wealth transfer.

Tina O'Brien
May 53 min read


Calling it splits: What happens to charitable assets in a divorce?
For many couples, philanthropy reflects shared values, but in the event of divorce, it can introduce unexpected complexity. From community property rules to questions of control over charitable funds, proactive and collaborative planning is key. Engaging both partners early helps protect both financial outcomes and long-term philanthropic intent.

Tina O'Brien
May 52 min read


Case study: Charitable giving in a down market
Market volatility can create hesitation, but it also presents an opportunity to reframe charitable giving as a strategic and values-driven decision. By leveraging tools like appreciated stock gifts and Qualified Charitable Distributions, advisors can help clients maintain their philanthropic commitments while navigating uncertainty. With the right approach, generosity can remain a steady and impactful part of a client’s financial plan—regardless of market conditions.

Tina O'Brien
Apr 165 min read


Transferring a private foundation? Remind clients to communicate
As tax policy and wealth patterns evolve, philanthropic clients are increasingly split between ultra-high-net-worth families engaging in complex legacy planning and emerging donors taking their first structured steps into giving. By tailoring strategies to each group—from sophisticated estate and succession planning to accessible entry points like small annual gifts and Qualified Charitable Distributions—advisors can help clients build meaningful, sustainable philanthropic im

Tina O'Brien
Apr 163 min read


Serving charitable clients: Dual strategies emerge
As tax policy and wealth patterns evolve, philanthropic clients are increasingly split between ultra-high-net-worth families engaging in complex legacy planning and emerging donors taking their first structured steps into giving. By tailoring strategies to each group—from sophisticated estate and succession planning to accessible entry points like small annual gifts and Qualified Charitable Distributions—advisors can help clients build meaningful, sustainable philanthropic im

Tina O'Brien
Apr 163 min read


Women and Philanthropy: Four Insights for Professional Advisors
Women are increasingly leading charitable decisions. Discover four key insights on gender and giving trends, including the power of collective impact through our Women’s Giving Circle, to better serve your female clients.

Lillian Xie
Mar 234 min read


Business Succession Planning: Building a Family Legacy Through Philanthropy
A business sale is more than a financial event—it’s a personal transition. Learn how strategic philanthropy and donor-advised funds can serve as a "bridge" to maintain family unity and community identity during succession.

Tina O'Brien
Mar 234 min read


Documentation Matters: Two Recent Tax Rulings to Share with Your Clients
Recent IRS rulings emphasize that "good intentions" aren't enough for charitable deductions. We review the Gibson and Milk cases to help advisors ensure their clients' gifts meet strict substantiation and mission-drift requirements.

Tina O'Brien
Mar 235 min read


When We Give Together, We Grow Together
Mark your calendar for the 2026 Kitsap Great Give and join your community in giving back to the causes you love.

Tina O'Brien
Feb 243 min read


Worth a look: Charitable gifts of real estate
As wealth increasingly shifts through appreciated real estate, charitable planning will involve more non-cash assets. While gifts of property require careful structuring and documentation, they can offer significant tax advantages and convert illiquid assets into lasting community impact. With proper coordination, real estate can become a flexible and meaningful tool for philanthropic planning.

Tina O'Brien
Feb 123 min read


Postmarks, rule changes, and remedies for clients’ 2025 charitable gifts
A late-2025 change in USPS postmark procedures created unexpected complications for year-end charitable deductions. Because the IRS relies on postmark dates to substantiate mailed gifts, some contributions intended for 2025 may be treated as 2026 gifts. Advisors can help clients preserve documentation, shift to electronic giving methods, and consider tools such as donor-advised funds to reduce timing risk in future years.

Tina O'Brien
Feb 123 min read


Sudden life changes: Charitable giving can help clients get through it
Major life transitions—divorce, loss, retirement, business change—often reshape financial plans in unexpected ways. In these moments, charitable planning can help clients move from reactive decision-making to values-based action. Whether through a donor-advised, designated, or field-of-interest fund, Kitsap Community Foundation partners with advisors to turn difficult seasons into meaningful, forward-looking strategies that reflect purpose and community impact.

Tina O'Brien
Feb 112 min read


Case study: A QCD conversion in action
Qualified Charitable Distributions can be powerful for clients 70½+, but the rules can be confusing—especially around donor-advised funds. KCF helps advisors and clients understand which fund types qualify for QCDs and how to structure gifts that reduce taxable income while honoring charitable intent. With collaborative planning, QCDs become a clear, compliant, and meaningful giving strategy.

Tina O'Brien
Jan 75 min read


Keep going: Why donor-advised funds are still essential
Even with the 0.5% floor and 35% cap now in effect, donor-advised funds remain a highly relevant planning tool. KCF’s DAFs provide flexibility, local expertise, and meaningful opportunities for impact—helping clients align timing, strategy, and community priorities. For advisors, DAFs continue to support long-term, holistic planning and values-driven philanthropy.

Tina O'Brien
Jan 72 min read


What’s new in the numbers: A checklist for charitable tax rules in 2026
Key 2026 tax adjustments—COLA increases, higher standard deductions, shifted brackets, expanded QCD limits, and new non-itemizer deductions—all influence charitable planning. Kitsap Community Foundation can help you guide clients toward tax-efficient giving strategies and ensure their philanthropy remains impactful and aligned with evolving rules.

Tina O'Brien
Jan 73 min read


Planning for clients’ incapacity: Why charitable intentions matter
As incapacity becomes more common, clearly documenting a client’s charitable intentions is essential to preserving their values and preventing future disputes. Kitsap Community Foundation supports advisors by offering guidance on bequest language, incapacity-ready giving instructions, and aligning intentions across estate documents. Our team is here to help ensure clients’ philanthropic goals remain protected, understood, and honored—even through periods of diminished capacit

Tina O'Brien
Dec 9, 20252 min read


A key to client retention: Consider charitable planning
Retaining client families through generational transitions is a challenge for many advisors, especially after a client passes away. Philanthropy offers a meaningful pathway to engage heirs, open conversations about values and legacy, and strengthen long-term relationships. Kitsap Community Foundation can help you support multigenerational families with tools, guidance, and facilitated discussions that deepen connection and preserve continuity for years to come.

Tina O'Brien
Dec 9, 20252 min read


2025 action required: Last call for current tax laws
As you guide clients through year-end planning, 2025 stands out as a pivotal year for charitable strategy. With significant OBBBA tax changes arriving in 2026, now is the time to help donors maximize the value of their contributions and consider tools like donor-advised funds or QCDs. Kitsap Community Foundation is here to support you and your clients in navigating these shifting rules with confidence.

Tina O'Brien
Dec 8, 20252 min read


Donor-advised funds: Flexible, tax-friendly, and just the beginning
For advisors guiding clients through charitable and financial planning, a donor-advised fund at Kitsap Community Foundation offers unmatched flexibility. Beyond simplifying annual giving, it can serve as the foundation of a comprehensive charitable portfolio—integrating tax planning, legacy strategies, and local impact. Partner with our team to ensure your clients’ generosity endures for generations.

Lillian Xie
Nov 6, 20252 min read
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