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Charitable giving in the U.S. has grown to record levels in recent years, and donor-advised funds (DAFs) account for nearly 10% of all U.S. charitable giving. Learn why benefits such as tax savings, modest costs, and increased flexibility and convenience can make DAFs an attractive option for those looking to donate.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect on January 1, 2018, and some experts suggest there could be a significant impact on charitable giving. Kim Laughton, President of Schwab Charitable, sat down with Hayden Adams, CPA, Director of Tax and Financial Planning at the Schwab Center for Financial Research (and former IRS agent) to discuss the new tax law and implications for charitable giving. Hear their thoughts on the matter, including strategies to help donors give more efficiently in the new tax environment.

Jennifer Mizrahi shares how her family's philanthropy has evolved since they experienced a stunning moment of surprise in their own giving journey. Hear more about how this family's foundation makes sure their stakeholders are active participants with active voices in all aspects of their giving. "There is no greater gift in life than enabling somebody else to have a better future." -Jennifer Mizrahi, Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund & President, RespectAbility

In family philanthropy we have the choice in how we define "family." In the case of the Quixote Foundation, family is defined as the people who are at the table because they care about each other and the issues—not because they share a biological connection. Hear about the family bonds that are created when working together for good."The more that we believe that we're in this together as a family, the greater impact we will have." -June Wilson, Executive Director Emeritus, Quixote Foundation

Family connectedness, not money, has the greatest influence on multi-generational family continuity. But when many think about legacy, it’s often in the context of multi-generational financial wealth. Money, though, masks what people are really interested in passing to future generations of their family.

Much has been written comparing the administrative, financial, and programmatic criteria of private foundations and donor advised funds. It is often presented as an “either/or” choice. It’s important to know that the two can be used in tandem to achieve complementary goals of families and other donors. Some examples are illustrated to show how it can be done.

For the majority of Americans, the tax overhaul has altered or reduced many of the financial incentives for making charitable donations. But charitable giving is rarely driven solely by the desire to trim tax bills. In fact, most individuals and families give for a variety of reasons and support organizations in whose missions they believe. Still, 18 percent of donors primarily make gifts to receive tax benefits. As this new tax era ushers in, it is an ideal time to examine why you give as well as the vehicles you use to give.

Cyber risk has become a major potential loss exposure for almost any company. As with any other exposure, directors should confirm that reasonable steps are taken to identify, mitigate, respond to, and recover from third parties relating to cyber-related problems when they arise.

The fun and rewarding activities of a family foundation center around determining the causes and organizations the foundation will support. While working together to make a difference, it is important to remember the family foundation is also a business requiring the same effective governance practices as a family business. This is especially critical when multiple generations of family members are involved. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to governing family foundations. However, there are standard practices to incorporate into foundation oversight activities.