Your clients rely on your guidance to make important financial decisions. When it comes to charitable giving, we can partner with you to simplify their giving and amplify their impact.
But don’t just take our word for it. Hear from professionals in the field like Brandon Hamm, Attorney with Koley Jessen.
Brandon serves as a trusted advisor to some of the region’s most prominent individuals, families and business owners and assists them with the accumulation, management, protection and transfer of their wealth. He was named “Lawyer of the Year” in Omaha by Best Lawyers® in 2023 for his work in Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law.
For your clients with charitable interests, what makes OCF a good partner to facilitate giving goals?
Without question, it is OCF’s understanding of the philanthropic and nonprofit landscape in the Omaha community. It’s hard to imagine any group having better knowledge of Omaha’s needs and capabilities than OCF.
How have your clients utilized OCF in their plans?
My clients have used OCF’s services and capabilities in numerous ways: (1) they have formed Charitable Checkbook® funds as a vehicle for annual giving; (2) they have created donor advised funds as a substitute to a private family foundation; (3) they have formed support organizations under the umbrella of OCF; (4) they have hired OCF as a consultant to help guide the formalization of their family foundation operations; and (5) they have engaged OCF to help discern, define and memorialize philanthropic intent.
How can advisors prompt clients to include their children or next generations in their charitable giving?
It’s simple – advisors just have to raise the issue with their clients. In my experience, it’s rare that a client would not want to use their own charitable giving as a way to teach their children about the importance of giving back to their community. So asking a client about their desire to involve their children is kind of a rhetorical question – almost universally clients want to do that. Then the real question becomes how to involve the children.
How has involvement with CAP enhanced your profession?
I have a far better understanding of how to facilitate conversations about philanthropy after CAP. Not only did I learn more about the various tools, techniques and strategies that can be used to carry out charitable objectives, but I became more well-versed in discussing the intent that motivates philanthropy, how to memorialize and communicate that intent to family members and others involved in implementation, and how involving the targeted organizations can help to refine the effort to maximize impact.