Working with Us

For more than four decades, we have served as a trusted resource, developing personalized solutions, confidentially and without a fee.

Betty Doll with her financial advisor, Al Davis, Davis Financial Planning. "I know how important it is to think carefully about your life and legacy. I included The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina in my estate plan. I worked with them now so that after my lifetime, an endowed fund will support the causes I believe in. I’m at ease knowing that the Foundation will steward my legacy for the good of the community – forever." – Betty Doll . Photo by Michael Oppenheim.

Advising Your Clients

When your clients' needs involve charitable giving, CFWNC can partner with you to achieve their goals. Our services make charitable giving effective, convenient and meaningful. We can help you extend and deepen client relationships, expand your role and connect family members over generations.

An annual professional seminar with continuing education credit, informal "lunch and learns" and an e-newsletter exclusively for professional advisors to keep you informed and connected.

Review Our Brochure

A bequest in a will or other planning document is one of the simplest ways for your clients to make a gift or establish a charitable legacy at CFWNC.

Making Things Easy

When CFWNC is involved, my job usually gets easier. It happened recently when a client asked for help designating a large IRA at death to a number of charities. She wanted each nonprofit’s share to be held in a permanent fund that pays income annually. It looked complicated. Then we called The Community Foundation. It agreed to administer the gift, when the time comes, as my client desired. I prepared the form, and CFWNC did the rest. Becky Davis worked with my client to prepare the fund agreement identifying the nonprofits and detailing the shares of the income and any applicable restrictions. A difficult legal project became easy. I like easy!

R. Walton Davis, III, P.A.

My clients count on me, and I refer them to CFWNC because I know that they'll be treated with professionalism.

— Dan Akers, Beacon Pointe

My client

Is concerned about retirement plan assets

"I have a large retirement fund, but I'm worried that my children will receive only 20 or 30 cents on the dollar."

Using a retirement plan to create an endowment will reduce estate tax, eliminate income tax on the IRA distribution and create a family legacy.

Wishes to leave a legacy

"I have no children, and it's time to write a will."

How does your client want to be remembered? You can suggest a charitable fund at the Foundation as a way to support the issues they are passionate about in perpetuity.

Is concerned about taxes

"I want to sell appreciated property, but I'm concerned about capital gains taxes. How can I eliminate or reduce my taxes?"

Giving all or part of an asset to charity will eliminate or reduce capital gains taxes, continue or begin to provide lifelong income and enable your client to support community needs.

Wants to help a specific individual

"I have a longtime employee I'd like to help."

A life-income gift, such as a charitable gift annuity will assure the friend/family member a lifetime income--and allow your client to support a favorite charity at that person's death.

Wants to be charitable but is unsure where to give

"I'll be receiving additional income this year. I'd like to give some to charity, but I'm not sure which one."

A donor advised fund will lock in a tax deduction for the current year and allow time to choose the charity. With expertise on the nonprofit community, Foundation staff can connect donors with organizations in their areas of interest and provide opportunities for fundholders to support projects with the Foundation.

Is considering a gift of real estate

The Community Foundation can help you turn your client’s home, vacation home, business property or land into a charitable gift through the Western North Carolina Real Estate Foundation, a supporting organization of CFWNC.

Our knowledge and experience encompass all aspects of charitable giving, including complex gifts, the impact of philanthropy on tax planning, retirement and the sale of a business.