Charitable Planning
Helping clients give smarter
Maximize tax benefits and preserve family wealth
Charitable giving can do more than support a good cause—it can also serve as a smart financial planning tool. At Dana Whiting Law, we use our deep tax expertise to help clients structure charitable gifts in ways that maximize both impact and income tax benefits. We also volunteer our time to assist charitable organizations in their fundraising efforts, giving us a unique perspective on how to align donor intent with smart strategy.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Why Charitable Giving Matters
Most public charities face a constant need for funding to meet their annual budgets. At Dana Whiting Law, we not only understand this need—we actively support it. Our attorneys regularly volunteer their time to assist charitable organizations in their fundraising efforts. Through our work, we’ve seen how powerful charitable giving can be—not just for the cause, but for the donor as well.
Donors Give More When They Understand the Tax Benefits
Research—and experience—shows that donors are more likely to give, and give more generously, when they fully understand the income tax advantages of charitable contributions. The IRS offers a wide range of tax incentives for charitable giving, but these benefits are often overlooked or misunderstood.
That’s where we come in. With advanced tax degrees (LLMs in Taxation) and deep knowledge of the Federal Income Tax Code, our attorneys help clients unlock the full value of their gifts—not just in terms of impact, but in real financial benefit.
Tools for Smarter Giving
Our expertise spans a broad array of charitable planning vehicles, including:
- Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs)
- Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs)
- Pooled Income Funds
- Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
- Private Foundations
- Charitable Gift Annuities
We tailor the strategy to each client’s goals—whether that’s minimizing taxes, maximizing lifetime income, involving children in philanthropy, or building a family legacy.
A Win-Win-Win Approach
In most cases, charitable planning creates a rare triple benefit:
- Clients receive substantial income tax deductions.
- Charities receive meaningful, often long-term financial support.
- Families can still receive a full inheritance—with the right planning.
Here’s how: The income tax savings from a charitable gift can be used to purchase a life insurance policy for the client’s children. When the client passes, the large charitable gift goes to the charity—but the insurance proceeds replace (or even exceed) that value for the family. It’s a powerful strategy that aligns generosity with smart planning.
Explore Broader Tax Strategies
For a comprehensive look at wealth-preserving strategies beyond charitable giving, visit our High-Net-Worth Tax Planning resource.