Women, wealth and the power of strategic giving

How to make an impact with your giving

Charitable giving has always been a meaningful way to support the causes that matter most. It’s also an increasingly powerful estate and tax planning tool that can help you create a lasting legacy, strengthen family values, and complement your broader wealth plan.

A growing influence

Women are playing a rapidly expanding role in shaping the future of philanthropy, as their financial influence rises more quickly than ever before. Many will become the sole financial decision maker at some point in their lives, whether through earnings growth, business ownership, inheritance or divorce.

With this shift comes a distinct approach to giving, deeply tied to personal experience, purpose, and long-term impact.

Many women choose to support organizations that connect to their life stories in some way: a family health challenge, a community that played a meaningful role in their past, or a cause that has historically lacked funding. Giving becomes more than just a transaction – it’s an expression of values and beliefs.

Strategic giving as part of your overall wealth plan

A well-designed giving strategy can help ensure that your philanthropic goals fit naturally within a broader financial plan. This includes asking questions like:  

• How much should I give without impacting my other long-term goals? 
• Should I give now, when I can see the impact, or through my estate when I’m gone?  
• How can I involve my children or grandchildren in creating a multigenerational legacy? 

For many families, the process of planning and discussing giving becomes just as meaningful as the gift itself.

Smart ways to give

There are several effective tools that can help maximize the impact and tax efficiency of your giving:

1. Donating appreciated securities

Giving publicGiving publicly traded securities “in kind” can be one of the most taxefficient ways to donate. 

• The charity receives the full market value of the investment 
• The donor receives a tax receipt for the same amount 
• If the securities have gone up in value, capital gains tax does not apply  

For individuals with corporations, donating from their company can provide an additional advantage. When a corporation makes a donation of publicly traded securities, the capital gain on those securities is eliminated but still gets tracked in an account called a capital dividend account. Dividends up to the value in this notional account can be distributed to shareholders as tax-free capital dividends. 

2. Setting up a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is an endowment fund (or a vehicle for giving) opened with an independent public charity. Think of it as a charitable investment account at the charity. It’s like having your own charitable private foundation without all the extra work required. Some of the benefits include:    

• A DAF can typically be started with a relatively modest contribution 
• Funds can grow tax-free over time through investment 
• Donors can choose where to direct grants at their own pace as long as a minimum of 5% per year of the value of the fund is distributed to qualified charities. 

DAFs are ideal for those who want to take advantage of the tax benefit now while taking time to decide which charities to support. 

3. Private foundations

For families with larger pools of wealth, setting up a private foundation offers a long‑term, hands‑on approach to philanthropy. But you should be aware that this usually involves a longer, and more costly process of creating a not-for-profit corporation and applying for charitable registration. Foundations can:

• Build a long-term philanthropic legacy
• Engage family members in leadership roles
• Formalize your shared mission and values

Creating a legacy that reflects your values

With thoughtful planning and the right strategies, charitable giving can become a powerful part of your financial life. It can help you support the causes you believe in, empower future generations, and create a legacy that truly reflects who you are.

---

Learn more

Interested in exploring how giving fits into your overall wealth plan? We’ll help you build a strategy that aligns with your goals and values.