How We Can Help.
We believe the most effective philanthropy starts with listening. By understanding your clients’ priorities, whether it’s family dynamics, business interests, legacy goals, and community connections. At Greater Houston Community Foundation, we help identify the charitable tools and structures that make the most sense for their situation.
Our role is to help navigate complexity, align the right charitable strategies, and ensure giving supports long-term financial and estate planning goals.
“If you advise clients around charitable giving in Houston, it is essential to be aware of Greater Houston Community Foundation as it is the philanthropic leader in Houston. As the philanthropic experts in our region, it is important to understand the value a partnership with the Community Foundation brings through their programs, resources, acceptance of noncash assets, and philanthropic expertise.”
Tama Klosek, Managing Member at Klosek & Associates & Community Foundation Fundholder
How We Support Your Clients
Below are examples of common situations where the Community Foundation can help advisors and clients achieve the best possible outcome:
Closely Held Business Owners
When business owners are preparing for a liquidity event or succession, charitable giving can play a meaningful role. We help explore donor advised funds, charitable trusts, and other giving vehicles that support tax efficiency while advancing philanthropic goals.
Uncover the variety of noncash assets the Community Foundation accepts.
Liquidity Events
Significant financial moments, such as the sale of a business or appreciated assets, create unique planning opportunities. Our team collaborates with advisors before any sale to integrate charitable strategies that align with timing, tax considerations, and long‑term impact.
Read about a real-world example.
Family Dynamics
Families often want charitable giving to reflect shared values while honoring individual perspectives. We help structure philanthropic plans that encourage engagement across generations and support intentional family philanthropy.
“I started the Family Foundation to give back to those less fortunate than I had been. But also, so that I would set an example for my children to follow if they chose to be involved.”
Tony Annunziato, Community Foundation Fundholder
Read about a real-world example.
Philanthropy in the Estate Planning Process
Charitable giving can be a powerful component of estate planning, especially if your clients have an upcoming transition on the horizon such as retirement, a big liquidity event, or upcoming generational transition. We work alongside advisors to help clients incorporate philanthropy into wills, trusts, and legacy plans in ways that are both meaningful and strategic.
“My client got to execute their vision and engage in the impact without the homework or the administrative burden. My client has been able to see the experience that their private foundation’s successors will have, which has also provided peace of mind to see a plan in action that will continue in perpetuity.”
Jen Strauss, Partner at Ytterberg, Deery, Knull, LLP
No Children to Inherit
For individuals without direct heirs, philanthropy often becomes a central part of legacy planning. We help design giving strategies that ensure assets are directed toward causes and organizations that matter most to your client.
“We don’t have children, and we were a bit stressed about what was going to happen. We approached legacy planning as another aspect of our will. However, the will has all the morbid details; this is the fun stuff.”
J.C. Howell, Community Foundation Fundholder
A Trusted Partner in Philanthropic Planning
As a community foundation rooted in Houston, Greater Houston Community Foundation brings local knowledge, philanthropic expertise, and administrative support that allows advisors and their clients to focus on what matters most to you: creating the best possible outcome for your client. To explore how the Community Foundation can support your clients’ charitable goals, we invite you to start a conversation with our team.
More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:
- What is a Donor Advised Fund? The Complete Guide
- The Importance of Charitable Giving in Financial and Estate Planning
- Philanthropy and Business Owners: What Advisors Need to Know about Charitable Exits
- Giving Cash or Stock? A Strategic Guide to Charitable Giving
- Rooted in Values: How Gifting Land Can Create Lasting Impact
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