Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

As the end of the year approaches, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle of all the things to get done, the preparing, perhaps traveling, the celebrations to attend or maybe even something difficult that’s keeping your attention. Through all of this, we hope you can take pause and just ponder all of the things that you have to be thankful for.  Today, we are doing just that, and we can certainly look to YOU with such appreciation and thanks for your interest in or support of The Advise Us Fund.  It’s been a tremendous year, and all that we are doing to work to help others and fulfill our mission would not be possible without your support. We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and many good wishes as we embark on 2017! From generation to generation,   The Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers of The Advise Us...
Why Giving Tuesday Should Be Part of Your Giving Plan

Why Giving Tuesday Should Be Part of Your Giving Plan

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 in a partnership by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation to create an international day of giving during the busy holiday shopping season. Since 2012, Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday) has become a powerful movement supporting giving and creating a culture of philanthropy.   Since its inception, charities have seen large increases in both donor participation and dollars given per-donation. In 2015, charities saw a 155% increase in donations over 2014, bringing in over $117 million dollars. While that represents only a fraction of annual giving to charities, it does represent the largest single day of online giving. Giving Tuesday is helping charities increase the number of donors and reach the increasingly important millennial generation. The social nature of giving on Giving Tuesday makes it a great way to introduce charitable giving to children and teens.   So, this coming Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2016, take a moment to give to your favorite charities. If you have the money to spare, start up a donor-advised fund. It makes giving easy, it makes doing your taxes easier without the need to keep track of various tax receipt letters, and it forces you to think about how much you want to give in total, rather than to any given recipient. The Advise Us Fund is itself a 501(c)3 non-profit and you can donate to us here or contact our...
Join Us for Our Free Fall Boot Camp: Donor Advised Fund Essentials for Small and Medium Charities

Join Us for Our Free Fall Boot Camp: Donor Advised Fund Essentials for Small and Medium Charities

Donor Advised Fund Essentials for Small and Medium Charities The Advise Us Fund expresses its deep gratitude to Holland and Knight for graciously hosting this event. Thursday, September 29, Registration opens at 8 am, program 8:30 am – 2 pm Entire Program Free, Box Lunch Included Please email [email protected] for any dietary needs or specific agenda. Speakers Include: Bob Eichinger, Chicago Community Trust, Director of Donor Services Ron Burke, Active Transportation Alliance, Executive Director Laura Kaufman, Partners in Effective Philanthropy, President Vivian Karpowitz, Advocate Health Care Foundation, Director, Development Information and Analytics Tony Oommen, Fidelity Charitable, Vice President, Charitable Planning Consultant Kristin Carlson Vogen, Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, President and CEO David Rosen, Jewish United Fund, Senior Vice President, Endowment Free...
Estate Planning Procrastination Stopped by a Smartphone

Estate Planning Procrastination Stopped by a Smartphone

Being a middle-aged man with a family, my wife and I have been reviewing our estate plans with the intention of revising them.  15 years ago, our attorney-led us through a relatively simple process.  This time, I am searching for an app to help me manage the process.  An app that will give us what we need to do if we plug in answers to a few multiple choice questions.  Unfortunately, this app does not exist and I was stuck for a while trying to find out the status of our plans.  In lieu a magical app, I have found the following helped me to break the cycle of procrastination in estate planning: Review and Assemble Current Documents – This may seem simple but this can be complex with wills, trusts, retirement plans and life insurance.  Make sure you know where everything is and what is in it.  A good summary can be found on RetiredBrains.com. Take a Current Inventory of All Assets – Simply put, in the worst case scenario, it is important to let people know where things are.   The inventory should also be a part of your documents.  RetiredBrains.com also has a great checklist for items to include. Think of The Important People – We live our lives with and, in many ways, for our loved ones.  If you look at the wallpaper of my smartphone, you will see a picture of my loved ones.  I’m sure your loved ones occupy similar spaces and you may want them to occupy similar spaces in your estate plans. Think of The Values You Want to Pass On—We donate...