Gillian Howell
Gillian Howell
CHARITABLE PLANNING
Key takeaway: In these situations you can help your clients assess where their goals align with society’ s needs and encourage them to engage in proactive, long-term philanthropic planning that they can sustain.
2. Donors Have Different Expectations
The coming decade will see the largest wealth transfer in history as baby boomers pass their assets to millennial and Gen X heirs. This massive asset move will reshape the philanthropic landscape, since younger donors have different preferences and expectations for their charitable giving.
For instance, younger donors view giving less as charity and more as an investment in societal impact. They want to see measurable results and engage directly with causes, and they expect their resources— both financial and social— to drive systemic change.
These donors are also transforming the ways people give. They favor mobile giving tools, online grant-making platforms, and even cryptocurrency donations. These shifts are reshaping fundraising and creating opportunities for advisors to guide clients toward more tech-savvy giving strategies.
Additionally, younger donors are more open to exploring formal charitable giving vehicles and using two or more of them in tandem for maximum effectiveness. At the same time, they’ re placing greater emphasis on transparency and trust. Next-gen donors expect access to real-time reporting and impact data, and thanks to PhilTech, such data is increasingly available.
As these donor preferences evolve, philanthropy should be a standing agenda item in client conversations— not just a year-end topic. So advisors should be sure to approach the topic with flexibility, given the uncertainty of how these new generations will want to give in the long run.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly permeating daily life, society and industry, and it’ s fundamentally reshaping how philanthropy operates.
Key takeaway: Transparency, trust and digital engagement are essential for connecting with emerging donors. A flexible, multi-vehicle approach to philanthropy will help you meet the expectations of this rapidly changing donor base.
3. AI’ s Role In Philanthropy
Artificial intelligence is rapidly permeating daily life, society and industry, and it’ s fundamentally reshaping how philanthropy operates. AI-driven tools are streamlining donors’ key tasks, from the ways they measure impact and forecast emerging needs to the way they review grant applications and plan tax deductions. These developments will free both the donors and their financial advisors to focus on strategic decisions and meaningful engagement.
Advisors can further help by guiding clients toward a responsible, informed adoption of these new technologies. While AI algorithms can reveal insightful patterns, it takes a human being to interpret the data ethically and with compassion and understanding. As you help clients integrate AI into their giving, you can also ensure that the technology complements— not replaces— the clients’ own decision-making. Key takeaway: AI is already reshaping philanthropy. Advisors who embrace its potential— while guiding clients to use it thoughtfully and ethically— will maximize efficiency, insight and impact.
As we look to the year ahead, philanthropy continues to be one of the most dynamic tools you can use as a trusted advisor. By keeping pace with these philanthropic trends— from tax reform and funding shifts to generational change and AI— you’ ll help clients give with greater meaning, strategy and impact, while also strengthening their overall financial plan.
GILLIAN HOWELL is the National Philanthropy Executive at Foundation Source, the leader in philanthropic software and services for donors, nonprofits, advisors and financial institutions.
20 | FINANCIAL ADVISOR MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2025 WWW. FA-MAG. COM