National Estate Planning Awareness Week Highlights Charitable Giving
In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution supporting the designation of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, observed each October. You’ve likely heard of this, and you may know that October 19 through 25 is the week in 2026. Chances are, though, you’ve not recently looked at the actual resolution. The preamble outlines several reasons why estate planning deserves this annual spotlight. Here are three worth noting:
Key Takeaways from the House Resolution
“Whereas careful estate planning can greatly assist Americans in preserving assets built over a lifetime for the benefit of family, heirs, or charities.”
“Whereas estate planning involves many considerations, including safekeeping of important documents, documentation of assets, operation of law in the various States, preparation of legal instruments, insurance, availability of trust arrangements, charitable giving, inter vivos care of the benefactor, and other important factors.”
“Whereas alternatives to disposition of assets after death, such as planned gift-giving, may accomplish a benefactor’s goal of providing for his or her family and favorite charities.”
The Gap in Estate Planning and Charitable Giving Conversations
What’s especially noteworthy is the intentional inclusion of charitable giving throughout the resolution. For attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors, National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a good time to remind yourself to ask each client a question that can open an important dialogue sometimes overlooked in the estate planning process:
“Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?”
Sounds simple, right? Still, advisors may not address charitable giving as consistently or thoroughly as clients would like, according to the 2026 TPI Study of the Philanthropic Conversation, which surveyed high-net-worth clients and wealth advisors, trust and estate attorneys, accountants, and other tax professionals.
Findings from the 2026 TPI Study:
- 80% of HNW clients agreed that advisors have an obligation to engage them in conversations about charitable activity.
- 93% of clients who discussed philanthropy with advisors considered the advisor’s role important.
- While 99% were satisfied overall, only 61% reported being very satisfied with charitable planning discussions.
Integrating Charitable Bequests and Complex Asset Gifts
The key takeaway: There’s room to go deeper! Keep in mind that even clients who have never thought of themselves as philanthropists may welcome the opportunity to fully discuss and structure their charitable intentions beyond their lifetimes, such as through a charitable bequest to a favorite organization or a fund at the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), or by naming a charity as the beneficiary of retirement assets. Raising the subject in more than a cursory way can also lead to broader conversations about family, values, getting the next generation involved, and legacy—conversations that deepen your understanding of what matters to your clients.
So ask the question—“Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?”—and then keep listening. If the answer is yes, involve OCCF early as a charitable-planning partner. We can help you and your client explore options that align with the client’s intentions while you continue leading the legal, tax, and financial planning.
Ways to Donate Real Estate and Non-Cash Assets
OCCF complements—not replaces—the advisor relationship. For time-sensitive planning opportunities, we can help establish donor-advised funds quickly and can accept complex appreciated assets, including publicly traded securities, real estate, private business interests, and cryptocurrency. That practical support helps turn charitable intent into an effective plan while you remain at the center of the client’s broader financial strategy.
How OCCF Partners with Advisors for Multigenerational Impact
For families building a multigenerational legacy, OCCF offers a range of charitable fund options, including donor-advised, designated agency, and field-of-interest funds. We also provide customized philanthropic advising and local nonprofit knowledge to help connect clients’ charitable intentions with community impact, support families engaging the next generation, and partner with private foundations seeking strategic support for their mission and giving plans.
Bring OCCF into your next charitable-planning conversation. We can help you and your clients consider thoughtful charitable solutions, deepen the connection between giving and community impact, and carry generational values forward—while you continue guiding the legal, tax, and financial work. And when a client says, “Could you help us with …,” let OCCF be the trusted local partner you call.
