By Dan Flynn, Director, Development & External Relations
CFHC was proud to host the Howard County Estate Planning Council for its quarterly Wake Up Wednesday networking event on March 18 – bringing together professional advisors from across our region for a morning of connection, conversation, and shared insight.
As a community foundation, we know that strong philanthropy doesn’t happen in isolation. It is built through relationships – especially with the attorneys, financial planners, insurance experts, accountants, and other professional advisors who guide individuals and families in shaping their philanthropic goals. Hosting and participating in conversations like these are an important part of our role, helping to strengthen connections, share knowledge, and ensure that philanthropy remains thoughtful, strategic, and responsive to community needs.
For professional advisors, CFHC serves as both a trusted philanthropic partner and a knowledgeable advisor in our own right – working alongside you to support your clients with customized giving strategies, deep local expertise, and opportunities for meaningful impact. For donors, our relationships within the professional advisor community reflect our commitment to being a knowledgeable, connected, and strategic resource – helping you navigate your philanthropic goals with confidence and clarity.
CFHC is proud to be part of this broader ecosystem, serving not only as a convener but also as a philanthropic advisor – bringing deep community knowledge, grantmaking expertise, and a commitment to aligning generosity with impact. We also extend this guidance directly to our community through our monthly giving.lab series, offering donors practical insights to support thoughtful and impactful giving. By working together, we can ensure that giving is not only effective today, but enduring for generations to come.
These moments of connection matter.
They allow us to listen, to learn, and to deepen the partnerships that ultimately strengthen our community. We are grateful to the Howard County Estate Planning Council and to the many advisors who continue to engage in this work with us.
We’ve also used this busy time of year to connect with tax advisors. We delivered more than 100 “Tax Season Survival Kits” to CPAs and tax professionals in Howard County. Each goodie bag was filled with good humor, a number of tasty snacks and treats, information on the Foundation, and stress and pain-relieving solutions. It’s one way for our staff to show support and appreciation for the work our advisor colleagues do. See pictures below of our “assembly line.”
As I often say, “When professional advisors and philanthropic partners come together, we create stronger pathways for giving – ensuring that generosity is not only meaningful, but lasting and impactful for the communities we serve.”
Whether you are a professional advisor or a donor, we invite you to connect with CFHC to explore how we can partner to support your charitable goals and maximize your impact in Howard County and beyond. www.cfhoco.org
