By Dan Flynn, Director of Development & External Relations
The Community Foundation of Howard County was pleased to recently welcome members of the Howard County Estate Planning Council to Athol Manor again, continuing a valued partnership that brings together professional advisors from across our region for connection, collaboration, and learning. Attorneys, financial advisors, accountants, insurance professionals, wealth managers, and other trusted advisors gathered to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships, and explore ways to better serve individuals, families, and businesses throughout our community.
As a community foundation, we know that meaningful philanthropy doesn’t happen in isolation.
It is built through relationships – especially with the professional advisors who help individuals and families navigate important decisions involving taxes, investments, retirement, estate planning, business transitions, family wealth, and giving.
That’s why gatherings like these matter.
Professional advisors play a critical role in helping their clients develop and implement plans through legal documentation, tax planning, investment strategies, and financial guidance. Increasingly, many of those conversations also include philanthropy.
That’s where the Community Foundation can help.
While attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, and wealth managers bring expertise in legal, tax, financial, and estate planning matters, the Foundation brings specialized knowledge about philanthropy, community needs, local nonprofit organizations, giving strategies, and the philanthropic tools available to help donors achieve their goals.
At CFHC, we are proud to serve not only as a convener, but also as a philanthropic advisor. We don’t provide legal, tax, or financial advice, but we work alongside donors and their advisors to help connect generosity with impact. Our role is to serve as a trusted philanthropic resource – helping identify opportunities, sharing community knowledge, and supporting giving strategies that align with a donor’s values and vision.
One of the most valuable things we can do is help connect the dots.
When professional advisors, donors, and the Community Foundation work together, conversations become more coordinated, opportunities become clearer, and giving can become even more meaningful and effective.
Importantly, these collaborative conversations are not reserved for ultra-high-net-worth families. Whether someone is considering a donor-advised fund, supporting local nonprofits, planning a legacy gift, establishing a scholarship, or simply looking for ways to maximize their impact, collaboration often uncovers opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked.
We also see our role as helping professional advisors stay connected to the evolving needs and opportunities within Howard County.
Through ongoing partnerships, educational programs such as our monthly givinglab. Lunch & Learn series, and gatherings like those hosted by the Howard County Estate Planning Council, we strive to be a trusted resource for both advisors and donors.
These moments of connection matter. They allow us to listen, learn, share ideas, and strengthen the partnerships that ultimately benefit our community. When professionals work together, the result is often a more coordinated and impactful plan for giving.
We are grateful to the Howard County Estate Planning Council and its members for their partnership, leadership, and commitment to helping individuals and families plan thoughtfully for the future. We look forward to continuing the conversation and strengthening these important relationships in the months and years ahead.
As I often say, “When professional advisors and philanthropic partners work 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 looking to support your clients’ philanthropic goals or a donor interested in exploring ways to make a greater impact, we invite you to connect with us.
- Learn more about professional advisor services
- Explore giving opportunities and fund options
- Contact me directly
Together, we can build a stronger, more generous Howard County.
Dan Flynn
Director, Development & External Relations
dflynn@cfhoco.org
410.730.7840