Philanthropy at Any Age: Taking Control Through Planned Giving

Stacey Jensen, Director of Development CornerHouse Children’s Advocacy Center, 2025

Philanthropy isn’t reserved for the wealthy or the retired—it’s a mindset and a mission that anyone can embrace, at any stage of life. Planned giving is one of the most powerful ways to align your values with a lasting impact. And the best part? You don’t have to wait until retirement to start. Whether you’re just beginning your career or refining your estate plan, there’s a path forward.

Let’s start with the basics. Planned giving refers to charitable contributions that are arranged in advance, often as part of your financial or estate planning. These gifts can take many forms— bequests in a will, naming a nonprofit as a beneficiary on a retirement account, setting up a donoradvised fund, or creating a charitable remainder trust. A donor-advised fund lets you make a taxdeductible gift now and recommend grants to nonprofits over time. A charitable remainder trust provides income to you or others for a set period, with the remainder going to charity—offering both tax benefits and long-term impact. Each tool offers different advantages—from tax efficiency to lasting impact—and can be tailored to fit your goals and stage of life (National Council of Nonprofits, 2023).

So why do so many people assume planned giving is only for older or wealthy individuals? It’s a common misconception. In reality, younger donors are increasingly interested in making valuesbased financial decisions. A 2022 study by Fidelity Charitable found that 74% of Millennial and Gen Z donors consider themselves “impact-driven,” and 61% are thinking about legacy planning before age 40 (Fidelity Charitable, 2022). This reflects a broader generational trend toward purpose-driven living and financial intentionality.

Andrea Schrieffer, Wealth Management Advisor at Innovative Planning Group, puts it this way: “There is a mindset shift taking place where philanthropy is becoming a life strategy and not just something that happens at retirement.” This shift is about intentionality—taking control of your legacy rather than leaving it to chance. As Andrea also reminds us, “If you don’t make these decisions, someone else will. Your impact will be far less without a plan in place.”

Financial planners and nonprofit professionals increasingly advocate for this values-based approach. As Schervish and Havens (2001) argue, “philanthropy is not merely a transfer of wealth, but a transfer of meaning.” Planned giving, when integrated into broader life planning, allows individuals to articulate and institutionalize their values in enduring ways.

Importantly, planned giving is not monolithic—it can and should be tailored to a donor’s age, financial capacity, and philanthropic intent. For those in early career stages—typically in their 20s and 30s—entry points might include naming a nonprofit as a beneficiary on a retirement account or life insurance policy, setting up a donor-advised fund, or establishing recurring gifts that build a habit of giving. Mid-career donors, often in their 40s and 50s, may begin exploring more complex strategies such as charitable trusts, blended gifts that combine current and future giving, or incorporating philanthropy into broader estate planning. Retirees and older adults in their 60s and beyond often focus on bequests, endowments, or transferring appreciated assets to maximize impact and minimize tax burdens. One particularly effective strategy for individuals over the age of 70½ is the utilization of qualified charitable contributions (QCDs), which allow donors to make direct transfers from their Traditional IRA to a nonprofit organization without incurring income taxes—benefiting both the donor and the charity. Each stage offers meaningful opportunities to create lasting impact while engaging family members in conversations about legacy, values, and community responsibility.

Nonprofit organizations play a key role in making planned giving accessible. At CornerHouse, we help make planned giving accessible by offering the tools and strategies donors need to give with confidence. We provide platforms and processes for accepting gifts such as donor-advised funds and stock transfers, making it easier to align financial assets with philanthropic goals. To build trust and transparency, we maintain a comprehensive gift acceptance policy that outlines the types of contributions we welcome and how they support our mission. CornerHouse has earned the stamp of approval from the Charities Review Council and is proud to be Platinum Certified through Candid (formerly known as Guide Star), reflecting our commitment to accountability, impact, and donor stewardship.

So what’s one thing you can do today? Start the conversation. Talk to a financial planner. Review your beneficiary designations. Reach out to a nonprofit you care about. Planned giving isn’t just about money—it’s about meaning. It’s about deciding what kind of legacy you want to leave and taking steps to make it happen.

Because if you don’t make the decision, someone else will. Take control of your legacy, your finances, and your future—starting now.

References Fidelity Charitable. (2022). The Future of Philanthropy: How Younger Generations Are Reshaping Giving. National Council of Nonprofits. (2023). Planned Giving: Tools and Strategies for Nonprofits. National Philanthropic Trust. (2023). 2023 Donor-Advised Fund Report. Schervish, P. G., & Havens, J. J. (2001). The Mind of the Millionaire: Findings from a National Survey on Wealth with Responsibility. The Journal of Wealth Management, 4(1), 8–18