October 19-25 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week

In 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a resolution supporting the designation of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, observed each October. This month, you may want to ask your clients a question sometimes overlooked in the estate planning process: “Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?”  

Studies of high-net-worth individuals consistently show the value that clients place on advisors including charitable giving in their practice, as reported in this 2026 study by The Philanthropic Institute which surveyed high-net-worth clients and wealth advisors, trust and estate attorneys, accountants and other tax professionals.  

The key takeaway: There’s room to go deeper! Even clients who have never thought of themselves as philanthropists may welcome the opportunity to discuss charitable intentions beyond their lifetimes.  By creating a charitable bequest or a fund at The Community Foundation, or by naming that fund as the beneficiary of retirement assets, they can be confident their intentions will be honored in perpetuity. Raising the subject 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.  

Wealthy individuals — and their children — are increasingly looking to create impact and want to understand what their funding will achieve but may not be sure what the measures of success look like. That’s where we can help — with our knowledge of the nonprofit sector and by helping you and your client review giving vehicles that align with the client’s intentions while you continue to guide the overall legal, tax and financial planning. 

So ask the question: “Are there charitable causes you would like to include in your estate plan?” — but don’t stop there. If the client answers “yes,” listen closely to what they say.