At the threshold of the gift-planning process, it’s important that someone communicate to the donor/client the benefits of gift-planning arrangements. Through increased sources of communication, the donor/client may learn of charitable-gift planning opportunities from a number of sources, including a charitable interest, or a legal, accounting or other financial advisor.

Though charities have traditionally assumed a greater role in the communication process, as a much larger portion of their constituency are considered potential planned-gift donors than those of a typical for-profit advisor, when for-profit advisors communicate with their constituencies, their messages may understandably focus on plans that prominently feature their particular specialty. Professional fiduciaries, for example, may communicate the benefits of a particular type of trust arrangement. An attorney may lead a client through a series of questions to determine whether there’s donative intent and, if so, how it might best be fulfilled. Those involved in the marketing of insurance products may present charitable-gift vehicles as a means of providing funds necessary to purchase insurance or promote insurance as a way to replace donated funds.