Many donors create a PF or DAF to have a lasting philanthropic legacy. But too often, they fail to communicate with family members during their lives about their plans. If your client doesn’t involve his family in the charity he creates, it may never become meaningful to them. And if your client plans to leave a large portion of his assets to charity, he should let his family know. This may not be an easy conversation to have. But when philanthropy is a surprise, it may leave instead a legacy of recrimination, unhappiness and even litigation.

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