Values-Based Planning in Action: Case Studies in Charitable Planning and Impact | Heifer Foundation

Sponsored by Heifer Foundation

As individuals and families seek to align their wealth with their values, advisors have an opportunity to elevate conversations beyond transactions, products, and tax efficiency alone. Values-based planning offers a human-centered approach to financial, estate, and charitable planning—one that helps donors translate what matters most to them into meaningful impact during life and beyond.

This session uses real-world case studies to explore how individuals make charitable decisions across different life stages, asset types, and levels of complexity. Attendees will examine a series of values-based planning scenarios, including gifts of retirement assets, appreciated securities, real property, donor-advised funds, and coordinated lifetime and legacy gifts. Each case study illustrates how financial, estate, and charitable planning can deepen engagement, strengthen trust, and create outcomes that reflect donors’ priorities without requiring greater financial sacrifice.

Through these examples, the session highlights how charitable planning conversations evolve—from simple, tax-aware decisions to more integrated planning that considers family, legacy, recognition, and long-term mission impact. Participants will also explore the importance of advisor–charity partnership, including how early communication with charitable organizations leads to more effective, flexible, and mission-aligned gifts.

The session concludes with practical guidance on framing values-based conversations in ways that invite reflection and curiosity. By focusing on stories rather than strategies, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to help clients integrate their values into their financial, estate, and charitable planning.

3 Learning Objectives:

• Examine how values-based planning uses financial, estate, and charitable planning stories to connect individual values with real-world impact.
  Differentiate how various financial, estate, and charitable planning approaches align with donors’ goals across life stages and asset types.
  Apply case study insights to facilitate meaningful financial and charitable planning conversations.