Independent charitable organisation the Sydney Community Foundation has enlisted the help of a United States philanthropy guru to kick off a series of workshops for advisers on charitable giving.
The expert, former chief executive of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation Peter Hero, presented on the benefits of philanthropy from an adviser’s perspective at the first of the workshops to be held in Sydney on a monthly basis.
Launched this week, the workshops are quite timely as Hero anticipates clients’ interest in charitable giving is set to escalate.
“As people get older and acquire some wealth, the idea of charitable giving comes up,” he said.
“An adviser who says ‘I don’t know anything about that’ doesn’t look very good [in their clients’ eyes].
“And advisers are going to be asked [about charitable giving] more and more.”
The workshops have been designed to familiarise advisers with the concept of giving and will later provide in-depth information about philanthropy structures, Hero said.
Industry experts will chair the monthly sessions, co-ordinated by the Sydney Community Foundation, which manages and distributes funds on behalf of individuals, families, companies and other organisations.
