Planned Giving Opportunities

The Conversation Most Families Never Have Wealth Transfers. Wisdom Doesn’t, Unless You Design It. India will witness the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in its history over the next two decades. Trillions of rupees will move from one generation to the next. Most of it without a conversation. The parents who built it often cannot bring themselves to discuss it. The children who will receive it are rarely prepared for it. And so wealth that took decades to build gets fragmented, mismanaged or lost, not through market failure but through communication failure. What families need is not just a will. They need: • shared understanding of the wealth’s origin and values • clarity on governance and decision-making • prepared next-generation custodians • a structure that reflects intention, not just law • a trusted advisor who knows the whole family This is not estate planning. This is family architecture. The question wealthy families must ask is not: “Who gets what?” It is: “Are the people who receive it ready to steward it?”

Over the next two decades, an estimated $84 trillion is expected to transfer from older generations to their heirs in what many are calling the largest wealth transfer in history. The financial implications are huge. The philanthropic implications may be even greater. As Millennials and Gen Z step into greater financial influence, many are approaching giving differently than previous generations. We’re seeing increased interest in: • Values-aligned giving that reflects personal identity and priorities • Measurable impact and transparency around outcomes • Community involvement beyond financial contributions alone • Flexible giving vehicles and strategic philanthropy planning • Organizations that feel relational rather than institutional This doesn’t mean one generation cares more than another. It means they often define legacy differently. For many families, the conversation is shifting from: “How much will we leave behind?” to “What values do we want to carry forward?” The most effective philanthropic plans I’ve seen don’t begin with tax strategies or estate documents. They begin with conversations. • What matters most to your family? • What causes reflect your values? • What impact do you hope your resources create? • What story do you want your giving to tell? Assets transfer. Values must be transferred intentionally. That may be the most important legacy conversation of all.

There is a sentence I keep hearing from the next generation of wealthy families, in different words but always the same thought: "𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗻. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝘁." It comes up in different rooms, different cities, different family contexts. But the core confusion is identical. The heir understands the portfolio. They can read the statements. They know the numbers. What they do not have is the reason behind any of it. That gap is the entire generational wealth conversation compressed into a single feeling. The data tells this story at scale. Over the next fifteen years, an estimated Rs 2.5 lakh crore will transfer to the next generation of Indian UHNI families. Global surveys suggest roughly 80% of heirs plan to change their wealth advisors within two years of inheriting. Philanthropy among UHNI families has grown over 60% in the past year. The next generation is not disengaged from wealth. They are disengaged from how wealth has been explained to them. The problem is not that the heirs do not care. The problem is that nobody told them the story. Most families pass down assets, structures, and instructions. The what and the how. Very few pass down the why. Why this allocation. Why that land was never sold. Why this relationship with a specific partner has been protected for thirty years. Without that connective tissue, the inheritor receives a portfolio but not a philosophy. A spreadsheet but not a spine. A generation that grew up asking "why" before "how much" will not stay loyal to a structure they cannot find meaning in. This is not a rebellion. I find that framing lazy. What I see in the next generation is not defiance but a different hierarchy of values. They want transparency. They want to understand the logic behind allocation, not just the returns. They care about impact as a genuine criterion for how capital gets deployed. They are not trying to destroy what their parents built. They are trying to understand it well enough to feel that carrying it forward is a choice, not an obligation. The families navigating this well are not the ones with the best technology. They are the ones who articulated what the family stands for, what the wealth is meant to do, and why the next generation should feel ownership over that purpose, not just the portfolio. That work is not financial. It is narrative. It is governance. It is emotional architecture. And it is the most neglected dimension of wealth transfer in India today. A family constitution that only describes who gets what is a legal document. One that describes why the family exists and what it believes is a living story. The first distributes assets. The second holds generations together. The next generation does not want to rebel. They want to belong. But belonging requires a story worth joining. And that story has to be told before the transfer, not after. Sreepriya N S Entrust Family Office Entrust CFO Services

Are we even ready for what the next generation is asking of us? Boomers and Gen X often frame giving around alignment in values. Millennials nudge us toward purpose. But Gen Z? They’re not here for any tap-dancing BS. This is the generation that: 1️⃣ grew up post-9/11, 2️⃣ entered the workforce during a pandemic, 3️⃣ saw “recession” as baseline, not exception. They don’t want polish. They want transparency: what’s broken, who’s accountable, and how we’re fixing it. And honestly, our systems weren’t built for that. Nonprofit fundraising systems were built to protect donor confidence, to reward polish over truth, outputs over complexity, and reputation over risk. That’s exactly what younger generations refuse to settle for—and maybe that’s the pressure we need. So will we shift what we call a win? It means challenging ourselves to tell a more holistic story—one that names both progress and gaps, both innovation and harm—so that accountability is baked into the work, not avoided in the reporting. Because a generation raised in crisis won’t settle for less. And that means each of us has to ask ourselves: are we able to name the messy truths, not just the polished ones? I was on the NPFX: The Nonprofit Fundraising Exchange recently with Russ Phaneuf and Josh Gryniewicz where we started to dig into this tension—what it looks like to balance narrative, power, and accountability in how we talk to and with donors. If this is top of mind for you, give it a listen. 🎙️ Here’s where I’m still chewing: if we want to meet Gen Z & younger donors where they are, our messaging can’t just be simple stories. It has to be stories that breathe: that show struggle, strategy, possibility, with accountability baked in. #FundingFreedom #NarrativePower #WealthJustice #NextGenPhilanthropy #Accountability https://lnkd.in/eD8cqd7F

When first-generation wealth creators and next-generation innovators sit in the same boardroom to discuss philanthropy, things can get complicated fast. The older generation is anchored in preservation and traditional, proven methods, while the youth are driven by systemic disruption, tech-forward ideas, and immediate data-driven impact. When these worldviews clash, a family's legacy stalls. In my latest article, "Passing the Torch Without Burning the Bridge: How to Navigate Family Giving Across Generations," I examine how shifting from a mindset of control to one of collaboration is the key to institutional longevity. I share four practical strategies to bridge this gap, including aligning on family values, creating low-risk "innovation sandboxes" for next-gen leaders, and building two-way mentorship structures. Read the full piece below to discover how we can ensure African wealth does not just survive the transition but multiplies its impact for generations to come. #FamilyGovernance #GenerationalWealth #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #FamilyLegacy

What can next-generation family members do to make their contributions to their philanthropy effective and meaningful? The National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) frequently speaks about next-generation engagement from the perspective of the controlling generation—how they should lay the groundwork and formally extend the invitation. However, next-generation family members hold agency to ensure their own engagement is a success. Engaging in family philanthropy is a complex, but rewarding, endeavor. It demands your time, energy, and a willingness to navigate intricate family and power dynamics. Yet, by stepping forward with intention, next-generation leaders can become critical agents of change. When the invitation arrives, here is how you can consciously shape your journey: 🟢 Articulate your motivation for engagement. What drives your willingness to participate, and what values do you want to bring to the table? 🟢 Identify guardrails and open gates. Take time to understand what is rigid and what is flexible within the philanthropy’s current structure. Identifying where you have true decision-making authority—and where policies are non-negotiable—helps prevent early friction and focuses your energy where it can matter most. 🟢 Define your engagement. What does success look like? How will you hold yourself accountable? 🟢 Navigate conflict with compassion. Conflict in family philanthropy is almost unavoidable. When handled poorly, it can stall progress. When approached with empathy, healthy conflict can help families find clarity, challenge biases, and become more effective. 🟢 Create a learning agenda. Effective family philanthropy is achieved through a commitment to curious, continuous inquiry. Approach the work with humility—attend conferences, join peer networks, find a mentor, and tap into professional advisors for guidance. Stepping into a family philanthropy is a profound privilege. It is rarely easy, yet can be deeply rewarding. When next-generation leaders prepare themselves to engage consciously, and current leadership meets them with a genuine willingness to share power, we move closer to the transformational sector we know is possible.

🌟 Growing up, I always felt like I was perpetually seated at the kids' table—literally at family gatherings, and metaphorically in professional settings. You know the feeling, right? It’s where conversations are light, and you’re somewhat removed from where the 'serious' discussions happen. But imagine if we could break down the barriers that separate the 'kids' table' and the 'adults' table', fostering an environment of mutual respect, learning, and growth? ✨ Thanks to my work with Foundations for Tomorrow.org, I suddenly found myself among 50 visionary leaders at the "Intergenerational Town Hall: An Australian Vision for 2100" where the future of global governance was being shaped as we head towards the UN Summit of the Future in 2024. ✨ The focus? On forging ideas and commitments from the ground up, ensuring that our global governance structures resonate with and inclusively reflect the diverse, intergenerational realities of people worldwide. The truth about achieving real change, inclusion, and diversity involves: 🔸 Going Beyond Symbolic Gestures: True change requires more than just the tokenistic offering of a seat at a table. It means actively engaging in the spaces where those we aim to serve already reside. 🔸 Engaging Directly: To truly serve communities, we need to physically and mentally 'sit at their tables.' This means entering community spaces, understanding their day-to-day experiences, and collaborating with them in environments that are familiar and comfortable for them, not just for us. It's about building trust and relationships on their terms. 🔸 Deep Engagement: Surface-level engagement often leads to shallow understandings and ineffective solutions. Deep engagement means being committed to ongoing dialogue that helps crafting strategies that are not only relevant but also embraced by the communities. 🔸 Informed Decisions: For governance to be truly inclusive and effective, decisions must be informed by the people most impacted by them. This involves collecting insights directly from community interactions and using this data to guide policies and initiatives. It ensures that the solutions developed are not based on assumptions but on real needs and preferences. Intergenerational collaboration is about breaking down the barriers between the 'kids' table' and the 'adults' table'. By coming together, sharing perspectives, and co-creating solutions, we can build a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient for all generations. 🌍 The Town Hall at Orygen by Our Future Agenda, Foundations for Tomorrow.org supported by the United Nations Foundation. The goal was to collect strategic ideas and develop practical solutions for the 2100 Roadmap. This roadmap aims to create a long-term vision for the future that spans generations. The final plan is set to be presented to global leaders at the concluding SDG Summit in 2027. Taylor Dee Hawkins Nancy Lorena Ríos Hayley Whatman Foundations for Tomorrow.org

NextGen Challenges – or "she’s bright, but she just doesn’t get it.” When writing my book “Trust – The Skill of Trusteeship in 16 Success Stories and 1 Failure”, I had to leave out certain of the cases I have worked on, whether for reasons of confidentiality or because other cases fit a theme more clearly. Here’s one that just didn’t make it in. That’s how one client described his daughter when we first spoke about preparing her for the wealth she would one day become a beneficiary of. She was 24, OxBridge educated, well-travelled, and, in his words, “completely unready.” No understanding of stewardship. No interest in the trust. No appetite for responsibility. And she’s not alone. Time and again, I meet the next generation of beneficiaries who’ve grown up with access but no awareness. Wealth, when handed without due preparation, becomes a great burden. And often, a destructive one. As a fiduciary, my role isn’t just to administer assets. It’s to prepare people. And over the years, I’ve developed frameworks to do just that. Whether it's bespoke education, mentorship, or stewardship plans tailored to each beneficiary’s personality, maturity, and context. But it all starts with conversation. Not instruction. I ask them what they value. What they fear. What they think “wealth” means. We talk about power, pressure, self-worth. I don’t throw balance sheets at them. I ask if they understand what a trust really is. Not legally, but practically. From there, we build. Personalised modules on trusts, investment basics, legal obligations, and the real cost of entitlement. We then move on to Mentorship with one-to-one dialogue over time, mainly with me but also with trusted professionals who act more like guides than instructors. We then develop stewardship pathways: real decision-making opportunities, starting small, then scaling. A seat at the table, but one they’ve earned. And the change can be remarkable. That same 24-year-old? She’s now 28. She runs a philanthropic foundation focused on education for displaced girls. She sits on the investment committee of the family trust. She challenges us as trustees when needed. Just constructively. She didn’t just wake up one day and become “ready”. She grew into it because we gave her space, structure, and respect. Entitlement isn’t inevitable. But it is predictable, particularly when wealth is handed down without meaning. The best trust structures in the world can’t protect a family from human weakness. But well-prepared beneficiaries, grounded in values and guided by process, can transform a family legacy into something resilient, relevant, and responsible. And that’s what I try to steward: people, not portfolios. If this post interested you, you may enjoy my book “Trust – The Skill of Trusteeship in 16 Success Stories and 1 Failure”, where I explore the remarkable things that trusts and trustees can achieve when done well and for the right reasons. Order it here: https://amzn.eu/d/bXp6aKz

💡 What if the strongest legacy we can leave our children isn’t wealth — but generosity? It’s never too early to start these conversations. When families make generosity a shared value, it becomes the “magic glue” that keeps generations united — strengthening bonds not just through assets, but through purpose. In my experience, philanthropy can be that glue. Gen Z, however, were born into a world of scarcer resources, more conflict, and unlimited data. This gives them a sharper — and often different — perspective than previous generations. Many times, they disagree with their families on environmental, social, political, or religious issues. If not addressed, these gaps can distance them from the family business and weaken the very unity philanthropy is meant to preserve. And the data confirms this shift. According to the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP), in 35% of surveyed family foundations younger generations report having less time for philanthropy. Even more concerning: compared to 2020, fewer foundations in 2025 explicitly encourage giving back as a family value (40% vs. 51%). But there’s a way forward. When we empower younger generations to choose the causes they care about, we ignite a sense of purpose and strengthen family unity. 💡 Practical ways to do this:    •   Invite next-gen members to site visits with partner organizations    •   Allocate discretionary or matching funds so they can champion causes they believe in    •   Celebrate generosity as a core family value — not just an activity And generosity is not necessarily about money — it can be about time, energy, and love. That’s why I recommend Chris Anderson’s book “Gentileza Gera Gentileza”. As CEO of TED, he shows how the internet can amplify acts of generosity and help perpetuate this spirit in families, businesses, and communities. Because when we teach our children that kindness generates kindness, we are not only shaping better human beings — we are also building stronger families, businesses, and societies. ⸻ If you’ve read this post all the way to here, please tell me…are you engaging your family in philanthropy? I’d love to hear your stories. #FamilyBusiness #Philanthropy #NextGenLeadership #Sustainability #Generosity #Leadership #InnovationWithPurpose #GrowthMindset #InclusiveLeadership