The 2010 Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Advice & Giving survey gathered responses from more than 500 financial advisors in the US about their approach to providing charitable planning advice. 

The main reason given by respondents for not proactively offering charitable planning advice was the view that philanthropy is a client's personal decision (44%). Other reasons cited included because clients have not requested help in the area (52%) and because they do not feel qualified or knowledgeable enough on the topic (31%).

However, of those who do incorporate charitable planning advice into their practices, two-thirds (65%) say it is an important aspect of their client relationships. 80% said it is a relationship builder, 72% that it positions the advisor as a broad financial expert, 61% that it keeps assets under the advisor's management and 56% that it leads to a multi-generational relationship.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the Philanthropy Advice Steering Group continues its work on developing the philanthropy advice market through collective action and the sharing of knowledge and ideas. Founded by New Philanthropy Capital, it is made up of private bankers, lawyers, philanthropy experts and industry bodies.

The group held its third meeting at the beginning of September and invited Lord Wei, the government’s chief advisor on the Big Society, to address the group on his thoughts on the implications for philanthropy of the Big Society. Lord Wei said that the government is thinking of ways to decentralise its role and provide an enabling framework for communities, individuals and groups to promote change in our society. He told the meetiing that the government was keen to create a specific plan on philanthropy, with input from this group and others.

The steering group is now in the process of collectively suggesting some specific actions to put to the government to encourage more and better philanthropy, along with the other initiatives that the group has been working on throughout the year, such as promoting philanthropy training to private client advisors, building the case to donors for receiving support around their giving and making the case to advisors for incorporating philanthropy in the services they offer their clients. Details of all such initiatives will be posted on the NPC website.

NPC senior consultant Plum Lomax is optimistic the group can make its voice heard. “We’re delighted by the enthusiasm and commitment of the steering group members who are working hard to achieve specific actions to promote philanthropy advice in this country. We hope that by collaborating and drawing on the varied expertise of all our members, the united voice that will be put to government will have a significant impact. This is particularly relevant as the government shapes the Big Society and the role philanthropy will play,” she says.