When you think of Charity organizations, do you think of a simple giving and receiving relationship? Or do you recognize there are complexities involved in contributing and receiving gifts like real estate, business interests, and non-cash assets? As you can probably tell from the questions above, there is a lot more that goes into charitable giving (and receiving) than what we often believe.

This episode features Doug Benson, Senior Vice President & In-House Counsel for Foundation of the Carolinas. Doug oversees the legal, regulatory, and compliance issues for the foundation and co-leads the Foundations’ philanthropic advancement team. He works with donors and their professional advisors to coordinate the planning, negotiation, and acceptance of traditional and complex gifts, including gifts of closely held business interests, real estate, and other non-cash assets. He also speaks on these topics in a variety of contexts. This conversation dives into the ways charitable organizations work, what’s involved in some of the more complex charitable issues, and more.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• My friendship with Doug Benson and how he became involved in Foundation for the Carolinas [2:08]
• The definition of a “Community Foundation” [4:25]
• Are charitable donations made mainly because of the tax benefits? [7:47]
• The stats on giving in the United States, and the best ideas for giving [11:42]
• IRA qualified charitable contributions [15:17]
• Business gifting: A growing area of charitable giving [17:27]
• What are donor-advised funds and how do they work? [18:33]
• Legacy: The idea of creating something for tomorrow [25:10]
• Annual gifts done simply and effectively, even after you die [29:03]
• Making a lasting impact no matter your income or financial status [34:21] 
• What Doug did today that put him in the right mindset for joy and success [35:30]

DISCLOSURE: The charitable entities and/or fundraising opportunities described herein are not endorsed by, or affiliated with CWM, LLC or its affiliates. The philanthropic interests are personal to us and are not reviewed, sponsored, or approved by CWM, LLC.

Resources & People Mentioned

• Foundation for the Carolinas
• The Cleveland Foundation (the first Community Foundation)
• Definition: Donor Advised Funds

Connect with Doug Benson

• The website: https://www.fftc.org/ 
• On Twitter
• On Linkedin

BIO

Doug Benson is Senior Vice President & In-House Counsel at Foundation For The Carolinas in Charlotte, N.C. In this role, he oversees legal, regulatory, and compliance issues at the Foundation and co-leads the Foundation’s Philanthropic Advancement team. Doug works with donors and their professional advisors to coordinate the planning, negotiation, and acceptance of traditional and complex gifts, including gifts of closely held business interests, real estate, and other non-cash assets. Since joining the Foundation in 2012, he has played a key role in facilitating charitable gifts of non-cash assets in excess of $250 million. 

Doug also regularly works with donors and their families in designing and implementing planned gifts. Prior to joining FFTC, Doug practiced as an estate-planning attorney for 12 years with Moore & Van Allen PLLC in Charlotte and with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP (now Eversheds Sutherland) in Washington, D.C. His practice areas included estate planning and administration, tax planning, and charitable planning.

Doug holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association, as well as the Duke University Estate Planning Conference Planning Committee, the Queens University Estate Planners Day Steering Committee (Chair 2019/2020) and the Charlotte Estate Planning Council. Doug is a frequent speaker on a broad range of charitable and estate planning topics, including charitable gifts of closely held business interests, ethical considerations of nonprofit board service, planned giving, board governance and tax-exempt entities. Doug lives in Charlotte with his wife Tara and their two children.

Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset Show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest's content linked on this site.

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