What Does an Independent Philanthropic Advisor Do?

Philanthropy has the power to transform lives, communities, and the world. However, as philanthropists navigate the complexities of giving, particularly during times of change or growth, they often discover the need for expert guidance to make their impact as effective and meaningful as possible. This is where a philanthropic advisor comes in.

A Partner in Purpose

An independent philanthropic advisor is a third-party expert who works alongside philanthropists to help them clarify their goals, co-create a giving strategy, and ensure their resources are deployed effectively. Whether you are establishing a new foundation, reassessing your philanthropic priorities, or seeking to amplify your impact, an independent philanthropic advisor serves as a trusted partner in defining and achieving your vision for change.

Their backgrounds can vary. Areas of expertise can include fundraising in nonprofits; grantmaking in a private or community foundation; working inside a family office managing a family’s complex financial portfolio; and/or providing legal advice around tax and estate planning issues.

Finding the right fit will determine the success of your work. While expertise matters, trustworthiness and good listening skills are the cornerstones to your relationship with an  independent philanthropic advisor.

Why Independence Matters

Moments of inflection—such as a major financial windfall, generational wealth transfer, next generation of leaders stepping up, a death in a family, or shifting community priorities—can challenge even the most seasoned philanthropists. Our previous blog post, The Power of Family Legacy + Philanthropy, explores the passing down of philanthropy between generations and the nuances that come with it. These pivotal times call for an independent advisor who brings objectivity and fresh perspectives to the table. Unlike professionals with a vested interest in the financial or legal aspects of your portfolio, an independent philanthropic advisor’s sole focus is on helping you align your values and vision with a thoughtful, strategic approach to giving.

Holistic Support for Holistic Giving

Philanthropy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It intersects with thoughtful financial planning, estate and tax considerations, and family dynamics. A skilled philanthropic advisor works in tandem with your broader advisory team—including your tax or estate attorney, financial advisor, and CPA— and your family to create a cohesive strategy that integrates your giving goals into the larger framework of your wealth management. 

For example, a philanthropic advisor might:

  • Collaborate with your financial advisor to ensure your giving aligns with your investment strategy and long-term financial goals.
  • Partner with your attorney to establish a foundation or structure planned giving vehicles, such as donor-advised funds or charitable trusts. 
  • Work with your CPA to navigate tax-efficient giving strategies.

This collaborative approach ensures that your philanthropy reflects your values while also delivering measurable impact.

Meeting You Where You Are

A savvy independent philanthropic advisor will quickly assess your needs for an effective partnership. The scope of work should not feel like a “cookie cutter” approach; rather, the work should feel customized to your needs. A savvy independent philanthropic advisor can partner with you with to:

  • Conduct a strategic planning process to include mission, vision values statements, designing governance structures and grantmaking criteria
  • Design learning journeys
  • Curate portfolios of nonprofits that align with your mission and values
  • Conduct due diligence on nonprofits
  • Help to evaluate impact of your giving portfolio
  • Coach family and staff members
  • Execute searches for key staff positions inside a philanthropy
  • Facilitate family retreats

Beyond Transactions: Transformational Giving

An independent philanthropic advisor’s role extends far beyond transactional tasks like reading grant proposals or reports from nonprofit partners. Their work is rooted in helping you:

  1. Clarify Your Vision: What issues or causes matter most to you? A philanthropic advisor helps you explore your values, passions, and motivations to articulate a clear mission for your giving.
  2. Navigate Complexity: From addressing systemic challenges to managing family dynamics, philanthropy often involves navigating complex landscapes. An advisor provides insight and guidance to help you make informed decisions.
  3. Measure Impact: How do you know your giving is making a difference? A philanthropic advisor helps you define success and implement tools to track and evaluate your impact over time.
  4. Inspire Action: By staying attuned to emerging trends, opportunities, and innovative solutions, an advisor keeps your philanthropy relevant and forward-thinking.

The Power of Co-Creation

At its heart, the relationship between a philanthropist and their advisor is one of co-creation. Together, you build a strategy that is deeply personal yet informed by expertise and best practices. This collaborative process ensures that your philanthropy is not only aligned with your values but also positioned to create lasting change.

How do you choose an Independent Philanthropic Advisor?

Before setting out to engage an independent philanthropic advisor, ask yourself what you really need. Do you need an advisor who is a skilled facilitator, an expert in governance, an issue area expert (ex: climate philanthropy) or all of the above? Discerning your needs and budget first will help you connect with the right advisor.

Fundamentally, this engagement is about personality fit, not just with you but with your whole family and staff team. You are entrusting the advisor with guiding a deeply personal journey that involves significant assets. Not only are you assessing for trustworthiness in this hire, but you want to be sure your advisor is compassionate and holds no judgment. An independent philanthropic advisor should be unattached to specific outcomes as long as they align with your values and goals.

From a practical point of view, ask for the following:

  • A clear scope of work with deliverables. 
  • How the advisor charges for their services; a fixed fee arrangement for a scope of work or an hourly arrangement is standard practice.
  • Multiple references from clients with projects similar to yours.

Attributes to assess for are:

  • Trustworthiness
  • Compassionate listener and facilitator
  • Flexibility in their approach and timeline
  • Know-how in the field of philanthropy and nonprofits
  • Experience working with ultra high net worth individuals and families and complex family systems

Why It Matters

In today’s world, where the challenges we face are more interconnected and urgent than ever, philanthropy has an essential role to play. Whether addressing climate change, advancing social justice, or supporting local communities, a strategic approach to giving can amplify impact and create ripple effects far beyond the initial investment.

An independent philanthropic advisor doesn’t just guide your giving; they empower you to be more thoughtful and effective in your role as a philanthropist. By bringing focus, clarity, and expertise to the process, they help philanthropists—at any stage of their journey—maximize their potential to make a difference. At Grant Philanthropic Advisors, we are honored to walk this journey with our clients, helping them turn their vision for change into reality.

About Grant Philanthropic Advisors:
We’re an independent, Charleston-based firm helping clients to focus and maximize their philanthropy—in turn, strengthening the fabric of our communities. Founded in 2019, we help donors move from responsive patterns of giving by assisting clients to identify values and become more strategic in their philanthropy. Our goal is to help donors to become more effective as change-makers. Our team has a combined 100 years of experience working in the field of philanthropy.

We work with foundations (large and small staff teams), donor advised fund holders, multi generational families, individuals, philanthropy supporting organizations and corporations to design philanthropic strategies. We work with philanthropies that grant $1 million to $40 million annually. Our clients span the Southeast with a concentration in Charleston, Atlanta and Charlotte.