Estate Planning for the Child-Free: A Philanthropic Approach

Many people without children wonder how their legacy will take shape. Rather than focusing on biological heirs, they often find freedom to channel their resources, time, and values toward the broader community. Indeed, Americans over age 50 without children are more than four times as likely as parents to have a charitable estate plan. If you fall into this group or advise family members who do, take a moment to consider adopting an intentional philanthropic strategy.

The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains is happy to help. Reach out anytime for a conversation! Here are three themes we’ll consider as we begin:

Treat charitable giving as an expression of identity. For people without children, the causes they champion often become extensions of their values and impact. A fund at the Community Foundation can bear the name of its donors or something else entirely to represent the priorities of its founders. The choice is yours!  

Integrate charitable planning into estate planning. People who do not have children often have greater flexibility in determining how their wealth will create lasting meaning and impact beyond their lifetimes. By integrating charitable planning into their estate and financial strategies, they can direct resources toward causes that reflect their values and ensure their legacy benefits the broader community. Without the need to provide for heirs, charitable planning offers a thoughtful way to give purpose to accumulated assets and make a difference for future generations. We will discuss ways to involve your estate planning advisors in structuring charitable plans with the Community Foundation’s help. 

Branch out to extended family. Without the generational handoff of children, people without children might have flexibility most donors don’t. This can mean involving nieces, nephews, other younger relatives, or community members in the philanthropic journey, building a multi-year giving plan, or shifting giving based on changing community needs. Remember, when you establish a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation, you can name successor advisors to take your place in recommending charities to receive distributions. 

Whether or not you have children, the Community Foundation is a sounding board and resource every step of the way. Please reach out to Jill Swingle, Director of Operations  at [email protected] to learn more about how we can help you and your family build a charitable plan that is tailored to both your personal and family goals, as well as your goals for making a difference in the causes you care about.