THE SITUATION
A former executive of a technology company wanted to use her wealth to make a difference in people's lives. She was philanthropically inclined and anticipated committing $400 million to charitable causes important to her. She also wanted to involve her three children to help instill in them an awareness of social responsibility.
THE PROPOSED SOLUTION
Expert Advisors Our Private Wealth Advisor called upon the expertise of our Foundations and Strategic Philanthropy Group to assist our client in structuring and managing her philanthropic interests.
Exclusive Access A thoughtful approach to her philanthropy offered our client the means to realize her charitable intent, gain significant income and estate tax benefits, and direct how the funds were to be invested and distributed to charities, while also allowing her to fully involve her children. Options included creating donor-advised funds, a private foundation, or both. In collaboration with her legal and tax advisors, our Private Wealth Advisors helped to orchestrate every step, including:
Creating a philanthropic strategy and mission statement
Defining and designing the right philanthropic structures
Developing a diversified investment management strategy that included traditional securities and alternative investments
Custom Services Because our client wanted to establish a lasting legacy of charitable giving for her family, we developed a governance strategy and next-generation training program.
THE RESULT
This became a great learning experience for her three children. Our client created donor-advised funds and gave her children the responsibility of reviewing grant applications, conducting site visits and providing recommendations on which grants to make. As a result of their efforts and expressed interest, our client created a foundation which made an initial grant of $10 million to fund cancer research.
To learn more about our Philanthropic services, contact a specialist at pbig_philanthropy@ml.com.
This case study is intended to illustrate brokerage products and services available through Merrill Lynch. It does not necessarily represent the experiences of other clients, nor does it indicate future performance. Investment results may vary. The investment strategies presented are not appropriate for every investor. They do not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any specific person who may receive it. Individual clients should review with their Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Advisor the terms and conditions and risks involved with specific products and services.