MEMBER TIP: 

Smart philanthropy

By FWSF Member, Sanem “Sam” Alkan, Sr. Director, Impact & Philanthropy at The Sobrato Organization

I grew up in a family in Istanbul where philanthropy was part of our daily lives, not an activity we thought about once a year. Many people in my circle there – even those without significant means – supported others in need with cash gifts, used clothing and even books. There was no tax incentive as in the U.S. either. That culture, combined with all I have learned in the investment and philanthropy worlds, has fueled my career to this point: I support visionary, talented investors and philanthropists looking to make impact in and beyond their local communities.

There are several ways one can weave philanthropy into personal and work lives:

• Volunteer! Most people think of philanthropy as the gift of an item. The most valuable gift you can give is your time and unique skills. And, you can share those at any career stage and any age. One of my favorite stories is that of Hollis Belger in Marin County. She took on her mom’s challenge to juggle a soccer ball for a dollar. And raised multi-million dollars for St. Jude’s lifesaving research that benefits children’s battling with cancer. Hollis was only nine years old when she started juggling for a cause.
• Join colleagues: If you are part of a company, you can join forces with like-minded colleagues and take advantage of (sometimes paid) volunteer days on office campuses or at a nearby community nonprofit. Among my favorite examples is Salesforce. They not only have several event venues for nonprofits to host events but also empower their employees and their customers to crowdfund for their top causes, using Salesforce software. Another favorite is my colleagues at The Sobrato Organization. The founding family has weaved philanthropy into every aspect of their real estate business to such an extent that they will even change their plans to accommodate an old building important to the well-being of a community.
• Mentor or serve on a board: Many women in the US and beyond do not have the privilege of earning a degree or getting a job like we have been able to do. One of the easiest ways to give back to such a community is to adopt a person to mentor, or join a board to coach an entire organization that does work at the intersection of all you are interested in.
• In-kind support:  From clothing and household items to used cars or antique items, this is an area where you can be quite creative. One of my favorite stories is working with a friend of Steve Jobs who wanted to donate one of the original Apple “one” devices – raising several hundred thousand dollars in an auction!

My final tip is to start thinking about philanthropy as a financial and asset management strategy as early in your career as possible. There are many ways to get involved even with limited assets. There is no need to set up a foundation that can be costly each year and have limits on how and where you can donate.

For example, you can set up a “donor advised fund” for a nominal cost, leveraging custodians like Schwab Charitable and Fidelity Charitable—or a platform like ImpactAssets, that offers access to impact venture funds and opportunities they curate. These affordable philanthropic funds allow you to donate a variety of assets upfront for an immediate tax deduction, reinvest with tax advantages, and recommend nonprofit allocations through the fund over time to every cause and organization you would like to support. Those of you who already own a limited liability company can use that entity to make donations—you don’t need to set up a separate philanthropic fund.

___________

This is for educational purposes only and is not personalized financial advice. I am sharing general principles of wealth management, but every individual's financial situation is unique. Before making any investment, tax, or legal decisions, please consult with your personal Certified Financial Planner™ professional or tax professional.

From Connections Newsletter (Member Tips): November 2025

____________________

The suggestions of the contributor do not constitute professional advice and are intended for general informational and educational purposes only.  Nothing contained herein is intended to be or should be used as a substitute for professional advice, and readers should not act or rely on this information without seeking specific guidance directly from a qualified professional.

The opinions and information expressed in this blog/post/webpage are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views of FWSF. FWSF is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this content or any damages resulting from its use.