Why philanthropy strategy matters
Giving with intention changes everything
Many families give generously, yet still wonder: Are we making the impact we hope to make? Are we supporting the right causes? Are we involving our children in a meaningful way? A clear strategy helps answer those questions, replacing uncertainty with purpose and turning generosity into a coherent part of your overall financial plan.
A philanthropy strategy can help you:
Clarify your “why.”
Define what you care about most and how you want to show up as a giver.
Focus your impact.
Align giving priorities, organizations, and timelines around the outcomes you value.
Coordinate the details.
Integrate giving decisions with tax planning, estate planning, and investment strategy.
Build a legacy.
Create continuity across generations—passing down more than wealth.
The Moneta difference
Unmatched philanthropy planning built into the Family CFO model
Most wealth managers treat philanthropy as a “nice-to-have.” At Moneta, it’s a core capability. For many high-net-worth families, charitable giving is a genuine priority, not a footnote.
Moneta is proud to offer philanthropy guidance supported by dedicated leadership. Our Chief Philanthropy Officer works alongside your advisory team to help ensure your giving strategy is thoughtful, structured, and aligned with your personal values and the community needs you care about.
What you can expect:
- A values-first approach that begins with your purpose, not a product or a template.
- Integrated planning across tax, estate, and investments coordinated by your Family CFO.
- Philanthropy best practices grounded in trust-based, inclusive, and equitable grantmaking.
- A partner for the long term as your wealth, family, and goals evolve.
Start with your “why”
From transactional giving to transformational impact
The most meaningful philanthropy starts with an honest conversation about what you care about and what you want your giving to accomplish. We’ll reflect on your giving history, your current philanthropic engagement, your legacy interests, and the values you want to express through generosity. From there, we’ll help identify actions that align with your goals and the communities you want to support.
Discovery can include:
- The causes, communities, and issues you feel called to support
- The role you want philanthropy to play in your family’s story
- How hands-on you want to be (from quiet support to active involvement)
- How you’d like to involve adult children and future generations
What we do
Thoughtful giving, tailored to your life and goals
Moneta’s philanthropic advisory services are designed to help you create meaningful, lasting impact through strategic giving. We’ve supported families, foundations, trusts, and organizations in building giving practices that are intentional, well-structured, and aligned with purpose.
Charitable structure planning
Choose and implement giving structures that match your intent, timeline, and complexity so your strategy is built to last.
Tax-aware giving strategy
Coordinate charitable planning with your broader tax strategy to support efficiency and avoid missed opportunities.
Grant making strategy & nonprofit engagement
Identify giving priorities and develop a plan for effective stewardship and meaningful nonprofit relationships.
Family and next-generation engagement
Create an approach that invites participation across generations, helping your family pass down values with clarity and care.
Legacy & estate integration
Align philanthropy goals with estate planning to help ensure your giving intentions are honored long-term.
Tools and structures for impact
Choosing the right vehicles for your giving
The “right” giving structure depends on your goals: how you want to give, when you want to give, and what you want your giving to accomplish. Moneta helps you evaluate charitable vehicles in plain language and coordinate implementation alongside your existing professionals (such as your CPA and estate attorney).
Depending on your needs, strategies may involve:
- Donor-advised funds (DAFs)
- Family foundations
- Charitable trusts and planned giving (including charitable bequests)
- Direct giving and multi-year commitments
- Impact-aligned investment considerations (where appropriate)
Leadership spotlight: Chief Philanthropy Officer
Guided by experience. Grounded in purpose.
Moneta’s philanthropy strategy is led by Deborah (“Deb”) Dubin, Moneta’s first-ever Chief Philanthropy Officer. She is a champion of best practices in philanthropy—including trust-based, inclusive, and equitable grantmaking—and works alongside Moneta advisors to help clients define their “why” and build strategic, impactful giving plans aligned with personal values.
Deb also helps guide the Moneta Charitable Foundation and advances the Foundation’s mission focus on financial literacy and economic empowerment.
Credentials and experience:
Deb holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation and is a 21/64 Certified Advisor. Prior to joining Moneta, she served as CEO & President of Philanthropy Missouri and has taught on the nexus between business, government, and society. She is a graduate of Harvard and UC Berkeley School of Law.
I’m eager to help elevate charitable efforts from transactional to transformational—aligned with personal values and community needs.
— Deb Dubin
Philanthropy across generations
Passing down more than wealth
For many families, philanthropy becomes one of the most meaningful ways to connect wealth with purpose and to involve adult children in a shared legacy. With thoughtful planning, giving can create family alignment, strengthen values, and build continuity across generations.
We help families:
- Create a giving strategy that feels authentic, not performative
- Foster dialogue across generations with respect and clarity
- Define legacy intentions that can be sustained over time
YOUR NEXT STEP
Giving is personal. Your strategy should be, too.
When philanthropy is guided with intention, it becomes one of the most meaningful expressions of your wealth. With a Family CFO—and dedicated philanthropy leadership—by your side, you can give with clarity, confidence, and lasting impact, while keeping every part of your financial life aligned.
Ideas that move generosity forward
Insights and inspiration
Explore philanthropy insights from Moneta, including perspectives on purposeful giving, community impact, and how philanthropy fits into a broader wealth plan.
Donor Strategies for Impact
August 24, 2026
Creating a Purposeful and Purpose-filled Philanthropy Practice | Part 3 of 3 Some donors feel that their giving is trans…
How to Build a Philanthropic Mission Statement That Reflects Your Focus
July 20, 2026
Creating a Purposeful and Purpose-filled Philanthropy Practice | Part 2 of 3 As you consider the ways in which you’d lik…
What Is Philanthropy? Ways to Engage
June 11, 2026
Creating a Purposeful and Purpose-filled Philanthropy Practice | Part 1 of 3 Philanthropic engagement can be a source of…
Courageous Citizenship and Finding Common Ground
March 5, 2026
By Deb Dubin, Chief Philanthropy Officer Philanthropy has a role to play in fostering healthy civic discourse. As politi…