INSIGHT

A Guide to Family Office Philantropy 

Kris Marney • February 12, 2026

Services: Family Office Services

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Family office philanthropy offers a meaningful way to create lasting impact while building unity across generations. Many families approach charitable giving as an afterthought—writing checks when asked or responding to causes that tug at their hearts in the moment. While these gestures matter, they often lack the strategic framework that transforms generosity into legacy. 

Family offices sit at a unique intersection. You manage complex wealth structures, navigate tax considerations, and balance the needs of multiple family members. Philanthropy, when thoughtfully integrated into this ecosystem, becomes more than charitable giving. It becomes a tool for governance, education, and values alignment. This guide will walk you through the essential elements of building a philanthropic strategy within your family office structure.  

Why Family Offices Need a Philanthropic Strategy 

Your family office already coordinates investments, tax planning, and estate strategies. Philanthropy deserves the same level of attention and integration. Without a clear strategy, charitable giving becomes fragmented. One family member supports education while another focuses on healthcare. Donations happen sporadically. Tax benefits go unrealized. Opportunities to engage younger family members slip away.       

A structured approach changes this dynamic. You create consistency in giving. You maximize tax advantages. You build shared purpose among family members who might otherwise struggle to find common ground. Most importantly, you establish a framework that outlasts any single generation.  

Consider how your family office functions today. You likely hold regular meetings about portfolio performance and risk management. Your philanthropic strategy deserves similar rigor. This means ensuring your generosity achieves maximum impact.  

Selecting the Right Philanthropic Vehicles 

Family offices have access to multiple charitable structures, each with distinct advantages: 

• Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) provide simplicity and flexibility. You contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants over time. DAFs work well for families testing their philanthropic approach or those who want minimal administrative burden. 
• Private Foundations offer control and visibility. Your family maintains governance, establishes grantmaking criteria, and builds institutional knowledge. Foundations require more infrastructure and compliance, but create opportunities for family engagement through board service and decision-making roles. 
• Charitable Trusts blend philanthropy with wealth transfer. A charitable remainder trust can provide income to family members while ultimately benefiting chosen causes. A charitable lead trust reverses this, supporting charities now while preserving assets for heirs later. 
• Program-Related Investments (PRIs) allow foundations to deploy capital as loans or equity investments in mission-aligned ventures. These tools count toward IRS payout requirements while potentially generating returns that fund future giving. 

The right mix depends on your family’s goals, desired level of involvement, and comfort with administrative complexity. Many family offices layer multiple vehicles to achieve different objectives. 

“The best philanthropic structure is one that aligns with your giving goals and your appetite for administrative and compliance responsibilities.” Kris Marney – Partner, Advisory 

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Integrating Family Office Philanthropy into Governance 

Your family office likely has governance structures for investment decisions. Apply similar thinking to philanthropy. Create clear processes for how charitable decisions get made, who participates, and how impact gets measured. 

Start by articulating your family’s philanthropic mission. What causes matter most? What change do you want to see in the world? These conversations reveal values and create alignment. 

Next, define roles. Perhaps the senior generation sets overall direction while younger family members research organizations and present recommendations. Maybe you form a giving committee that meets quarterly. The structure matters less than the consistency and inclusion. 

Document your approach in a philanthropic policy. Outline giving priorities, decision-making authority, grant size parameters, and evaluation criteria. This document becomes a reference point when questions arise and a teaching tool for new family members entering the governance process.  

Engaging the Rising Generation Through Family Office Philanthropy 

Philanthropy offers one of the most effective entry points for younger family members into family office activities. Charitable decisions feel less intimidating than investment choices. The stakes allow for learning without risking family wealth. The work connects to purpose in ways that portfolio management sometimes doesn’t.  

Create meaningful roles for rising generation members. Let them lead research into organizations. Give them grant budgets to allocate. Invite them to site visits and nonprofit board meetings. These experiences build confidence and competence. 

Use philanthropy to teach governance principles: 

• How do you evaluate options 
• How do you balance differing opinions? 
• How do you measure success? 

These lessons transfer directly to other family office functions. 

Measuring Impact and Refining Strategy 

Your family office tracks investment performance religiously. Bring similar discipline to philanthropic measurement. Define what success looks like for your giving. Are you measuring grants deployed, lives changed, or systemic shifts in your focus areas? 

Request impact reports from grant recipients. Visit programs you fund. Talk with beneficiaries. This qualitative feedback matters as much as quantitative metrics. You’ll discover what’s working, what needs adjustment, and where your dollars create the most leverage. 

Review your philanthropic strategy annually, just as you review investment allocations. Are you still passionate about your focus areas? Have family circumstances changed? Do your vehicles still serve your goals? This regular assessment keeps your giving relevant and effective. 

Working with BPM  

Building a comprehensive philanthropic strategy requires coordination across tax planning, legal structures, and family dynamics. BPM works alongside family offices to design and implement charitable giving frameworks that align with your broader wealth management objectives. We help you evaluate vehicle options, structure giving for maximum tax efficiency, and create governance processes that engage multiple generations. 

Whether you’re launching your first philanthropic initiative or refining an established program, our team brings the technical knowledge and practical experience to guide your family office through each decision. Contact BPM today to start the conversation.