Giving Compass' Take:

• Kris Putnam-Walkerly explains the characteristics to look for in an effective philanthropic advisor. 

• What factors are most important to you when choosing an advisor?

• Read more about how to navigate your relationship with an advisor. 

There are many people in the world who offer advice and guidance to people with means, especially when it comes to how one can best make more money. A wide range of specialized experts and advisors will gladly share their insights to make your decision-making process easier. Business consultants may help you set up a family office or expand your personal empire. Wealth advisors and financial planners help you enhance your earnings. Tax advisors help you protect your assets.

A philanthropic advisor with the right characteristics can make giving away wealth just as effective as investing it. They work with you to identify your philanthropic goals, strategies for meeting them, processes and structures for achieving them and measures for success. And just as with any other professional advisor, you’ll want to make sure you’ve found the right fit.

Here are six characteristics to consider in your search:

  1. Trust
  2. Inspiration
  3. Challenge
  4. Adaptability
  5. Experience
  6. Collegiality

Evaluate potential philanthropic advisors with these criteria, and I guarantee you’ll quickly narrow the field of candidates. Then I encourage you to trust your instincts. In addition to being a financial venture with risks, rewards and metrics, philanthropy is an investment of the heart and soul. You’ll want an advisor who truly understands that — and you.

Read the full article about choosing the right philanthropic advisor by Kris Putnam-Walkerly at Putnam Consulting Group.