Legacies of Generosity

Dubuque native Mark A. Weber returned to the city where he grew up to share a message he has spent much of his career spreading across the country: As you plan for the transfer of your assets when you pass, make sure your family is taken care of - but don’t forget your community.

Mark, who now lives in Omaha, Nebraska, joined the Community Foundation as the guest speaker for our Legacy and Endowment Social in July, an annual celebration of those who have named the Foundation in their estate plans.

Speaking to a crowd of nearly 100 people, Mark recounted the chance meeting with Warren Buffet that inspired him to found the Omaha Chartered Advisor In Philanthropy® Study Group in partnership with the Omaha Community Foundation.

The goal is to help attorneys, accountants, financial planners and planned giving officers understand how they can advise their clients with charitable intent. The group works with advisors to understand the myriad ways clients can leave legacy gifts to their community that reflect their values while still taking care of their loved ones.

“We’ve worked with over 150 professional advisors in the Omaha area who have gone on to work with their clients to commit $9 billion to charitable causes in the community,” Mark told attendees.

He also had advice for the people in the audience: Talk with your family members. Have regular meetings to help them understand what they will inherit and your goals for your estate. Conversations like these can help build family unity.

Mark lays out this advice and more in his book “A Spectrum of Legacies,” which is available on his website, spectrumoflegacies.com.