In this episode of the Family Office Success podcast, Christi Van Rite continues the philanthropy series with Joshua Chadajo of JEC Philanthropy to discuss helping families get to the “why” behind their giving and align gifts with clear priorities. Josh shares his background running nonprofits and explains why many donors lack organization and strategy, often giving defensively amid constant requests. He describes his approach, including a philanthropic audit of recent gifts, creating a living giving plan, and serving as a “fractional executive director” for a family’s philanthropy by tracking, budgeting, coordinating with advisors, and partnering with nonprofits on outcomes.

They discuss practical examples such as avoiding misdirected gifts, using challenge grants, and a story where $950 prevented a student’s career plans from derailing. Josh emphasizes year-round planning, avoiding autopilot giving, documenting intent, and seeking expert support.

CONNECT WITH JOSHUA:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuachadajo/

Website: www.jecphilanthropy.com

Email address: joshua@jecphilanthropy.com

Listen in as host Christi Van Rite speaks with Kerrie Mitchell, Managing Partner of FSO Partners as they talk about integrating philanthropy intentionally into family wealth strategies. Kerrie emphasizes starting with a family's "why" before selecting giving vehicles like donor advised funds (DAFs) or foundations. She highlights a common pitfall: over $326 billion sits idle in DAFs, with families treating them as "set it and forget it" tools. The conversation covers the differences between DAFs and foundations, the importance of revisiting philanthropic goals as families evolve, and viewing generosity as an ongoing journey rather than a one-time decision.

Learning more about the “how” to give will certainly help as you put your “why” into practice.

Website: https://www.fsopartners.com/

Kerrie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrie-mitchell/

Join host Christi Van Rite in conversation with estate planning and insurance experts Norman Ross and Harold Unger as they share real case studies that reveal what happens when families ignore sound advice - and what's possible when they take action.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The $200M+ estate heading toward a "fire sale" because decades of advice went unheeded—and how proper planning could have prevented adopting "Uncle Sam and the State" as additional heirs

• The remarkable story of $80,000 that grew to $40 million, and the strategic planning that protected it from estate taxes across multiple generations

• Why bringing ALL your advisors to the table together creates dramatically better outcomes than working in silos

• The "financial fire drill" technique that reveals gaps in estate plans before it's too late

• How changing tax laws (written in "pencil with big erasers") mean your 15-year-old estate plan might be costing your family millions.

Norman and Harold bring decades of experience working with ultra-high-net-worth families, combining insurance strategy, tax planning, and trust structures to help families preserve wealth across generations. Their storytelling approach makes complex concepts accessible and entertaining.

Key Takeaway: Estate planning isn't about death- t's about not adopting additional children (the IRS and state tax authorities) and keeping more wealth in your family.

Connect with Norman Ross and Harold Unger:

Harold M. Unger J.D., LL.M. President, The Unger Company, Ltd. (t) 212-755-4777 x100 https://UngerLtd.com

Norman E. Ross The Ross Companies Direct 212-397-2314 nross@rosscompanies.com www.rosscompanies.com www.linkedin.com/in/normaneross

Visit WhiteRiverConsultants.com for more resources on family office services.