Preparing for What Comes Next in Giving
As wealth moves across generations, nonprofits have new opportunities to build relationships and unlock long-term support.
By Tod Herskovitz, Nonprofit Strategies Manager
Across Minnesota, something steady but significant is underway.
For years, people have talked about the “Great Wealth Transfer,” a generational shift expected to move trillions of dollars from Baby Boomers to their children and grandchildren. While headlines often focus on scale, what matters most to our communities is how that wealth shows up and who it supports.
In Minnesota, that transfer isn’t arriving all at once. Instead, it is unfolding in quiet, meaningful ways through planning conversations, family decisions and long-term commitments to community.
“Just capturing five percent of the state’s wealth transfer over the next 10 years could result in more than $6.3 billion in local grantmaking,” said Ben Winchester, University of Minnesota Extension rural sociologist.
Shifting Focus with Giving Trends
If you’re part of a nonprofit organization, you may already be experiencing this shift. But it may not always show up as large, immediate gifts.
More often, it looks like:
- Donors taking time to plan ahead and include charitable giving in their estate plans
- More gifts coming through donor advised funds and other long-term giving tools
- Families inviting the next generation to participate in decisions about giving
- A growing interest in giving assets beyond cash, from stock to real estate and business interests
Taken together, these signals point to something important: people are thinking not just about giving today, but about the impact they want to have over time.
For nonprofits, this is an opportunity to meet donors where they are and help shape what comes next.
That includes focusing on:
- Planned giving, including estate gifts and beneficiary designations
- Donor advised fund partnerships
- Gifts of complex or noncash assets
- Multigenerational engagement that welcomes families into philanthropy earlier
These approaches are not new. But in this moment, they carry new energy and new potential to sustain community impact for decades.
How the Foundation Can Help
As the Great Wealth Transfer continues, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation can be your partner in this work. Here are a few ways we can support your organization:
Building stability for the long term
We work alongside nonprofits to establish and manage endowments and reserve funds. With professional investment management and administrative support, these funds can grow into permanent resources — helping organizations plan with confidence and stay rooted in community for generations.
Making complex gifts possible
Many donors hold wealth in forms beyond cash. From appreciated stock and real estate to closely held business interests, retirement assets, cryptocurrency and collectibles, these gifts can be powerful tools for impact. We help nonprofits accept, manage and convert these assets — making it easier to turn generosity into community benefit.
Strengthening your planned giving strategy
Our team partners with organizations to share insights, offer training and build capacity. Whether you’re strengthening your existing fundraising strategy, or just getting started, we’re here to help you take the next step with clarity and purpose.
“The future of philanthropy will not be defined by a single moment. It will be shaped over time by conversations, trust and a shared commitment to communities where everyone can thrive.”
Tod Herskovitz
Partner with Us to Prepare for the Future Ahead
Much of the Great Wealth Transfer is still ahead of us. During the next 10 years in Minnesota, $105 billion will change hands as baby boomers sell their farms and homes, passing wealth to the next generation.
Baby Boomers continue to hold a significant share of wealth in the United States, and many philanthropic decisions are still unfolding. In the years to come, as estates are settled and plans become reality, we expect this moment to grow, not fade.
That’s why now is the time to build relationships, deepen engagement and create pathways for generosity that reflect the values of Minnesota communities.
The future of philanthropy will not be defined by a single moment. It will be shaped over time by conversations, trust and a shared commitment to communities where everyone can thrive.
To learn more about how the Great Wealth Transfer could impact the future of your organization, please call us at 651.224.5463 or email philanthropy@spmcf.org.
About the Author
Tod Herskovitz, Nonprofit Strategies Manager, joined the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation in 2022.
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors regarding your individual situation before engaging in any transaction.
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