Partner and Engage
Connecting experts and cultivating philanthropic knowledge.
Atlanta Charitable Advisor Network
The Atlanta Charitable Advisor Network (ACAN) is a collaboration of the Community Foundation, the Atlanta Jewish Foundation and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. With deep relationships in the Atlanta community, these three organizations are uniquely positioned to bring together the city’s charitably-minded professional advisors and provide opportunities for education, knowledge-sharing and networking.
ACAN programming is designed to provide advisors with tools and inspiration to engage their clients in greater, more fulfilling charitable giving plans. It includes:
- Balser Celebration
- Philanthropic Advisors Leadership Institute (PALI)
- Balser Giving Circle
Balser Celebration
The Balser Celebration is an educational and social networking opportunity sponsored by the Atlanta Charitable Advisor Network. Occurring annually in the spring, this annual event engages prominent local and national speakers, addresses sophisticated strategies for integrating charitable and estate planning, and develops a culture of philanthropy in our region.
Want to know more? Join the ACAN LinkedIn group.
Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute (PALI)
The Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute (PALI) provides financial, legal and tax professionals with exclusive training to better incorporate charitable planning into their professional practices and client services.
PALI participants gain understanding about their philanthropic clients’ values-driven motivations — and how to unearth those values in a productive way. They discover how to communicate complex concepts related to charitable planning while nurturing strong, lasting professional relationships with other participants.
PALI is a highly regarded leadership development and networking program, with an alumni roster of more than 200 professionals across the greater Atlanta community.
PALI sessions are held at nonprofit organizations throughout Atlanta to offer participants a first-hand perspective of the community’s needs, as well as the benefit these programs provide. Participants receive continuous education about the nonprofit community before discussing values-based and charitable planning issues.
Applications for the 2024–25 program are available now. The program begins on September 2024 and ends in April 2025.
Atlanta Charitable Advisor Network
Balser Giving Circle
The Balser Giving Circle is open to advisors who have completed the PALI program. The voluntary group contributes to a pool of funds, identifies shared values, reviews nonprofit grant applications and recommends grant awards. This opportunity provides a similar grantmaking experience to that of their clients’ donor-advised funds. Advisors participating in the Giving Circle develop a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Atlanta-area nonprofits, and have exclusive opportunities to build relationships with nonprofit leaders and one another.