A lot goes into the decision behind charitable giving and philanthropic values for both individuals and families. It boils down to understanding your impact on the communities you’re helping.

This week on The Rainbow Bull, Tim Volk invites Arlington Family Offices’ Director of Philanthropic Services, Rob Kaufold, to talk about philanthropy and the multifaceted world of charitable giving. They go into the growth of philanthropy, the alignment of family values with philanthropic missions, and the various approaches to making an impact. Rob emphasizes the importance of understanding long-term effects, the balance between tax benefit and non-tax benefit dollars, and the need to connect with personal values for meaningful engagement. Their conversation also covers the decline in individual giving, the significance of direct transfers, and the joy of philanthropy in times of crisis, highlighting the complexity and personal rewards of giving.

Tim and Rob talk about: 

• Rob’s journey from accounting to philanthropy
  
• Why philanthropy is important and the impact it has on communities
  
• Understanding the impact of philanthropy beyond immediate giving
  
• The multifaceted nature of philanthropy and the need for capturing long-term impact data
  
• And more
  

Resources:

• A Hope for Family Philanthropy by Rob Kaufold
  
• Five Life Stages of Nonprofit Organizations – Judith Sharken Simon (2001)
  
• Giving Done Right – Phil Buchanan
  
• Helping: How to Offer, Give, and Receive Help – Edgar H. Shein
  
• Family Philanthropy Navigator – Vogel, Eichenberger, and Kurak
  
• The Purpose of Capital – Jed Emerson
  

Connect with Tim Volk: 

• T. Volk & Company
  
• LinkedIn: T. Volk & Company
  
• LinkedIn: Tim Volk
  
• tim.volk@tvolkco.com
  
• Phone: 312-636-5855
  

Connect with Rob Kaufold: 

• WebsiteArlington Family Offices
  
• LinkedIn: Rob Kaufold
  
• rek@arlington.com
  
• Phone: 203-554-9077
  

About our Guest: 

Rob Kaufold is Director of Philanthropic Services for Arlington Partners, a multi-client family office. He brings advanced knowledge of philanthropic strategy, extensive experience in trust and family office management, and has nearly 30 years of experience in financial management and accounting.

Rob’s career has been defined by his work to connect the expertise of the family office world to philanthropy. He began his career as a CPA in the fields of accounting and finance in the insurance industry and joined a family office in 2006 as the Controller of Marshall Street Management, LLC. He recently served as Executive Director of the Hemera Foundation and President and Chief Risk Officer for Cauldera, LLC from 2011 to 2023. Rob is a CPA, holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Providence College in Rhode Island and a master’s degree in philanthropic studies from the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

He and his family live in Broomfield, where you will find them on nightly walks around Broomfield Commons with their pup.