Financial advisors share how charitable leadership strengthens communities, enriches their careers, and creates opportunities for lasting impact.
Financial advisors do more than help clients build financial security. Across the country, they are leveraging their expertise, relationships, and resources to strengthen nonprofits, address community needs, and create meaningful change.
That was the central message of “The Power of Advisors in Communities,” a recent webinar hosted by the Financial Services Institute (FSI) in partnership with Invest in Others.
Moderated by Kathryn Anderson, FSI’s Senior Vice President of Growth and Strategic Partnerships, the conversation featured three perspectives on the value of charitable engagement:
- Faith Bitterman, Director of Programs, Invest in Others Charitable Foundation
- Christine Byrne, FSI Board Chair, financial advisor at Back Cove Financial, and 2023 Invest in Others program alum
- Justin Elder, financial advisor and 2025 Invest in Others Award recipient
Together, the panelists explored how giving back benefits the communities advisors serve, strengthens the financial services profession, and creates opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Beyond Financial Contributions: The Unique Value Advisors Bring
One of the webinar’s key themes was that the charitable impact of financial advisors extends far beyond financial donations. Advisors bring a unique combination of financial expertise, business experience, leadership skills, and professional relationships that can be invaluable to nonprofit organizations.
Christine reflected on how her involvement with Rotary helped her build relationships and better understand the needs of her community after relocating to Portland, Maine. She also shared how serving on a school board allowed her to apply her financial expertise to a major capital campaign, helping the school successfully finance and construct a new high school.
Justin echoed this perspective, emphasizing that advisors can help nonprofits navigate financial decisions, strengthen operations, and connect with resources they might not otherwise have access to.
“We’re not just there to increase portfolio values, right? We’re there to increase our community’s value as well,” Elder shared.
The discussion also highlighted how charitable involvement can benefit advisors themselves, creating authentic relationships, developing leadership and communication skills, and bringing a deeper sense of purpose to their work.
From a Home Kitchen to a Community Success Story
Justin shared the inspiring story behind Moose & Me Baking Company, a nonprofit bakery he and his wife founded in Naperville, Illinois, to create employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
Inspired by their family’s experiences, including adopting two daughters with Down syndrome, the couple recognized a significant gap in employment opportunities and community connections for adults with disabilities after they leave the school system.
What began as three years of baking cookies in their home kitchen eventually grew into a storefront that opened in 2023, providing meaningful employment, skill development, and a sense of belonging.
In 2025, Justin received an Invest in Others Emerging Impact Award, securing a $60,000 grant for the organization. The recognition provided much more than funding. It helped increase awareness, build relationships, and generate new business opportunities for the bakery. Following the Invest in Others Awards Gala, Moose & Me fulfilled approximately 1,000 client gifts for individuals connected to the event.
For Justin, the experience demonstrated how recognizing an advisor’s charitable leadership can create a ripple effect that extends well beyond the initial grant.
Expanding Opportunities for Advisors to Make a Difference
Faith shared exciting details about Invest in Others’ redesigned grant program, which will launch on January 19, 2027.
Thanks to a significant commitment from U.S. Charitable Gift Trust, Invest in Others will have more than $2 million in annual grant funding available to support the charitable work of financial advisors.
The redesigned program will offer:
- At least 80 grants annually, with individual grants of up to $25,000.
- One streamlined application that allows advisors to apply for grant funding and opt into consideration for the annual Invest in Others Awards.
- Year-round applications, eliminating traditional application deadlines.
- Expanded eligibility, including opportunities for qualifying nonprofits established for as little as 12 months.
Faith emphasized that advisors do not need to be major donors, longtime volunteers, or nonprofit board chairs to make a meaningful difference or qualify for consideration. The goal is to remove barriers, expand access to funding, and help more advisors grow their charitable impact.
Eligible FSI members are also invited to participate in the program’s early-access beta test, which is currently underway.
A Simple Message: Find Your Cause and Take the First Step
As the webinar concluded, each panelist offered advice to financial advisors looking to become more involved in their communities.
Christine encouraged advisors to reflect on the causes that resonate most deeply with them, noting that a personal connection to a mission can be a powerful motivator.
Justin encouraged advisors not to be intimidated by the idea of getting started. Sometimes, making a difference begins with a single phone call, a volunteer opportunity, or simply asking a nonprofit how to help.
Faith reinforced that even small acts of service can open doors to meaningful personal and professional experiences.
The takeaway was clear: You don’t have to do something extraordinary to make an extraordinary difference. For financial advisors already supporting causes they care about, Invest in Others offers opportunities to amplify that commitment, expand their reach, and secure meaningful funding for the nonprofits they champion.
Watch the Webinar On Demand
Missed the conversation? There’s still an opportunity to hear these inspiring stories and learn how Invest in Others is creating new opportunities for financial advisors to make a difference.
Register to watch “The Power of Advisors in Communities” on demand, and discover how you can grow your charitable impact.
Register and Watch the Webinar On Demand
