Philanthropic Advisory Services at MakeWay
Personalized, expert guidance to maximize your impact
Our philanthropic advisory services align your giving with your values: all included with your MakeWay fund.

You want your philanthropy to be more than just a transaction, which is why MakeWay is the only Donor Advised Fund provider in Canada to offer integrated philanthropic advisory services in every fund’s overhead fees. 

Our team is with you on your philanthropic journey to help you align your giving with your values while maximizing your impact. We’ll help you gain clarity and confidence in your decision-making, while remaining the sole advisor of your funds’ philanthropic direction. 

And for when you need a deeper engagement, our team offers tailored advisory services on a fee-for-service basis. 

MakeWay’s philanthropic advisory services are designed to support all types of Fund Advisors from individuals to organizations:

  • Philanthropists dedicated to personalized giving with purpose.
  • Foundations interested in strategic grantmaking to scale impact with trusted expertise.
  • Financial advisors enhancing client giving.
  • Corporations designing corporate giving programs that activate meaningful change.

Integrated Advisory Services

Every Fund Advisor has access to a comprehensive suite of services to make giving seamless and impactful, all included in your overhead cost recovery fee. Meet with your dedicated advisor annually to review your fund and goals, or any time you need philanthropic support.

Fund Planning

Unique to MakeWay, we help you plan your giving one to 10 years into the future. With our expert guidance, we work with you to:
  • Define your philanthropic “North Star” and set clear priorities
  • Develop a fund management strategy based on your goal to spend down, sustain or grow your fund over time
  • Establish an annual contribution and granting plan to keep you on track

Hassle-Free Administration

You can focus on your impact while our team takes care of the administrative side of your fund:
  • Streamlined, bi-weekly grant processing
  • Due diligence and transparent approval processes
  • We handle all aspects of donation processing, receipting and compliance
  • Manage your fund 24/7 through our secure, online portal

Support for Navigating the Philanthropic Landscape

MakeWay goes beyond just fund administration, providing strategic guidance and connections to make the most of your philanthropy today and in the future. In addition to Integrated Philanthropic Advisory Services, you will also benefit from:
  • Access to insights on charitable trends, innovative strategies and best practices
  • Support for long-term giving strategies, bequests and legacy contributions
  • Connections to the broader MakeWay ecosystem including place-based programs and shared platform projects
  • Joining a community of funders to share learning, exchange ideas and hear directly from community leaders

Maximize Your Impact:
Custom Giving Solutions

For philanthropists and institutions seeking deeper engagement with communities and strategic support from our philanthropic advisory team, our customized services provide data-driven, trust-based strategies to help you maximize impact.

Whether you need a targeted strategic plan, multi-generational philanthropy support or a detailed grantmaking framework, our team is here to guide you. Custom services include:

Download our Donor Advised Funds brochure

Learn more about MakeWay’s unique approach to advised funds, leveraging them to enable nimble, transformative philanthropy and build momentum for community-led solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions about MakeWay's Philanthropic Advisory Services

Philanthropic Advisory Services at MakeWay are designed to help you align your giving with your values, deepen your impact, and make confident, informed decisions. Our advisors offer personalized guidance, strategic planning, and insights into the charitable landscape in Canada.
MakeWay’s Philanthropic Advisory Services are personalized to each Fund Advisor, which means that both individuals and organizations of all types benefit from our expert guidance. Integrated and custom support is available for individual philanthropists, foundations, wealth advisors and corporations.
Integrated Advisory Services are included in your fund’s overhead cost recovery fee and provide foundational support like fund planning, administrative help, and strategic insights. Custom Giving Solutions are tailored, fee-for-service offerings for philanthropists and institutions looking for more in-depth, specialized support, such as collaboration development or multi-generational philanthropy.
While most of our advisory services are designed for Fund Advisors, some Custom Giving Solutions may be available to philanthropists, foundations, or institutions outside of MakeWay. Contact us to explore how we can work together.

As a Fund Advisor, our team will meet with you in the spring and fall seasons to support the flow of philanthropy throughout the year. You’ll also have regular access to an advisor as needed, based on your goals and activity level. For deeper engagements, we’ll work with you to define a scope and cadence that fits your needs as part of our Custom Giving Solutions.

Our team can help you:

  • Define your giving priorities and philanthropic “North Star”
  • Create a multi-year fund strategy
    Identify and assess potential grantees
  • Develop plans for long-term or legacy giving
  • Understand emerging trends and practices in philanthropy
  • Navigate community relationships or collaborative initiatives
All MakeWay Fund Advisors have access to integrated advisory services, regardless of fund size. Custom advisory engagements may be scoped based on project complexity rather than fund size alone.
Your fee includes access to our advisory team, fund planning support, administrative services (grant processing, donation receipting, compliance), and secure fund management through our online portal.

Yes. Whether you’re thinking about bequests, intergenerational giving, or sustaining your fund for the long term, we provide personalized guidance to support your legacy goals.

The discovery meeting is a no-pressure conversation to learn more about your philanthropic goals, priorities, and what kind of support would be most helpful. From there, we co-create a plan that fits your needs.

Simply complete the intake form below, and a member of our Philanthropic Services Team will be in touch to schedule your discovery meeting.

Connect with our Philanthropic Services Team today to start your journey. Complete the intake form below and someone will be in touch shortly to schedule a call.

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