In my conversations with wealthy Bay Area residents, I often hear them say that while they have been making charitable contributions for years, and know intellectually that those contributions are going to worthwhile causes, something “personal” is missing.

They want to feel they have made a real impact; they want to be more connected to the issues and organizations they support, to involve their kids in giving back. They want their values to be better reflected in their philanthropy.

In short, they want to go beyond what has become a transactional activity—making annual gifts to the same organizations, writing checks, poring through year-end requests—so that their giving provides greater fulfillment.

We believe that the best way to achieve a greater level of engagement is to have a personal philanthropic advisor. You routinely work with dedicated advisors for investing, asset management, financial planning and estate planning. And the reasoning is clear, given the high level of personal attention, specialization and service these professionals provide. Philanthropy should be no different—which is why we embrace this approach with donors who have opened charitable funds at the Marin Community Foundation (MCF).

With the MCF model, you can enjoy opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable. Personal philanthropic advisors can connect you to local and national leading-edge thinkers and doers around community issues, so you can learn what is working, who is doing great work and what is on the horizon. On personal site visits, you can sit down with community leaders as well as the beneficiaries of services to hear how their lives have been transformed.

Personal philanthropic advisors can help families involve their kids in giving back. If you want your children to be compassionate, generous and informed about the broader community, there is no stronger way than introducing them to your own charitable activities—and encouraging them to find their own path. This helps them make independent decisions, learn the value of money and experience their community’s diversity. At MCF, we often bring parents and kids together for powerful conversations about what is important to them; then we help them develop a plan for moving forward. These activities—which may include both volunteering and financial contributions—bring families together in new and memorable ways.

Legacy is another topic that often comes up in conversations with our donors. They want to be remembered as generous members of their community—and to structure their funds so that the next generation can take over the responsibility, and tradition, of giving back.

Meaning also comes from knowing that your philanthropic investments are having a positive return—by making a real and measurable impact. That requires making smart investments, supporting strong and efficient organizations, tracking their progress and seeing in-person the work you are funding. Our donors tell me that their greatest satisfaction comes from knowing they have made informed decisions. And meeting the people whose lives they are changing can be a life-changing moment for the donor as well.

Our donors also connect with each other—forming a community of likeminded, smart, influential community members who learn from one another and often end up co-funding charitable efforts.

When philanthropy has meaning, it becomes a lot more than making financial contributions. It taps into your past, your values and your passions. A personal philanthropic advisor can help you take risks, stretch your imagination and sense of possibility and help you understand that, collectively, individual giving can play a powerful role in communities around the world—and in your and your family’s lives as well.