Entrepreneurial business owners spend years, often decades, building something meaningful. But when they sell or transition their company, many face a fresh challenge: building a new sense of identity and purpose through philanthropy.
“Entrepreneurs are builders who seek to create their own solutions,” says Kristina Savas, managing director at philanthropic advisory firm ViaNova. “Unlike those who inherited a family giving tradition, these entrepreneurs form their philanthropic identity from scratch as first-generation wealth creators. Naturally, many desire to give back to the communities that contributed to their success: the organizations, networks and people who made their growth possible. Yet turning the desire into meaningful philanthropy requires structure, support and a plan.”
Turning a builder’s mindset into purposeful philanthropy
A 2024 RBC Wealth Management survey of more than 900 business owner clients found that 29 percent plan to sell or transition within five years, yet only 34 percent have a plan in place. This gap between intention and preparation matters: philanthropic decisions are often made during a sale or transition, when major tax and financial considerations are a factor.
“Ideally, conversations and decisions about philanthropy should happen well before a business transition,” says Bill Ringham, director of Private Wealth Strategies at RBC Wealth Management–U.S. “But entrepreneurial business owners are often so focused on running their companies that they’ve never defined what ‘giving’ means to them. When the moment arrives, giving can feel directionless at precisely the time it should feel most purposeful.”
Entrepreneurial donors can also be skeptical of long-standing institutions and uncomfortable funding work they can’t directly influence or measure.
“Uncertainty creates an opportunity for donors to chart their own course,” Ringham adds. “But it can tempt business owners to launch philanthropic ventures before they’re ready. That’s why it’s important to build a philanthropic framework first, including governance, staffing, due diligence and a way to measure results.”
That framework doesn’t constrain giving; it enables it. “The same values that drove success in business—rigor, ambition, action and a belief that things can be better—are values that make for transformative giving,” Ringham says.
Philanthropy is a family conversation, not just a financial one
Giving is rarely a solo act. Rather, it’s a values-based process in which spouses and family members define shared priorities and shape a legacy together—and it works best when everyone is involved from the start.
“Among entrepreneurial couples, one partner often steps back from their own career to support the growth of the business,” says Rick Sweeney, director of Insured Solutions at RBC Wealth Management–U.S. “Philanthropy is different. It’s something couples can choose to build together from day one, with each person bringing their own interests and values to the table.”
In practice, couples don’t always begin on equal footing. The RBC Wealth Management survey found that spouses rank third among resources business owners consult when planning a transition, behind accountants and attorneys.
When partners are at different stages of philanthropic readiness, they may hold conflicting views on how, and how much, to give. One partner may be eager to establish a donor-advised fund (DAF) or private foundation immediately, while the other wants to spend time learning the giving landscape before committing funds. Left unaddressed, those differences can slow decision-making or lead to giving that neither person finds fulfilling.
“Spouses aren’t the only stakeholders,” Sweeney says. “We view philanthropy as a family affair because it engages the next generations and instills collective values. Giving together can unite a family across generations, geography and life circumstances.”
Families who share this philosophy treat their philanthropy with the same strong operating principles that made their business run: a clear mandate, defined roles, and a commitment to reviewing what is and isn’t working.
Aligning values before money moves
Financial advisors play an important role in guiding family conversations. The key is to frame early discussions around values and impact goals rather than specific giving vehicles or dollar amounts. That sequence—values first, structure second—creates the common ground that makes alignment possible.
Families can use a practical framework to begin this process. As a starting point, each family member reviews a list of values—such as community, education, stewardship and social justice—and identifies those that resonate most deeply with them. Once everyone has completed this exercise individually, they can then share their selections with one another. As differences and common ground emerge, it sets the stage for further conversations and refinement of family values.
From there, an advisor can guide the family in drafting a shared philanthropic mission statement: a concise expression of what the family stands for, who they want to serve and what kind of impact they hope to leave. This statement becomes the anchor for every giving decision that follows.
An entrepreneur’s next chapter, built with purpose
Entrepreneurial business owners bring something rare to philanthropy: a builder’s discipline, a community focus and a drive for measurable results. These traits don’t disappear at the closing table. They become the foundation of a giving strategy as ambitious and satisfying as the work that created the wealth.
Selling or transitioning a business is an event that rewards thoughtful preparation. Collaborating with advisors who understand both the financial complexity and personal nature of this transition can help make giving meaningful from the start.
A business owner’s company is never just a business. Their philanthropy doesn’t have to be just a tax strategy, either. It can be their next great build—defined by the same values, ambition and commitment to lasting impact that got them here.