Faces of Philanthropy: Charlie Van Patten

Charlie Van Patten

St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church

PGAC Member

“I moved my family to Florida over four years ago to work for The Catholic Foundation as the Director of Philanthropy. Even though my career has taken me in a different direction, I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue to be involved with the Foundation in various capacities.”

Charlie Van Patten is an associate attorney supporting ShuffieldLowman’s Estate Planning practice. He assists clients with a variety of estate planning matters, including the preparation of foundational estate planning documents and related administration issues.

Charlie also has over a decade of experience in charitable planned giving, helping donors meet their charitable estate planning goals and assisting nonprofit gift officers with complex charitable arrangements.

Charlie takes pride in providing responsive and thoughtful legal support, helping clients understand their options and making informed decisions as they plan for the future.

He earned his J.D. from Liberty University School of Law. He received his B.S. from Liberty University. Charlie obtained his Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation from The American College of Financial Services.

Charlie enjoys spending time with his wife and children, often volunteering at church and school events and enjoying the outdoors.

Faces of Philanthropy Q & A with Charlie Van Patten:

Q: Why is planned giving important to you and your clients?

A: Planned giving provides avenues for people to generously and creatively support the ministries that have impacted their lives, whether through a simple gift in a will or a complex trust arrangement.

Q: What advice would you give someone starting to think about estate planning?

A: Now is the best time to get started on your estate plan. You may be tempted to put off planning until you have reached a certain milestone in life. Go ahead and get started sooner rather than later.

Q: Can you share a simple planned giving tool or strategy more people should know about?

A: The beneficiary designation is valuable planned giving tool that is accessible to anyone who has an IRA, 401(k) or other retirement plan. Traditional retirement plan assets are taxable when left to family members but can be left to charity tax-free. Careful planning often incorporates beneficiary designations to maximize the impact of an estate plan.

Q: What motivated you to join the Planned Giving Advisory Council?

A: I joined the PGAC because I wanted to find a way to stay involved with The Catholic Foundation as it serves people of the Diocese of Orlando.

Q: How do you hope the PGAC will contribute to the Foundation’s mission?

A: The PGAC contributes to the Foundation’s mission by bringing together a broad variety of professional advisors who serve as expert resources for people throughout the Diocese who may be considering a planned gift.

Click here to learn more about our Planned Giving Advisory Council.

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