Navigating New Wealth

Coming into significant wealth can be a life-changing experience. Whether it’s from the sale of a business, an inheritance, or the result of long-term investments paying off, this kind of transition can spark a wide range of emotions: pride, relief, uncertainty, excitement, even guilt. Many people feel the same way. 

What’s not always clear is what comes next. 

At the Vermont Community Foundation, we meet many individuals and families at exactly this moment: a point of change where the practical meets the personal, and financial decisions intersect with values and vision. 

This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions. 

What do I want this wealth to mean—for me, for my family, and for my community? 

Wealth opens the door to new opportunities. It can offer freedom and stability. It can also bring new responsibilities and uncharted choices. For many people, the transition prompts deeper reflections about legacy, purpose, and how to make a meaningful impact. 

Where to Begin 

You don’t need to make every decision right away. But it helps to understand your options: 

• Charitable Giving: Giving back can be one of the most rewarding parts of new wealth. You may want to see your giving go to work right away; or you might be thinking about the legacy you’ll leave behind. However you want to give, we can help you shape a path that reflects your values and improves your tax position. 

• Financial Planning: Partnering with a philanthropic advisor early on can help you align your wealth with your goals, timeline, and tax implications. Already working with a financial advisor? Great—we love partnering with wealth professionals to bring together their financial expertise and our deep knowledge of charitable giving. 

• Learning from Others: Many who’ve walked this path before have found that charitable giving offers a grounding way to find purpose and connection in the midst of change. 

Why Philanthropy Matters Now 

We’re living in a time when our communities face real and complex challenges—whether it’s a family struggling to afford housing in the town where they work…a small-town paper fighting to keep the public informed…or a young person wondering if there’s a future for them in the place they call home. When you put charitable capital to work in Vermont, you’re not just giving—you’re building. 

And it doesn’t have to be complicated. We’re here to help make it easier. 

Resources to Explore: 

• Giving Quiz: A short, thoughtful questionnaire to explore what matters most to you, and how your giving can reflect that. 

• Giving Guide: Inspiring stories of change happening across our communities, and exercises to help you identify what matters most to you, aligning your values with impactful giving. 

• Let’s Talk: Schedule a conversation with one of our philanthropic advisors.  We want to hear about what drives you, what causes you’re passionate about, and how you envision making a difference.  

This Is a Beginning 

If you’ve recently come into wealth, give yourself the time and space to reflect. Then, when you’re ready, let’s talk about how to turn this moment into something that lasts. 

Your next chapter starts now.