Contact

For over 50 years, the Community Foundation has helped people give with purpose, strengthening Memphis and the Mid-South.

We make giving easier and more impactful by matching your generosity with the causes and community you care about most.

We offer solutions and resources to donors and the professionals who advise them to help you give smarter and do more good.

We offer funding opportunities that helps nonprofits and students create positive change and build futures.

When you get involved with the Community Foundation, you join a group of people committed to Memphis’s future.

Learn more about the philanthropic hub that connects capital with the solutions that make our community thrive.

Values, Beliefs, and the Estate Plan You Haven’t Had Yet

Most estate plans don’t reflect the values people live by. Here’s why that gap matters and how a simple conversation can close it.

Philanthropy & Giving

Published: June 18, 2026

Values, Beliefs, and the Estate Plan You Haven’t Had Yet 

Most of us organize our lives around our faith or personal values— but when it comes to estate planning, those same values often go unaddressed. A recent continuing education seminar the Community Foundation co-hosted featuring attorney and national expert Marty Shenkman explored a striking gap: while surveys show that 95 percent or more of Americans believe in God or a higher power, very few estate plans reflect any religious or philosophical considerations at all. 

That disconnect can have real consequences—from end-of-life medical decisions and funeral arrangements to how assets are distributed and how values are passed on to the next generation. 

The good news? Bridging that gap doesn’t require reinventing your plan. Often, it’s a matter of small adjustments—a conversation with your advisor, a bit of tailoring to existing documents—that can profoundly reflect who you are and what you believe. 

If your estate plan doesn’t yet reflect your values, it may be time to start that conversation.

Explore the benefits of a fund

Partner with the Community Foundation to give more intentionally, grow your impact, and support the causes you care about—today and for generations to come.

Learn more
A man in a green plaid shirt and a woman in a blue blouse smile at an outdoor event, each holding a drink. String lights and other people are visible in the background.

Related News & Stories

All News & Stories posts
  • Two people lean over a table covered with buttons, markers, a crown prop, and mini transgender pride flags. Others are in the background, including someone in a bright yellow outfit. The setting appears to be an indoor event.
    Philanthropy & Giving

    Nonprofits Under Pressure

    Nonprofits are facing a perfect storm — rising demand, falling funding, and shrinking staff. Here’s what’s at stake and how you can help.

  • A man in a suit speaks at a podium beside a large screen displaying $1.4 billion, an all-time record and text about asset levels in community foundations. The screen features blue graphics and cityscape illustrations.
    Philanthropy & Giving

    Mid-South Giving Trends

    $148 million granted. 6,900 grants. 2,000 nonprofits. Here’s what last year’s numbers say about the generosity of the Mid-South.

  • A smiling man and woman sit at a table with food items like saltine crackers and oatmeal, showing community support at an event booth. The Nourished Communities logo is displayed at the bottom of the image.
    Grantmaking

    GiVE 365 Supports Nourished Communities

    Five Memphis nonprofits. $60,000. One shared mission: making sure every neighbor has enough to eat — and someone to share a meal with.