Karin DeLaney approaches every conversation with a clarity of purpose that reflects her decades of experience guiding families through meaningful giving. “I start the charitable conversation in nearly every meeting,” she told us. After more than 30 years in estate planning, she has seen that people want their giving to be thoughtful and effective — they simply may not know where to begin. That’s often where we come in.
Her time on our Board of Directors gave her a firsthand look at how we steward resources for long-term community impact. “Serving on the Board gave me a front seat to the Community Foundation’s research, outreach and stewardship,” she said. “Now, when I tell a client their dollars will be well managed, it’s because I have witnessed the process. That assurance matters.”
Karin helps people translate what they care about into meaningful action. When a client says they want to support veterans, or arts education, or neighborhood revitalization, she sees an opportunity to connect them with trusted options they may not have known existed. “A client might say, ‘I care about veterans,’ but know of only one group because of a mailer,” she said. “I connect them with the Community Foundation’s team, who can provide strong, mission-aligned options. Clients feel informed and confident, not overwhelmed.”
Legacy funds, she noted, give many families a way to make their giving impactful far beyond their lifetime. “Sometimes there is a tax advantage; more often, it is about purpose,” she said. “A legacy fund keeps a family’s story and values working for the community far into the future. Clients like knowing that the Community Foundation will ensure their plans will continue to do good, even when they are no longer here to guide them.”
Karin’s commitment to this work is rooted in her own story. “I lost my dad when I was 19 and saw what happens when plans are not in place,” she shared. “Since then, I have considered it an honor to help people make decisions during hard moments — whether they have $50,000 or $50 million. Everyone’s story is important, and everyone deserves a clear, caring path forward.”
Her belief in Central New York echoes our own. “I grew up here, left for a time and returned,” she said. “Even if my children live elsewhere someday, I want this region to thrive for the next generation. Supporting the Community Foundation is one way I help make that possible.”
We are grateful to partner with Karin — someone who understands how powerful it can be when people have the right guidance and the right tools to shape their legacy. “If you are an advisor or just curious about charitable planning, start a conversation with the Community Foundation,” she said. “They turn good intentions into thoughtful, effective action close to home. The Community Foundation is a resource I trust for my clients and for the place we share.”
