Stories

Spreading the word

Georgia Corkins’ history with Hamilton Community Foundation goes way back.

It began shortly after she moved to Hamilton from Toronto, more than 30 years ago. She remembers a meeting of financial planners — of whom she is one — where HCF staff made a presentation about the role of philanthropy in estate planning. Now, with decades of experience under her belt at BMO Nesbitt Burns, she participates on those panels to present about HCF and encourage other financial advisors to help their clients incorporate philanthropy into their plans.

She understands Hamilton Community Foundation not only as an advisor, but also as a supporter. She has been a committed monthly donor to HCF’s Women 4 Change giving circle since 2015. “I love how they do it,” she says, citing the learning built into that program. “It is a doorway to charities that you may never have considered before but that are doing such important work. We learn about them and often have the chance, as a group, to visit with the organizations in person.”

Guiding clients to philanthropy is a win-win, she says. Often her clients can reap a significant tax benefit from giving, and — especially if they have no heirs or their families are well taken care of already — they can work with Hamilton Community Foundation or BMO Philanthropic Services (“whichever is the best fit,” she says) to impact causes they care about.

HCF is easy to work with, Georgia feels, and “their bench strength is impressive. The community foundation is so embedded in Hamilton, with such a strong legacy. They are great at walking my clients through how to structure their giving and meet community needs. I don’t have to be the expert on that.”

Excerpt from 2024-25 annual report