Modern generosity from business to the breakfast table

Editor’s note: 

I rarely choose a theme for these newsletters, but sometimes one presents itself. 

Generosity is a funny combination of powerful and vulnerable. In many settings, those who write the checks call the shots. At the same time, handing that check to someone else relinquishes control. It’s an act of trust—trust in God, trust in the recipient, and trust in your family to support your decision. 

That’s what our community has been exploring this month. 

—Jessie McBirney, The Bottom Line & Beyond

IN THIS EMAIL

• Trust in God: Picking a number
• Trust in God: Finding the courage to start
• Trust in nonprofits: Understanding effective work
• Trust in your family: Agreeing on a cause

Trust in God: Picking a Number

When a big number is on the line, trust is especially scary. 

The Signatry's Vice President of Family Generosity Services, Kristin, shared the story of her first big gift on The Finish Line podcast (starting around 55 minutes). 

One week early in their marriage, Kristin and her husband prayed separately over how much they should give to their church fundraiser. She suggested a number. He suggested double that. 

They chose to give the bigger number. 

Two days later, their tax return unexpectedly covered the difference exactly. 

The interviewer agreed: “Obviously that’s not a guarantee for how it always works. But I’ve heard enough stories just like that ... I think it’s God’s way of communicating with us [and saying] you did hear him correctly.” 

Trust in God: Finding the Courage to Start

It's true that this is a surprisingly common experience. 

It also happened to Joel Hodgdon, one of The Signatry's donors and a 4th generation family business leader. His family has built a strong legacy of generosity that shows up in their business and in their personal lives. 

Living up to a legacy like that isn’t always easy. When he first started tithing, Joel felt uncertain. “There’s never a good time to start giving up part of your paycheck, right?” 

And yet, after the first year he tithed, he received an unexpected raise for the exact amount he had given away. 

God doesn’t always communicate in this way, but he is always with us in these steps of faith. Practicing generosity is one way we cultivate trust in his provision and care. 

You can hear more about where Joel's family’s generosity journey has gone since in our interview with them on YouTube. 

Trust in Nonprofits: Understanding Effective Work

“I just don’t trust these nonprofits to manage my donations. I’d like to be generous, but all the money goes to overhead and executive salaries.” 

You’ve probably heard someone say something like this. It’s a common belief, but it’s not a good excuse. 

As stewards of God’s resources, we have the responsibility and privilege to find trustworthy partners doing his work in the world. 

The first step is to focus on impact, not overhead. At 19 minutes into the podcast, Kristin offers some advice on understanding impact: pay attention to what nonprofits report to their donors, then learn the context they’re working in so you can grasp what realistic and sustainable results should look like. 

Our How to Choose a Nonprofit guide offers a step-by-step template to move from evaluation to long-term, trusting partnership. It also includes a list of in-depth questions to ask nonprofits directly. 

Trust in Your Family: Agreeing on a Cause

Giving as a family can be a great way to grow closer and show your kids what it means to live like Christ. 

As kids become teenagers, a natural friction may develop over what you support as a family. 

It might be easier to override these differences, but Kristin recommends listening to and trusting the members of your family to find points of overlap. 

At 38 minutes into the podcast, she shares about one family whose kids all developed varying political opinions as they grew up. Instead of letting disagreement win, they found a new cause that has something for everyone. Together, they’ve built shared knowledge and passion about a new way to make an impact in God’s kingdom. 

Trust can make all the difference in family giving. If the way you give starts to get contentious, you can work together to find new common ground.