Modern generosity from business to the breakfast table
IN THIS EMAIL
When "Yes” becomes “No”
Good metrics are good stories
SpaceX and biblical ROI
Meet Sean: Bank CEO with a Christian mission
When "Yes" becomes "No"
Effective leaders are keenly aware that every yes has a price tag.
Some revenue generating moves will firm up the structure and future of an organization, while others may cloud your core mission and put long-term goals in jeopardy.
The trick is knowing the difference.
Before saying “yes,” it’s worth asking questions like:
Does this directly further our mission?
Does this align with our existing strategies?
Do we have the capacity to do this well?
Does this serve our clients with clarity and kindness?
Do we have good reason to believe this will generate long term value?
What do our trusted advisors say?
After prayerful reflection, what does the Holy Spirit say?
Saying “no” is a valuable yet underrated leadership skill. That’s true in business, and it’s true in how you steward your charitable giving.
“No” can feel like leaving money on the table or refusing to bear abundant, immediate fruit. In reality, saying “no” to the wrong moves—or the wrong fundraising asks—ensures that you can say “yes” to the best opportunities.
Next time you get a request from a worthy cause, consider using the same decision-making lenses you use professionally.
Good Metrics are Good Stories
From an early age, we learn to count and use numbers to understand the world around us. That basic life skill grows as we advance through school and careers—we measure, calculate, analyze, and forecast. Keeping score is how we evaluate the progress of any venture.
Yet sometimes when it comes to nonprofit work, examining a nonprofit’s numbers can feel cold or detached. We use numbers to create categories and make predictions, but we are compelled by stories of life change.
The truth is that good metrics are good storytellers. Numbers represent real people and communities experiencing change.
As Dave Stravers (author of Measuring What Matters: Accountability and the Great Commission) asserts: “Counting is important because ‘one’ is important.”
Scripture models the value of measuring and reporting:
The Book of Numbers features two formal censuses of God’s people taken during their 40 years in the wilderness.
In the parables of the lost (Luke 15), the man saves his lost sheep and the woman finds her coin because each keep account and know when only one is missing.
Jesus feeds the families of 5,000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish (recorded in all four Gospels).
Peter addresses a crowd, leading 3,000 to be baptized and join the early church (Acts 2:41).
In kingdom work, numbers are not dry or even neutral; they are deeply personal.
When you explore an organization’s annual report, we encourage you to reflect on the faces behind those numbers. Sit with the “big picture” information. You may find nuance and a new depth of gratitude in celebrating just how many “ones” God is transforming.
SpaceX and Biblical ROI
Earlier this month, SpaceX launched the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history. Opening at $135 per share, demand quickly drove that price up.
The record-breaking event ushered in several shifts in the public markets:
trillion-dollar valuations for mega-cap tech and artificial intelligence companies
higher percentages of shares being allotted to retail investors
another step in the trend toward phased, performance-based lock-ups
a potential departure from traditional governance and transparency requirements
Naturally, it generated a ton of excitement, interest, and participation from investors anticipating a substantial return on investment (ROI).
As believers, we understand ROI as more than the dollars that make their way back to our own accounts. Every investment has layers of influence: capital helps a company fund or scale operations, which can improve or extend the company’s impact on its audience and the market at large. That type of ROI matters, too. This is why we talk so much about biblically responsible investing (BRI).
Daniel Mastrolonardo at Inspire Investing, one biblically responsible investment firm, briefly examines the SpaceX IPO through their BRI lens in this blog post.
His team concluded that SpaceX is too close to some harmful business activities to warrant investment. Declining to hold SpaceX as a position in Inspire Investing’s ETFs demonstrates their commitment to pursuing a return on investment that’s positive, not just profitable.
Disclaimer: This does not constitute nor does The Signatry provide legal, tax, financial or other professional advice. You should consult professional advisors concerning the legal, tax, or financial consequences of your charitable activities.
Meet Sean: Bank CEO with a Christian Mission
“When we started... it was what I would call a Christian bank. We were operating according to Christian principles ... but we didn’t bring God into the bank.
“What happened over time is, I feel like [Jesus] calls me to do crazy spiritual stuff within the bank. It started with a daily devotional. It was terrifying. I announced the next day we were going to start this 8:15-8:30 daily devotional. Everybody was invited. Nobody was required to attend.
“Six people showed up. The next day, 56 people showed up.”
Sean Kouplen is the CEO of Regent Bank. He’s been following God’s prompting to “Stop selling and start helping”—and in the meantime, his bank became the fastest-growing bank in the country.
Hear his story and the other creative ways he is weaving his faith and values into a flourishing business.
This does not constitute nor does The Signatry provide legal, tax, financial or other professional advice. You should consult professional advisors concerning the legal, tax, or financial consequences of your charitable activities.
