Strategically Planning WHERE to Give
In the past, I’ve written about creative ways, the “how,” to give so one can leverage their charitable giving and save taxes (here is just one example of the various articles on the subject of giving under the Articles tab of our website). This time, I’ll concentrate on the importance of strategically planning where to give. No, not specifically which charity to support, but more so the direction or purpose behind supporting the various non-profits.
To illustrate the point, I’ll draw upon discussions I’ve had with three different clients about where they give their money and the three diverse approaches they each take in their planned giving strategies.
Only the Local Church
This client directs all their charitable giving to their local church. They enjoy their house of worship, and the teaching and the community that is there. They support the work that it does and show through their giving they are aligning with the church’s vision, outreach, and care that it provides. They let the church administer the funds in a way the leadership sees best.
The Matthew 25 Model
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, starting at verse 31, Jesus distinguishes how folks will be separated at the end of the age. He says that He will reward those who cared for Him.
“35 For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked and you clothed me,
I was sick and you visited me,
I was in prison and you came to me.’” (English Standard Version)
Jesus further explains that even though they might not have realized it at the time, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matt. 25:40, ESV).
My client was taking that passage to heart and aligning her giving to each of those different actions. She told me that she and her late husband always had that passage as their “guide for giving.” Hence, she supports a rescue mission, a charity that drills wells for the underserved, her local church, a restorative medical ministry, and a prison ministry.
The 3 x 3 Matrix
A widow I work with is very purposeful in where she gives. She created a grid that looked like a tic-tac-toe board. On the “X” axis she lists geographic regions: local, within America, and around the world. On the perpendicular “Y” axis, she lists evangelism, discipleship and bettering the poor and needy. She then utilizes the 9 different squares, listing different charities whose mission targets that particular need in that locale. Additionally, she first gives to her church, then to the poor and then to others.
While “willy-nilly giving,” giving haphazardly or arbitrarily, might yield some results, intentional giving accomplishes far greater impact. Each of the aforementioned clients adopts a unique approach to their philanthropy. While none is inherently superior to the others, they all stem from deeply held convictions. They have thoughtfully planned the allocation of their funds, ensuring they make a strategic impact with their donations.
Have you considered where you’d like your resources to be directed? What guides your philanthropic endeavors? Have you developed a personalized framework, your own “matrix,” that encompasses geographic, need-based, and other criteria for giving? Do you regularly strategize which nonprofits align closely with your passions and priorities to receive the bulk of your support? In a broken and needy world, every contribution matters. Together, through individual concerted efforts, we can foster hope, help address societal ills, and contribute to both local and global restoration.
Schedule an introductory phone call with Thomas at this link: Thomas Talbott – Introductory Phone Call
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