Lacking inspiration in planning your charitable giving? Consider turning to the Scriptures. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus provided us with examples that can guide us in making donations.‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ...The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’ (NIV).As Christians, our actions and our giving should reflect this type of merciful heart.
Some donors use this passage as a checklist of giving for different categories of relief: hunger-prevention, housing, hospitality, clothing, medical care, and prison ministry. We can directly support a number of excellent organizations that focus on relief and development.
Our home church typically supports missions with a portion of our tithes, but we can also support individual missionaries or mission organizations. The Great Commission that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 28:19-20 makes it clear that evangelism is a central part of our calling, so this should be reflected in our personal lives and also in our giving.
Diversification
Just as investors benefit from constructing a well thought out portfolio diversified across a number of assets, we may want to think of our giving in the same way.
In an investment portfolio, diversification can reduce risk. Allocating funds across different types of assets can make the portfolio more efficient—a better risk-to-reward tradeoff.
Likewise, giving to a carefully chosen selection of organizations can reduce the risk that a single charity might unexpectedly do a poor job of fulfilling its mission or, in rare cases, encounter financial irregularities.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 and 6 speaks about diversification.
“Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. …Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well” (NIV).Moreover, a diversified giving portfolio can allow an individual to support a number of worthy Christian objectives, while allowing each separate organization to focus on its particular area of expertise.
For both a very inspirational and practical way of looking at giving as a long-term investment, read the book The Eternity Portfolio, by Alan Gotthardt.
The author stresses that our offerings to God are similar to our earthly investments, only with an infinitely better payoff. He suggests that two or three major commitments outside of the local church is an appropriate number for most people to stay abreast of.
“Blue Chips”
Investors often diversify their holdings between domestic and international funds. Likewise, we may wish to diversify our giving across organizations in local, national, and overseas areas.
The Great Commission refers to “all nations” (Matthew 28:19 NIV). Also, one might consider a mix of “blue-chip” institutions and small or recent “start-up” charities. With larger blue-chip nonprofits, you know you are supporting groups with long, proven track records, financial stability, and established operations.
By mixing in some smaller charities, you have the opportunity to support groups that have recognized a need which may be unmet by the larger institutions.
These smaller start-ups may also provide an opportunity for you to get personally involved in their work, such as touring their operations or volunteering time.
Smaller start-ups may be more dynamic and have faster growth. Also your gifts may be large enough to make a material difference to the group.
This has advantages and disadvantages—a group that doesn’t have a diversified support base can be hard hit by the loss of a few donors.
Part 2
Jim Steenhagen
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