The Generosity NOW Podcast

On this episode, Eric and Laurie sit down with Jeff Haanen, founder of the Denver Institute for Faith and Work, about the holistic message of generosity.They discuss the unintended consequences of a stewardship mentality, the importance of receiving God's generosity, and how generosity can be expressed through work and investing. Jeff emphasizes the need for interior work and the journey of generosity, reminding listeners that it is a process and that grace should be given to oneself and others.

About Jeff

Jeff Haanenis awriterandentrepreneur.He’s the founder of Denver Institute for Faith & Work, an educational organization that creates content and experiences around topics related to faith, work, the economy, and modern culture. Jeff writes on faith, business, entrepreneurship, and work, and he has published essays withChristianity Today,the American Enterprise Institute, andComment. He’s the author ofAn Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God’s Purpose for the Next Season of Lifeandthe forthcoming booksWorking from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer WorldandGod of the Second Shift.He lives with his wife and four daughters in Denver, Colorado. Takeaways

Generosity is not just about external impact, but about who we are becoming. Receiving God's generosity is a crucial aspect of generosity. Generosity can be expressed through work by hiring people with challenging backgrounds, investing in healthy workplace culture, and being generous with time and attention. Generosity in investing involves considering the social and spiritual impact of investments, not just financial return. The interior work of generosity is the hardest but most important work. Generosity is a journey, and grace should be given to oneself and others. Quotables

"Generosity is not first about external impact. It's about who we're becoming." "The interior work is the hardest work." "The overflow of receiving the kingdom is a holistic generosity that influences all areas of our lives."

Connect with Jeff

https://www.jeffhaanen.com/

In this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Jeff Shafer, CEO and co-founder of Common Good Capital. They discuss impact investing and how aligning investments with values can make a positive impact on people's lives. Jeff shares his personal journey and how a back surgery and subsequent crisis led him to shift his focus to impact investing. He explains the work of Common Good Capital in sourcing, due diligence, and educating wealth advisors to help investors align their investments with their values. Jeff also provides examples of impact investments in affordable housing, environmental stewardship, lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, and supporting formerly incarcerated individuals.

About Jeff

After graduating from Wheaton College (IL) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Biblical Studies, Jeff married Shelly, his wife of over 20 years. Jeff has always been passionate about the financial industry and has worked with Morgan Stanley and TriLinc (a leading impact investing fund sponsor), while spending the majority of his time, 18 ½ years, with CNL, a leading alternative investment asset manager. Jeff served in multiple senior leadership roles, and as President, led his team in raising nearly $9 billion in capital. During his time at CNL, Jeff earned a Master of Business Administration from Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College (FL) and also holds the Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant designations, as well as FINRA Series 7, 24, 63 and 79 licenses. Today, Jeff is co-founder and CEO of CommonGood Capital where he sets the strategic direction and leads the team day to day on this exciting journey.

Jeff has served on numerous boards including the United Way and Board of Advisors for Crummer Graduate School of Business, Rollins College. Today he serves on the Doug Holliday Ministries Board, NCF Advisory Board, Chair of Elevation Scholar Foundation, Alumni Board of Wheaton College and The Geneva School Board of Directors.

Jeff and Shelly settled in Winter Park, FL in 2004 where they love doing life together, whether around the dinner table, or keeping up with their two children, Ellie and Nick, who are both college-bound shortly. You will often find Jeff reading non-fiction books, cycling, cheering on his beloved Oregon Ducks or tinkering around on their acreage out in the country with the family dog, Calvin, a black and tan coon hound. He also is deeply passionate about men and women who are incarcerated, and one day wants to create an impact fund that benefits both these ex-offenders and investors.

Takeaways

• Impact investing involves aligning investments with values to make a positive impact on people's lives.

• Investing with a focus on impact can bring joy and freedom, in addition to financial returns.

• Common Good Capital sources, conducts due diligence, and educates wealth advisors to help investors align their investments with their values.

• Examples of impact investments include affordable housing, environmental stewardship, lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, and supporting formerly incarcerated individuals. Impact investing focuses on both financial returns and positive social and environmental impact.

• Due diligence is crucial when evaluating impact investments, including assessing the manager or sponsor, understanding the investment thesis, and considering the impact and faith integration.

• Individuals can use their charitable capital for impact investing, and financial advisors can help facilitate these investments.

• Generosity should be thought of more broadly, and investing in causes can have a lasting impact.

• Investing requires faith and a willingness to take risks, trusting that the outcomes are in God's hands.

Connect with Jeff

Website: https://commongoodcap.com/

A New Lens Podcast: https://commongoodcap.com/podcast/

On this episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by Pete Gazlay. Pete shares his journey of faith, entrepreneurship, and generosity. He grew up in a middle-class family and came to know Jesus at the age of 17. Pete and his wife Linda started a commercial cleaning business called Total Facility Care, which grew over the years. In 2020, they went through a Journey of Generosity that transformed their perspective on business and stewardship. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, their business thrived and they were able to give bonuses to their employees. Pete Gazlay and his wife Linda share their journey of entrepreneurship, selling their business, and embracing generosity. They experienced financial success but felt a calling to give back and make a greater impact. They learned about complex asset gifting and decided to gift a portion of their business to increase their charitable impact. This decision allowed them to give away more money than they had ever given before. They also involved their family in the giving journey, gifting each of their children and grandchildren a significant amount of money to donate to kingdom-oriented causes. Pete and Linda have also been involved in mission trips to Guatemala and Tanzania, where they witnessed the need for the Gospel and the joy of serving others. They encourage other Christians to embrace generosity and stewardship, emphasizing the importance of giving not just financially but also with their time and resources. Takeaways

• Faith and prayer played a significant role in Pete and Linda's journey of entrepreneurship and generosity.
• The Journey of Generosity experience had a transformative impact on their perspective on business and stewardship.
• Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, their business thrived and they were able to give bonuses to their employees.
• Implementing significant price increases with their clients was a bold move that was well-received. Entrepreneurs can experience financial success but still feel a calling to give back and make a greater impact.
• Complex asset gifting can be a powerful way to increase charitable impact and give away more money than ever before.
• Involving family in the giving journey can be a meaningful and transformative experience.
• Mission trips provide opportunities to witness the need for the Gospel and serve others, leading to personal growth and a deeper understanding of stewardship.

Quotables

"God was working on me over a number of months. And in one day after school, it was it was the day. And so we went down in the basement into a classroom. And, you know, my teacher and Linda and one of our friends prayed for me and I I gave my life to Jesus."

"We got down on our knees and are living in... It's like, okay, God, this company is really yours. Like we, we give it to you."

"We became experts in COVID decontaminations and, um, we did hundreds of them over the next few months."

"We'd seen our revenue was going up, you know, massively. We'd been able to give big increases to our team with a promise for what that looked like over the next couple of years."

"The stress of caring for almost 150 families as employees and as an employer led us to the decision to sell."

"The complex asset gift allowed us to give away more money over the next few years than we had given in our entire adult lives."

On this episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by Cody and Kealan Hobelmann. They discuss the concept of setting a financial finish line and the impact it can have on one's life. They share their personal stories of faith, generosity, and stewardship, and how these principles have shaped their financial decisions. The conversation also touches on the importance of inviting others into these conversations and the role of faith in financial planning. Kealan and Cody talk about how their experiences have influenced their work as financial advisors and their desire to help others align their finances with their values. The conversation explores the concept of setting a financial finish line and the impact it can have on one's life. They discuss the Finish Line podcast and the diverse stories of generosity shared by their guests. They also introduce the Sprint program, which is designed to encourage group conversations around the core foundations of generosity. The guests highlight the importance of individual expressions of generosity and the unique callings that God has placed on each person. They emphasize the need for customizable approaches to generosity and stewardship. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the broader story of God's work in the world and the opportunity for individuals to be part of it through generosity.

About Cody and Kealan

CODY HOBELMANN Cody and his wife Stephanie live and work in Maryland. Cody is a financial planner and Stephanie is an elementary school teacher.

After a number of years managing various types of wealth professionally, Cody has had plenty of opportunities to consider the impact that money has on us, and how to manage it wisely. He and Stephanie chose a finish line for their spending in 2020 and have been giving away everything over that line since.

After exploring how to best steward any excess that God blesses him with, Cody along with Kealan founded Compound Impact, a nonprofit real estate fund that purchases and rehabs homes and rents them exclusively to incoming refugee families. Every dollar generated by each home is given away to organizations that are advancing the gospel in hard-to-reach places.

KEALAN HOBELMANN Kealan is a resident physician in Pennsylvania. He and his wonderful wife Alison are parents to four beautiful girls.

Kealan and Alison set a finish line for their spending around 2016 and have been giving everything over that line away since then. And they’ve learned a lot along the way. You can read about their other passion at www.fosteringphilly.com.

Read more about this interview at generositynow.org

In this conversation, Parker Samelson and Molly Cipiti Eric and Laurie for a discussion on next-gen involvement in philanthropy and investing. They also share their backgrounds, faith journeys, and the impact of generosity in their lives. The conversation highlights the unique characteristics of the Zillennial generation and their interest in impact investing. They discuss the shift towards project-based giving and the potential for nonprofits to adapt to this changing landscape. The survey results reveal a high level of next-gen involvement and expectations of receiving early inheritances, indicating the ongoing wealth transfer. The conversation explores the influence of the next generation in financial decision-making and the importance of giving them agency. It also delves into the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy family relationships with money. The podcast Ascendance is highlighted as a resource for young adults navigating their own legacy. The discussion emphasizes the need for open dialogue and respect for different opinions. The role of impact investing and the importance of community and support are also explored. The conversation concludes with a focus on gaining an international perspective and the value of learning and growing together. About our guests Parker Samelson co founded Ivywild Capital with Daniel after finding success as part of a general partnership developing a storage facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Previously, Parker worked at his family's company Contrarian Holdings and worked as a real estate broker. Parker received a double major from Wheaton College in Business and Bible. Molly Bolthouse Cipiti does a lot of different things but at the core of it all she loves to execute strategically and create meaningful connections that bring about human flourishing and beauty. Takeaways

• The Zillennial generation is interested in impact investing and co-giving, seeking both financial and social returns.
• Nonprofits may need to shift their approach to attract the generosity of the younger generation, focusing on special programs and different seasons of giving.
• Impact investing offers an opportunity for sustainable solutions to social problems, reducing the need for repeated solicitations.
• Next-gen individuals are highly involved in their families' philanthropy and investing, with many expecting to receive early inheritances.
• The great wealth transfer is already happening, with young adults making significant decisions about the economy, investing, and philanthropy. The next generation is increasingly involved in financial decision-making, and it is important to give them agency and a voice.
• Family relationships with money can range from healthy to unhealthy, and it is crucial to understand the dynamics and address any issues.
• The Ascendance podcast is a valuable resource for young adults navigating their own legacy.
• Respecting different opinions and fostering open dialogue is essential when involving the next generation in financial matters.
• Impact investing can be a powerful tool for creating positive change, and finding community and support is crucial for personal and collective growth.

In this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Aimee Minnich, co-founder and general counsel for the Impact Foundation. They discuss Aimee's journey and career arc, the success of the Impact Foundation, investment opportunities and success stories, challenges and lessons learned, and the principle of gleaning. They also explore who the typical impact investor is, the entry point for investments, and how to get connected with the Impact Foundation. In this conversation, Aimee discusses the importance of effective communication and provides practical tips for building trust, active listening, non-verbal communication, conflict resolution, and empathy. The conversation emphasizes the role of communication in personal and professional relationships and highlights the benefits of clear and empathetic communication. About Aimee

Aimee Minnich serves as Chief Impact Officer and General Counsel of Impact Foundation. Prior to founding Impact Foundation, she served as President and General Counsel for the National Christian Foundation, Heartland, where she designed and implemented the foundation’s Missional Investing Program to allow the investment of donor-advised funds in social impact companies. A recovering attorney, Aimee earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law with honors and a BA in Philosophy, summa cum laude, from Rockhurst University. In addition to “The Profitable Charity,” she's published a boring law article and a study of the metaphysics of salvation.

Aimee and her husband Marshall live with their three adorable and high-energy kids and sweet old dog in Kansas city. Aimee loves serving on the boards of two local nonprofits that seek to make the city an even better place.

Takeaways

• The Impact Foundation seeks to facilitate the ability to invest charitable capital for economic, social, and spiritual transformation.
• Investing with charitable and private capital allows individuals to make a positive impact while potentially receiving financial returns.
• Impact investments can be made in a variety of industries and locations worldwide.
• The principle of gleaning encourages investors to consider factors beyond financial returns, such as creating access, excellence, and transformation.
• The Impact Foundation welcomes a diverse range of investors, including non-accredited individuals and groups. Effective communication is crucial for building trust and rapport in relationships.
• Active listening involves fully engaging with the speaker and demonstrating understanding.
• Non-verbal communication, such as body language and facial expressions, can convey important messages.
• Conflict resolution requires open and honest communication, active listening, and empathy.
• Empathy and understanding are essential for effective communication and building strong relationships.

Connect with Aimee

Website: https://www.impactfoundation.org/about

In this episode of the Generosity Now podcast, Eric and Laurie interview Paul Bolte from TrustBridge Global. They discuss the challenges of international giving and how TrustBridge Global provides a solution for donors who want to give to charities outside of the US. Paul shares his personal journey of faith and the importance of generosity and stewardship in his life. He also explains the process and timeline for giving through TrustBridge Global and highlights success stories of organizations that have been supported through their platform.

About Paul Bolte

Paulbrings to TrustBridge his entrepreneurial background, strong networking, people, systems, and number skills. For the 11 years prior to joining TrustBridge, he was the Founder, President & CEO of Bartercard USA and CEO of Bartercard New Zealand. He has led teams of over 150 people and client bases over 20,000. Paul is a past Chairman of the Global Board of Directors for the International Reciprocal Trade Association.

About TrustBridge Global

Generous communities. TrustBridge inspires local leaders to create donor-advised fund foundations in their own country whose mission is to mobilize resources by inspiring generosity. These Network Members serve business owners and families in their local communities, nurturing their journey of generosity, creating community and collaboration around giving and mission-related investing, and growing the volume of giving.

Global network. We then network these foundations together to create a global charitable platform to facilitate fast, efficient, and easy giving and mission-related investing – locally or anywhere around the world. By radically lowering the cost, time and hassles of cross-border grant making, more resources will flow to the areas of the world that need it most.

Learn more: https://www.trustbridgeglobal.com/

In this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Mike Scheid, the Executive Director of the Community Impact Fund. The Community Impact Fund offers impact loans to individuals and families in need, providing a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet. Mike shares his personal journey and how it has shaped his passion for helping others. He explains the motivation behind the Community Impact Fund and how it has evolved from providing grants to offering loans. Mike also discusses the loan application process, repayment schedule, and the impact the fund has had on people's lives. He highlights the importance of working with employers and shares success stories of individuals who have been helped by the fund. Mike concludes by discussing the future of the Community Impact Fund and its potential to expand to other sectors, such as housing owners. About Mike

Mike is a passionate leader focused on “doing good by doing well” in business. Before joining CIF in January of 2021, he owned Share Good Foods, which was successfully sold, and led the development of SGF, a Do Good Things social enterprise. He also worked to drive impact and growth through his leadership at Swoovy®, a platform fueling volunteerism, social connections, and a wraparound support system for nonprofits.

Miscellaneous Facts:

• Colorado Native
• Avid Outdoorsman who loves to camp, hike, ski, fly fish
• Married to his wife of over 25 year who he met as a freshman in HS, She was a senior and not interested.
• Father to three girls
• On the Board of B:CIVIC a Colorado Nonprofit working to help further business as a force for good.

Previous Roles:

EVP, Social Impact & Partnerships at Swoovy

Director of Technology at Cherry Hills Christian Schools

VP Operations at Rewind Technology

Owner and VP of Do Good things at Share Good Foods

Takeaways

• The Community Impact Fund offers impact loans to individuals and families in need, providing a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet.
• The fund started as a way to bring families together over the holidays and provide food, but it evolved to focus on financial wellness and offering loans.
• Loans are provided at 0% interest and with no fees, allowing individuals to repay the loan without additional financial burden.
• The Community Impact Fund works with employers to offer the loan program as an employee benefit, leveraging the trust and relationship between employers and employees.

Learn More

https://communityimpactfund.org/

In this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Shannon Hawkins Morris, Vice President of Helping Hands. They discuss the history and purpose of Helping Hands, a ministry that provides financial assistance to individuals and families in need. Shannon shares examples of projects they have supported, such as providing shoes for children in low-income schools and helping pastors with medical expenses. They also discuss the Corporate Assistance Program, which allows businesses to set up giving funds for their employees and community. The episode highlights the importance of due diligence and the peace of mind it provides to givers. About Shannon Hawkins Morris Shannon has a life-long dream to serve at an organization with a humanitarian mission! As Vice President at Helping Hands, a registered 501c3 charity organization dedicated to God’s calling to serve others. Helping Hands has the privilege of providing direct assistance to qualified individuals in need and charities, both locally and internationally. Shannon has a passion for people and strives every day to make a positive difference in the world by connecting with and serving others. Episode Takeaways

• Helping Hands is a ministry that provides financial assistance to individuals and families in need.

• They qualify projects through a due diligence process to ensure that the funds go to true needy situations.
• Helping Hands supports a wide range of projects, including providing shoes for children in low-income schools and helping pastors with medical expenses.
• The Corporate Assistance Program allows businesses to set up giving funds for their employees and community.

In this week's episode of the Generosity Now podcast, Eric and Laurie interview Jeff Waldron, a complex gift attorney with the National Christian Foundation (NCF). They discuss the power of asset-based giving and the various tools available for charitable giving. Jeff shares his personal journey of generosity and stewardship and how it led him to join NCF. They explore the benefits of giving from assets and provide examples of how it can have a greater Kingdom impact. The conversation emphasizes the importance of educating and inspiring givers to consider asset-based giving strategies. The episode concludes with final thoughts and advice for listeners. Takeaways

• Asset-based giving provides a powerful way to make a greater Kingdom impact with charitable giving.
• Educating and inspiring givers about the possibilities of asset-based giving is crucial.

• Giving a portion of an asset can be a beneficial strategy for givers.

• Considerations such as debt ratio and cash availability should be taken into account when deciding between cash and asset giving.

• Asset-based giving can exponentially increase the amount that can be given and have a significant impact.

About Jeff

Jeff Waldron serves as a Gift Planning Attorney with The National Christian Foundation (NCF) where he assists individuals and families to achieve their charitable goals through the gifting of complex assets. Prior to joining NCF, Jeff was a partner in a large Minneapolis law firm. In private practice, Jeff served closely held companies and their owners in the areas of business planning, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, succession planning, tax planning, and wealth preservation. Jeff obtained his law degree from Drake University Law School and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.