PERSONALIZING
GIVING

Topics: Benevolence; Generosity; Giving; Money; Stewardship; Tithing; Work

References: Proverbs 3:9–10; Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8; Hebrews 7:5–6

Corporate giving is no longer about signing fat checks, public preening, and charity balls, says Jeff Skoll, vice president of strategic planning and analysis for eBay Inc. “Young, ‘newly minted’ givers anticipate seeing the effects of their gifts within their lifetimes and want a more hands-on role,” he says.

For example, Ken Blanchard, coauthor of How to Make Serious Money for Both You and Your Company, says, “We tithe 10 percent of our profit.… We divide it among all our employees to give away. The lowest-paid employee gets to give $1,000 away, and the highest gets to give $3,500. We gave to 160 charities last year.”

The results of this personalized giving are touching. “A guy in shipping came up to me with tears in his eyes,” Blanchard said. “He got the chance to give $1,000 to his parish to buy robes for the choir. He’s become a local hero.”

—Lorenzo Della Foresta, “Twenty-first Century Giving,” PreachingToday.com