Jeanne McMains, Executive Vice President of Offerings and Marketing at the National Christian Foundation.For more than 25 years, she’s helped families create a fun and lasting giving experience.
[1:00]
HOW CAN FAMILIES ENHANCE THEIR GIVING PRACTICES DURING THE HOLIDAYS?
- Create a thriving family giving culture by engaging in generosity activities together.
- Right size the giving experience to suit children or grandchildren’s capacity to understand and participate.
- Cultivate a culture of grace, allowing the family’s giving practices to develop organically over time.
[1:54]
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF RIGHT SIZING THE GIVING EXPERIENCE?
- A single mother overwhelmed her daughter with a large monetary gift and extensive instructions, leading to disappointment.
- A father gave his children a substantial amount of money to donate, but was dissatisfied with their choices, highlighting the need to balance generosity with practicality.
- The key is helping children find joy in giving according to their interests, not overwhelming them with complexity or high expectations.
[3:36]
HOW CAN FAMILIES STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE GIVING INTERESTS?
- Create ‘we and me’ spaces: allowing individual family members to support their own passions while also contributing to shared family values.
- Engage in fun activities, like card games, to discuss values and charitable impacts as a family.
- Encourage personal and collective journeys in generosity, fostering family bonds and shared values.
[6:35]
WHAT ROLE DOES FRAMEWORK PLAY IN FAMILY GIVING?
- Utilize a framework to set clear guidelines and expectations for family giving discussions.
- Jeanne shares examples of successful frameworks, like employer match programs, to inspire family giving strategies.
- Encourage both ‘we’ and ‘me’ spaces within the framework to cater to individual passions and shared values.
[9:02]
HOW CAN FAMILIES ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN GIVING?
- Involve children in giving, regardless of their age, through simple, adaptable strategies.
- Jeanne shares a three-step question process to guide children in choosing causes and organizations to support.
- Encourage a focus on how organizations share the gospel, integrating faith and generosity.
[11:35]
WHAT ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES CAN FAMILIES USE TO ENHANCE THEIR GIVING EXPERIENCE?
- Share responsibilities in the giving process, involving all family members according to their abilities and interests.
- Encourage a variety of participation methods, from researching causes to connecting with charities.
- Celebrate giving as a joyful and meaningful family activity, incorporating elements of fun and festivity.
HOW CAN FAMILIES ENSURE THAT THEIR GIVING PRACTICES REFLECT CHRISTIAN VALUES?
- Focus on the fruits of the Spirit, ensuring that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control are present in giving discussions and actions.
- Regularly assess whether the family’s giving culture promotes these values, making adjustments as necessary.
- Celebrate and pursue these fruits in the family’s collective and individual giving journeys.
HOW CAN THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION ASSIST FAMILIES IN THEIR GIVING JOURNEYS?
- NCF offers giving strategies and support to help families navigate their generosity journeys, rooted in biblical principles.
- Local NCF offices provide additional resources and connections for families looking to enhance their giving practices.
Learn more at NCFGiving.com.
On today’s program, Rob also answers listener questions:
- How should I invest or save my $14,000 sitting in the bank to potentially buy property in the future, considering it's currently earning no interest?
- Due to financial strain from unemployment and struggling to pay rent and bills, should I sell my car, worth a bit over $5,100, even though I have access to public transportation?
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network as well as American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.comwhere you can join the FaithFi Community, and give as we expand our outreach.
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.
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