We are grateful to our donors Bob and Liz for sharing their giving story.
Bob and Liz became Christians when they were living in North America, where they joined a church that gave half its budget to support mission work. This environment helped form the basis of how they have continued to give – cheerfully, thoughtfully, prayerfully. A Bible verse they often come back to is 2 Corinthians 9:7, 'Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver' (NIV).
About six years ago Bob and Liz received an inheritance, a significant amount which they planned to give away over a number of years. After doing some research, they discovered Stewardship, and opened a Donor Advised Fund account, which was a cost effective platform to manage their donations
Benefits of a Donor Advised Fund
The set-up of the account helped Bob and Liz fulfil their giving intentions as they were able to set aside the amount they wanted to donate in one place and then take their time choosing how and when to allocate account balance to their chosen charities. They liked the option too to have some of their account balance invested, so that they could potentially increase the funds they had available to give away over time.
Bob and Liz also value having an Expression of Wishes. This can cover your account balance as well as any charitable legacy gift to Stewardship in your will; the Expression of Wishes specifies how you would like your gift to be distributed posthumously and it can be updated at any time free of charge.
Another benefit of a Donor Advised Account is that you can choose to give anonymously, something which Bob and Liz value. If you would like the causes you support to know who you are, you have the option to enable that when you make your donation.
Highlights along the journey
Bob and Liz have particularly appreciated the pooled funds that we have created at different times of crisis. The first of these was the Rapid Response Fund which was set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rather than having to research charities and work out who to give to, they decided to donate a lump-sum into the fund. We then allocated the amount raised to various charities on the frontline of the crisis.
They like maintaining a balance in their account so they can respond promptly to new needs they would like to support. Liz notes how easy it is to sign in to your account and set up a new gift, either as a one-off or regular donation. When they need additional support, they know help is just a phone call away.
Liz commented: “We like the fact that you do a lot of the administration, and that you are a charity, serving the Kingdom.”
Start your giving journey
It's easy to open a Donor Advised Fund account online. You are also welcome to contact us with any questions you may have.
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Impact
Quarterly email for philanthropists. News, inspiration and guidance to support you on your giving journey.
Megan Wilcock
In her role as Relationship Manager, Megan works to engage, equip and support the next generation of philanthropists on their giving journey. Megan has been part of the Philanthropy Team since joining Stewardship in 2020, which has ignited her passion to see lives transformed through the power of generosity. She loves to be hospitable and uses this passion to create safe spaces for relationship and connections to flourish.
Megan lives in North West London with her husband Josh, where they attend a local church and lead a connect group together. Caring for God’s creation and bringing an end to modern day slavery are two areas that Megan is an ardent supporter of.
