Quiet, timely giving gives me such joy

Ted is a Stewardship Donor Advised Fund (DAF) account holder who we support to make sure his giving is impactful and tax-efficient.

Ted has always been committed to stewarding his finances well and giving generously but receiving an inheritance led to opening a Stewardship Donor Advised Fund account. We chatted with Ted about his giving experience and what drives him to live a life of generosity.

A life shaped by generosity

“For me, generosity has always been tied to the faithfulness of God. Over the years I have discovered again and again that you cannot outgive Him. There have been times when we have tried to give quite radically, only to see provision come back in unexpected ways. For example, I will always remember when we were selling our house. The sale fell through, which was frustrating at the time, but it ended up working out for the best. We found a better home, and when the house did eventually sell, the price had increased by almost the same amount we had recently given away.

My wife and I have aimed to tithe around 15%. I inherited some wealth through family: a good problem to have, though one which can carry its own challenges such as finding peace with how to handle that responsibility.

I know that when I have given generously, I feel peace. When I hold back, I feel unsettled. Working these things out in our marriage has been important. We have learned to listen to one another and make decisions together, which has kept us on a good path.

Giving my best and leaving the outcomes to God

I have been a believer for more than 55 years and in that time I have been shaped by many influences. Jesus’ teaching about meeting the needs of others continues to inspire me. Paul’s encouragement also motivates me: ‘You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.’ - 2 Corinthians 9:11.

Along the way, I have had to wrestle with different perspectives on money. In my early days I encountered a lot of radical social gospel teaching. Later I came across prosperity gospel teaching too: some sound, some manipulative. Both had an impact but over time, with good teaching, I have come to a more balanced view. I now see that a poverty mindset can be damaging, just as much as believing that wealth itself is wrong. Being open-handed with what God has given me has proved to be a very important part of the way forward.

In terms of where I give, often opportunities come across my path and I respond. For example, I have been involved in overseas charity work where I met people that we have gone on to support. Sometimes it has simply been a conversation with someone at the right time. Sometimes the answer has to be no, which is never easy, but boundaries are necessary.

Mission and practical support for people in need are key priorities for me. We have supported foodbanks, funded mission work and helped individuals in difficult situations. One of the most tangible projects we supported was in a developing country where we gave to build a women’s training centre alongside an existing programme for men. Seeing that come to life was a joy.

Most of the time, the impact of my giving is not completely measurable. And that is fine with me. I have had occasions where I gave to an individual and later realised, without them saying anything, that the timing had been critical. That is enough encouragement to keep going.

My experience with Stewardship

When I received an inheritance, my professional advisers suggested using a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). I already knew about Stewardship, so it felt like a natural step. It allowed me to give a lump sum in a tax-efficient way. I will be honest that it felt slightly painful at first, but I knew it was the right thing to do. With so much need in the world, I do not want to hold on to it unnecessarily.

The experience with Stewardship has been excellent. The communication is clear, the systems are straightforward and the support is effective. Having one account to manage all our giving has made things much easier.

If I had one piece of advice for anyone considering being more generous, it would be this: giving is a declaration that we trust God more than our circumstances.

When life is hard, it is so easy to slip into fear. But giving helps break that mindset. I have found that when we look after His business, He looks after ours. That brings peace that I cannot really explain, except to say it is faith.”

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Photo is for illustration only, not the real people in this case study.