3 Ways to Give like a Billionaire
Imagine you have a billion dollars. What would you do with the money? Maybe you’d have a bigger house, take some amazing trips, or provide everything your family needs.
How preposterous would it be if you gave it all away?
That’s exactly what billionaire Charles Feeney did. Embracing a “giving while living” philosophy, he committed to donating the vast majority of his wealth. By the time he passed away in 2023, he had given away $8 billion.
The odds are you won’t ever be a billionaire, but it is possible to give like one. Anyone can give while they live and make a difference now—and for eternity. Here are three lessons we can glean from Charles Feeney’s example.
- Pursue generosity now. You have time, talent, and treasure to give. Now is the time to be generous with what you’ve been given to meet the needs around you. It’s easy to be concerned with having enough—time to serve, talent to give, money to live on.
The good news is you serve an infinitely generous God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10-11) and will meet every one of your needs. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
- Plan to give later. Does giving now mean you won’t have anything to give later? Absolutely not. There are any number of ways to extend generosity after your life time, from including a gift in your will for Global Disciples to donating appreciated assets like stocks or mutual funds.
- Share your why. According to news stories, Charles Feeney preferred to donate anonymously. As he got older, however, he became more public about his desire to set an example to others with his giving. You can do that too. Sharing your commitment to generosity with your family can ignite that same spark in your children, grandchildren, and the generations after you.
Whether you are rich in time, talent, or treasure, you can give while you live and make a powerful statement about what matters most.
Recent Posts
Near-Culture Workers: Bridging the Gap
A Curious Father: A Story from Indonesia
Unexpected Opportunities
Our dream is to give as many people as possible a front-row seat to God’s work in reaching the least-reached through Global Disciples.
Do you have an up-to-date will?
Going a Step Beyond
Teaching a man to fish is rewarding, but equipping God’s people to equip others—that can change the world!
Life Change for Leaders
Leadership training from Global Disciples equips leaders in the local church to grow in their relationship with the Lord and in their desire and ability to share the Gospel.
A Third of Our World
Roughly one-third of the world’s population is considered least-reached. Mission researchers have identified at least 4,289 least-reached groups or 41.6% of the world's people groups.
Groundbreaking Prayer
The director led a smaller team to walk and pray and prepare the way for Jesus in one of the villages that was without a church or even a small fellowship of believers.
How Can We Reach Them?
We believe one of the most effective ways to reach least-reached people is by working with and through the global Body of Christ.
Jesus Loves Me
"Does God really exist? And if He does, does He really love me? Because I have never known anyone who loves me.”
What Is a Disciple?
A disciple is someone who is with Jesus and learning to be like Him. “Disciple” is a status.
Give monthly, reach the world…
Join our community of monthly donors bringing the hope of Jesus to least-reached people groups around the world.