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.
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