Épisodes

  • Madison Illges, Executive Director of Mite, on the Importance of Celebration in Giving (Ep. 156)

    Madison Illges, Executive Director of Mite, on the Importance of Celebration in Giving (Ep. 156)
    Sep 15 2025
    Madison Illges, Executive Director of Mite, was brought up in a large family that modeled a heart of generosity. Before Madison was even born, her father experienced a simple but life-changing moment of joy in giving—a spark that would one day grow into a vision for helping others celebrate generosity in community. That vision became reality in 2016 when Mite was launched with a mission to make giving better. Mite is a giving fund that helps donors connect with trusted global projects while removing the guesswork that so often makes giving complicated. Their team researches and vets development projects around the world—spanning education, health, child development, disaster relief, and more—so that givers can confidently support causes they’re passionate about. And as those projects are completed, Mite goes the extra mile to bring the stories home, showing donors how their generosity has impacted real people and communities in more than 25 countries. Madison stepped in as executive director at a young age and for nearly a decade she has seen God use technology, creativity, and faithful obedience to multiply impact and remind us that generosity is ultimately a celebration of what He is doing around the world. Major Topics Include: The Watermelon Party StoryHow advancing technology brings donors to the field The impact of the widow’s mite story on Madison’s lifeA deep dive into the vetting and reporting processHow Mite discovers healthy organizations to partner with Analyzing an organization’s theory of changeThe beauty of community in generosityCelebrating God in generosity QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Generosity loosens greed, provides an opportunity to cultivate joy, and aligns us with God’s Kingdom values.”“Jesus made note of what the widow gave. And it had nothing to do with how much the widow was dropping in, but it had everything to do with where her heart was in her giving.”“There are thousands of fantastic organizations out there that just need financial backing and a cheerleader to come alongside them and help their mission succeed. So we didn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel.”“Project at Mite isn’t considered completed until it’s been filmed.”“People have different passion areas which may change with the season they’re in, so people can generally find a Mite project that interests them now and in the future when their interests shift.”“Mite is doing our best to build community within what we do, but I have also seen as I visit our donors that they are building little pockets of community on their own with what their doing, and Mite just happens to be one of the vehicles they’re using.”“Generosity is an opportunity to celebrate with God in the work He’s doing on Earth.”“We know that if you start being generous when you have little, you’re highly likely to be generous when you have much.”“What we are after is what Jesus was after with the widow—we’re after the heart in generosity, not the amount that they’re giving.”“Don’t wait to arrive. Give now and watch what God can do with your giving.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW MiteThe Pursuit of God by A.W. TozerImpact AfricaThe Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan HeathJourney to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman)Simple Charity (see our interview with CEO Brian Grasso here)Gospel Patrons (see our interview with founder John Rinehart)The Finish Line Community Facebook GroupThe Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Mark 12:41-44 | The Widow’s Offering Matthew 6:21 | Treasure from Your Heart For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. John 3:16 | God, The Ultimate Giver “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.
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    51 min
  • Mike Perez, Financial Advisor and Author, on the 5 Pillars of Finishing the Race Strong (Ep. 155)

    Mike Perez, Financial Advisor and Author, on the 5 Pillars of Finishing the Race Strong (Ep. 155)
    Sep 8 2025
    Mike Perez, a seasoned financial advisor and author of Faith and Finances, didn’t start his career thinking about generosity or Kingdom impact. He began in accounting, building a solid professional foundation, but deep down, something felt incomplete—both professionally and spiritually. A series of God-ordained encounters drew Mike into the world of financial advising and, more importantly, into a place of full surrender to Christ. From that point on, his question became: What would it look like to truly live out my faith through my finances? Over the last 33 years, that question has shaped Mike’s entire career. Today, he carries a special passion for helping those in or near retirement “finish their race strong” by aligning their financial plans with their spiritual calling. In Faith and Finances, Mike distills decades of wisdom to help believers embrace biblical principles for financial success and radical generosity. Along the way, he offers profound insights on discovering your personal calling, setting a financial finish line that frees you to give boldly, stewarding your time and resources with eternal purpose, and building a legacy that outlives you and points others to Christ. Major Topics Include: Mike’s journey through living out is faith in his financesLearning generosity and stewardship in communityThe importance of heart change on the stewardship journey What does it mean to finish well?The five pillars of a faith-driven retirementImportant conversations about legacyAdvice for doing legacy well as a follower of ChristEstate mapping with familiesTips for experiencing heart changeThree steps of a Journey of Generosity experiencePractical tips for setting a finish lineLiving out calling beyond the working years Encouragement to keep growing and stretching in faith and generosity QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Our industry is all about people getting the money thing right, and I think that’s fine and good. But I think what’s more important is getting the life thing right, especially in the second half of life.”“Ephesians 2:10 says that you were designed for good works, it doesn’t say that all bets are off once you’re retired. You’re meant to do good works until the end.”“We shouldn’t be asking God, ‘How much should I give?’ but rather ‘How much should I keep?’”“Does it take more faith to give while you’re here or after you’re gone?”“I don’t think the journey ever ends because God’s always working on our hearts.”“Giving breaks the power of money.”“Your best days can be ahead of you!”“Just take your next step with Jesus.”“Generosity is a muscle. The more you work it out, the stronger it becomes.”“God just wants to know that He can use you.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Faith and Finances by Michael PerezThe ABC’s of Financial Freedom by Barry L. Cameron National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)Kingdom Advisors (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)Journey to Generosity (JoG) with Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounder, Todd Harper and CEO, April Chapman)Christian Franchise Advisor Network (CFAN) with Ameriprise FinancialRonald Blue and Co., CPA (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)Eternal Perspective Ministries (see our interview with founder, Randy Alcorn)Fields of Gold by Andy StanleyThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. CoveyDecade By Decade by Bobb BiehlThe Finish Line Community Facebook GroupThe Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Proverbs 27: 17 | Sharpened by Community Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Psalm 24:1 | God Owns It All The earth is the Lord‘s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, Ephesians 2:10 | Created for Good Works For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Matthew 6:20 | Treasure in Heaven but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.
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    53 min
  • David Reeves, CEO of Unfolding Word, on Locally-Driven Bible Translation Through Church Collaboration (Ep. 154)

    David Reeves, CEO of Unfolding Word, on Locally-Driven Bible Translation Through Church Collaboration (Ep. 154)
    Sep 1 2025
    David Reeves once believed his role in missions was to give generously to the ministries he knew. But after a moment of full surrender as a young man, God redirected his path toward a life of hands-on impact that would ripple across missions, Bible translation, and church planting worldwide. Starting out with an electrical engineering degree, David first served in tech support for a missionary aviation organization—work that eventually led him to leadership as general manager and later president. Today, he serves as the President and CEO of unfoldingWord, where he is pioneering a church-centered approach to Bible translation. With more than 40 years of international leadership experience across cultures and sectors, David offers a rare perspective on how God weaves together innovation, missions, and radical generosity. Under his leadership, unfoldingWord is equipping local churches to translate Scripture into their own languages using open-source tools—shifting Bible translation from centralized projects to sustainable, grassroots movements led by the global Church. Major Topics Include: Using business as a means to access Scripture and the gospel in challenging placesThe providential story of Unfolding WordMaking the local church the hero of the storyThe seven key ideas of the Church-centric Bible translation modelTurbo-charging church planting movements with Bible translationWhy having Scripture in someone’s heart language is importantUnfolding Word’s impact on the Bible translation ecosystemThe benefits of the Creative Commons licensing model Increasing Scripture engagement Difficult lessons in trusting God QUOTES TO REMEMBER “From Pentecost to Revelation, the entire narrative is about the church.”“How do we make the local church the hero of the story?”“If we ever hope to finish the Great Commission in our lifetime, we have to stand on the centrality of the Church.”“The Church operates in a healthy form as a complex network.”“Persecution often creates unity movements. People don’t care what your denomination or your background is. If you’re in the midst of persecution, you’re a loved and welcomed bother or sister in Christ.”“The most effective way to share the gospel is in the heart language.”“The heart language of a community is the language of weddings and funerals.”“Bible translation’s proper place belongs to the Church as a tool for discipleship and church planting.”“Our passion is to empower modern-day ‘Pauls’ and church planters to help them to complete the Great Commission.”“There is no Scripture engagement problem. It’s integral to church-centric Bible translation.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Unfolding WordWycliffe Bible Translators (see our interview with CEO John Chesnut)Loving the Church, Blessing the Nations by George Miley2414 NetworkBiblicaOpen Bible StoriesWhat Happens When Christians and Muslims Translate Scripture Side by Side (Christianity Today)Every Tribe, Every Nation and IllumiNations Bible Translation Alliance (see our interview with Todd Peterson or John Chesnut)Letting Go – UnfoldingWord’s publication on licensingThe Finish Line Community Facebook GroupThe Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Revelation 7:9 | A Great Multitude from Every Nation After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 2 Timothy 2:2 | Teaching Teachers and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.
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    1 h et 10 min
  • Tim Barker, Founder of ROI Ministry, on Embracing Trials in the Generous Life (Ep. 153)

    Tim Barker, Founder of ROI Ministry, on Embracing Trials in the Generous Life (Ep. 153)
    Aug 25 2025
    Tim Barker is the founder of ROI Ministry and author of BOOM: What To Do When Life Blows Up Around You. His journey into generosity began after rising from humble beginnings to great success—only to lose everything during a season of deep trial. In the middle of that valley, God answered a “dangerous” prayer Tim had prayed years earlier: that the Lord would do whatever it took to multiply his family’s kingdom impact. Out of that refining season came ROI Ministry, an organization that has since helped direct millions of dollars to high-impact ministries around the world. In time, God restored what Tim had lost and entrusted him with a voice of influence in the global generosity movement. Through ROI Ministry, Tim and his team identify the Top 10 ministries producing the greatest measurable kingdom impact per dollar, helping givers steward their resources with confidence and purpose. In his book, BOOM, Tim shares his own story as a living testimony that God can bring blessings out of brokenness and truly work all things together for His glory and our good. Tim was one of the very first guests on The Finish Line Podcast nearly four years ago, and much has changed since then—for ROI Ministry, for Tim, and for us here at Finish Line. In this conversation, Tim digs deeper into the heart of high-impact giving and reflects on what it looks like to trust God through both abundance and loss, offering wisdom for all who long to walk faithfully in the life of generosity. Major Topics Include: Making a difference from where you are nowThe need to be honest with God in tough timesMoving from failure to fruitfulnessBlessing others by letting them help youHearing the Spirit’s leading in the midst of trialsSeeking God in times of silenceGiving from your mind as well as your heartEmbracing both Spirit-led giving and cost-effective generosityA call to invest more in the local church What to look for in a high-impact organization Thinking through measurable Kingdom impact per dollar QUOTES TO REMEMBER “God, what do you want me to do?”“My story is really about not giving up, because you don’t know what God is doing through times of refining and where He’s going to take you.”“It’s ok to want to give up as long as you’ve decided in advance that you’re not going to.”“Be honest with God.”“Ninety-seven percent of all Christian giving is going to nations that have already been evangelized, and less than one-third of one percent is actually making it to the billion lost, poorest people in the world who are 3,000 times more receptive to the gospel.”“I believe in testing God with the tithe.”“You will find joy, hope, and purpose in helping others in ways that make the greatest impact.”“If you have an opportunity to impact thousands of people rather than just a few, then impact the thousands.”“Eternity is going to be a long, long time, and the more people we impact here, the more we’ll meet over there. And not that we get the credit—God gets the glory. He just gives us the opportunity to be in the game.”“When you’ve been faithful, you know that you’re doing what God’s called you to do, and you’re doing it for the right reason, eventually you will see a harvest.”“As stewards of God’s wealth, are we encouraging others to do the same thing?” LINKS FROM THE SHOW See our first interview with Tim Barker hereBOOM: What To Do When Life Blows Up Around You by Tim BarkerEQUIPROI MinistryNational Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)Ronald Blue and Co. (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman)Eternal Perspective Ministries (see our interview with founder, Randy Alcorn)CruThe Finish Line Community Facebook GroupThe Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Luke 21:1-4 | The Widow’s Offering Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” Matthew 22:37 | Love God with All You Are And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ​​1 Timothy 5:8 | Care for Your Family But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Malachi 3:10 | Put Me to the Test Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my ...
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    59 min
  • Michele Dudley, Founder of BraveWorks, on Seeing Others Through Generosity (Ep. 152)

    Michele Dudley, Founder of BraveWorks, on Seeing Others Through Generosity (Ep. 152)
    Aug 18 2025
    Michele Dudley is the founder of BraveWorks and Restoration Residences, where she has poured her heart into making a Kingdom impact among those who are often overlooked. After starting her career as a CPA, a life-changing mission trip to Burundi opened her eyes to the needs of the global church and set her on a new path of generosity and solidarity with those facing deep suffering. Michele is an avid learner and her deep curiosity has led her into many creative opportunities for giving. Through BraveWorks and Restoration Residences, Michele has impacted the lives of many trafficked, abused, and incarcerated women, as well as helped families in need transition out of homelessness. A self-identified connector and advocate, Michele is highly integrated in the generosity community and has a passion for helping others give well and invest with a generous heart. Major Topics Include: Finding creative opportunities to giveStories of serving and empowering women through BraveWorksBeing a generous connectorCommitting to community in the generosity spaceApproaching investing from a heart of generosity Stewarding investment and philanthropy dollarsPractical advice to get started in impact investingNavigating various levels of engagement and responsibility in generosityEncouragement for women to engage in the generosity communityTrusting God in the messiness of generosity Hearing from God in stewardship decision-making Quotes to Remember “I felt like I had basically lived my life ignoring the plight of the suffering.”“It’s so important for us to become proximate to people who have different lived experiences than we do.”“Whether it’s somewhere across the world or across town, we can have really transformative experiences, even in our own community, but we have to be willing to be uncomfortable and humble and put on a willingness to learn from others.” “A lot of times, I had no intentions of starting anything. I just took the next step that the Lord showed me.”“There’s something that’s healing when you recognize the struggle people have been through.”“It’s really inspiring to be in these spaces where people do have resources but they’re taking the humble perspective of ‘I’ve been entrusted with this, I really want to honor God.’”“If I wasn’t in this space where I was continually being challenged, I think it would be easy to just fall into the culture and the ways of the world.”“Too often, we only focus on our philanthropy and we don’t think about what we’re doing with our investment dollars, and oftentimes, the investment dollars are undoing the very things that we’re trying to do with our philanthropy. God calls us to steward all of what He’s entrusted to us in a way that honors Him.” Links from the Show BraveWorks (formerly Fashion and Compassion)Restoration ResidencesCruCompassion InternationalALARM – African Leadership and Reconciliation MinistriesJulie Wilson, President of Women Doing Well (see our past interview here)Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman)Faith Driven Entrepreneur Faith Driven InvestorFaith Driven Foundation CoursePraxisPraxis Capital FellowshipThe GatheringStewards Not Owners by Dana and Bill Wichterman (see our past interview here)Impact Foundation (see our interview with Founder, Aimee Minnich)The Table (via Impact Foundation)National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)Infinite GivingThe Finish Line Community Facebook GroupThe Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group We Want to Hear from You! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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    58 min
  • Nathan LaGrange, Director of Oasis Rest International, on the Impact of Investing in Spiritual Leaders (Ep. 151)

    Nathan LaGrange, Director of Oasis Rest International, on the Impact of Investing in Spiritual Leaders (Ep. 151)
    Aug 11 2025
    Nathan LaGrange, Executive Director of Oasis Rest International, knows firsthand the vital importance of rest for pastors and ministry leaders. After many years in full-time ministry, a season of intense busyness began to take its toll. Nathan came to a sobering realization: before he could effectively care for others, he needed to care for himself and his family. God then led Nathan through a series of transitions—from fast-paced ministry to the slower, more intentional shepherding of a congregation. Along the way, Nathan discovered the transformative power of doing life with God, not just for Him. Out of that journey came a passion: to create a space where pastors and leaders could themselves be pastored, nurtured, and restored. Following a sabbatical year, Nathan connected with Oasis Rest International, a nonprofit dedicated to providing safe, restorative environments for pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders in need of renewal. With over 25 years of experience in both pastoral ministry and business leadership, Nathan brings a deep understanding of the unique pressures leaders face—and the critical importance of sustainable rhythms in a life of service. His work sits at the intersection of soul care and generosity, and his commitment to investing in leaders’ longevity offers a unique and refreshing perspective on how to partner well with those in ministry. Major Topics Include: Building daily margins to spend time with GodLetting Jesus teach the practice of restCreating daily and weekly finish lines for healthy rhythmsLearning the difference between working for God and working with GodAsking: How much of yourself is enough to give in ministry?Embracing the concept of slowing down to move fasterExploring how rest and generosity intersect in relationshipsFinding practical ways to care for your spiritual leadersCombining “space” and “face” to minister refreshmentSharing stories of transformation through rest QUOTES TO REMEMBER “If you’re not loving yourself or taking care of yourself and your immediate family, then how can you minister in any context?”“Leaders are really good at giving, but they don’t know how to receive.”“The presence of Jesus in that sacred space accompanied with a sacred face invited a holy moment that’s transformational.”“Once you’ve had the opportunity to be in a space, to unpack with a face, it’s like all these new Kingdom dreams start to come alive.”“There was a rhythm to Jesus that was so grace-filled and generous because he would often withdraw to lonely places.”“When I build time with God into my life, when I’ve rested in my own soul, suddenly I can engage with my family in a much more generous way.”“Working for God and working with God are totally different things.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Oasis Rest InternationalThe Overload Syndrome by Dr. Richard A. SwensonChase the Lion by Mark Batterson (see our past interview here)The Finish Line Community Facebook GroupThe Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW 1 Peter 3:19-20 | God’s Patience in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Isaiah 55:1 | An Invitation to Refreshing “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) | Unforced Rhythms of Grace “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Hebrews 13:17 | Care for Your Leaders Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.
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    1 h et 12 min
  • Chris Gardner, Financial Advisor, on Mobilizing $1 Billion for the Kingdom (Ep. 150)

    Chris Gardner, Financial Advisor, on Mobilizing $1 Billion for the Kingdom (Ep. 150)
    Aug 4 2025

    Chris Gardner’s journey began in Mexico and Peru, where he was raised on the mission field as the son of a missionary. Those early years shaped his faith and calling—he began preaching at a young age and, by 18, was already pastoring and planting churches. His experiences in ministry gave him a deep understanding of stewardship, generosity, and the role money plays in Kingdom work.

    Years later, Chris transitioned from leading a large ministry in Peru to a career in wealth management in the U.S., carrying with him a bold goal: to help deploy a billion dollars for Kingdom purposes in his lifetime. Today, he works with clients to view their wealth not as something to own, but something to steward.

    Major Topics Include:

    • Chris’s spiritual background and history on the mission field
    • His broadened perspective on the world from life on the mission field
    • How he became a pastor at 18
    • Viewing generosity from both sides
    • How fundraising with his family on the mission field still impacts his life today
    • His story of transitioning back to the US and getting into financial advising
    • The importance of a finish line for financial advisors
    • Encouraging clients to set a finish line
    • A steward, not an owner
    • A walk through his yearly finish line thought process
    • Generosity lessons from a Peruvian Christmas
    • The story of his book and what is covers
    • Security comes from God, not money
    • Influencing the Church to generous giving
    • A call to surrender your assets to God daily
    QUOTES TO REMEMBER
    • “Generosity is not measured by how much we give away, but how tightly we hold on to what we keep.”
    • “The idea of enough is a fallacy, and it will never be reached.”
    • “My goal in life is to deploy one billion dollars for Kingdom impact.”
    • “You don’t need to wait to be wealthy to live generously. You need to decide that generosity is your wealth.”
    • “We’re always going to need more unless we have a finish line.”
    • “Generosity is not found in an amount, it’s found in a mindset.”
    • “Invest what you can for the impact of someone else.”
    • “Impact is the true dividend of wealth. And generosity is how you compound it.”
    • “Don’t wait to give your money away from a pine box.”
    • “How much am I willing to charge the Owner to steward His wealth?”
    • “God doesn’t need your money, He desires your heart. And generosity is the clearest map to where your heart really is.”
    • “Surrender is not a one-time decision, it’s a daily choice.”
    LINKS FROM THE SHOW
    • Arkos Global Advisors (see our interview with founder, Jeff Thomas)
    • Life Ranch
    • Check What You Are Chasing by Chris Gardner
    • ROI Ministry (see our interview with founder, Tim Barker)
    • The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
    • The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
    BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW

    2 Timothy 2:2 | Teaching Teachers

    and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

    WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

    If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.
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    58 min
  • Dan Vogel, Founder and CEO of Flourish Fund, on the Powerful Synergy of Collaborative Giving Funds (Ep. 149)

    Dan Vogel, Founder and CEO of Flourish Fund, on the Powerful Synergy of Collaborative Giving Funds (Ep. 149)
    Jul 28 2025
    Dan Vogel, founder and CEO of Flourish Fund, has carried a lifelong passion for solving big social problems that are close to the heart of God. As a young boy, Dan was drawn to leadership that would make an improved difference in the systems that were meant to address those problems. From the White House to overseas to a consulting firm in Boston, Dan’s extensive professional background working in government, economic development, and nonprofit realms, all set the stage for the launch of Flourish Fund. Flourish Fund is a giving fund that channels pooled capital from givers alongside extensive problem area research to bring about large, system level change. Flourish Fund’s unique effectiveness is found in their focus on collaborative giving and cooperation between organizations, both faith-based and secular, who offer various approaches toward the same goal. Their first fund called Flourish Children and Families is focused on reimagining the foster care system, and they’ve already made impressive progress. Major Topics Include: Dan’s faith and career journeyThe story of Flourish FundTraditional philanthropy vs Christian philanthropy The need for growth in impact assessment in Christian giving spacesWhat Flourish Fund is about and how it worksTackling big social problems that matter to the heart of GodReimagining foster care in the US with Flourish FundBuilding strategy and success evaluation into the fund structureThe portfolio approach to collaborative givingDoing collaborative giving wellThree strategic opportunities to move the needle in foster careNavigating collaboration between secular and faith-based organizationsKnowing where to channel resources Deciding where to focus nextWhat to look for in a giving fundTips or givers to engage with the problems that are on God’s heart QUOTES TO REMEMBER “I became convinced that there was room in the marketplace for a new kind of Kingdom problem-solving institution that was trying to connect capital differently with social innovators who were trying to do good work in the name of Jesus.”“What might it actually take to move the needle?”“No individual organization, even if they are crushing it, is capable of solving a systemic problem on their own.”“How might we think differently about what is possible for what we can do together?” “Collaborative giving is the next frontier of effective stewardship”.“We want to enable people to have proximity to the problem rather than putting distance between the giver and the receiver.”“We want to enable and strengthen local ecosystems of care that are anchored by the Church, working in partnership with community organizations, government, and volunteers doing different sets of things to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational needs of vulnerable kids and families.”“When Christians have been at their best through the ages, we’ve tended to build big tents and work with odd bedfellows. We have unique things that we can bring to bear, but we can’t to it alone so we have to figure out how to work with a bunch of different people, and if we can do that well, it will point people back to Jesus.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Flourish FundFlourish Children and FamiliesFlourish Children and Families BlueprintAl Mueller, Founder and President of Excellence in Giving (see our past interview here)Simple Charity (see our interview with CEO Brian Grasso)EIG Insights (see our interview with cofounder Kate Williams-Whitley)PraxisIllumiNations Bible Translation Alliance (see our interview with Todd Peterson or John Chesnut)Project BelongThe ContingentSolving the World’s Greatest ProblemsThe Finish Line Community Facebook GroupThe Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebookand LinkedIn.
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    51 min