The Generosity NOW Podcast

Solutions Series: Impact Foundation With Aimee Minnich

In this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Aimee Minnich, co-founder and general counsel for the Impact Foundation. They discuss Aimee's journey and career arc, the success of the Impact Foundation, investment opportunities and success stories, challenges and lessons learned, and the principle of gleaning. They also explore who the typical impact investor is, the entry point for investments, and how to get connected with the Impact Foundation.
 
About Aimee
 
Aimee Minnich serves as Chief Impact Officer and General Counsel of Impact Foundation. Prior to founding Impact Foundation, she served as President and General Counsel for the National Christian Foundation, Heartland, where she designed and implemented the foundation’s Missional Investing Program to allow the investment of donor-advised funds in social impact companies. A recovering attorney, Aimee earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law with honors and a BA in Philosophy, summa cum laude, from Rockhurst University. In addition to “The Profitable Charity,” she's published a boring law article and a study of the metaphysics of salvation.
Aimee and her husband Marshall live with their three adorable and high-energy kids and sweet old dog in Kansas city. Aimee loves serving on the boards of two local nonprofits that seek to make the city an even better place.
 
Takeaways
The Impact Foundation seeks to facilitate the ability to invest charitable capital for economic, social, and spiritual transformation.
Investing with charitable and private capital allows individuals to make a positive impact while potentially receiving financial returns.
Impact investments can be made in a variety of industries and locations worldwide.
The principle of gleaning encourages investors to consider factors beyond financial returns, such as creating access, excellence, and transformation.
The Impact Foundation welcomes a diverse range of investors, including non-accredited individuals and groups. Effective communication is crucial for building trust and rapport in relationships.
Connect with Aimee
Website: Impact Foundation
 

Solutions Series: TrustBridge Global with Paul Bolte

In this episode of the Generosity Now podcast, Eric and Laurie interview Paul Bolte from TrustBridge Global. They discuss the challenges of international giving and how TrustBridge Global provides a solution for donors who want to give to charities outside of the US. Paul shares his personal journey of faith and the importance of generosity and stewardship in his life. He also explains the process and timeline for giving through TrustBridge Global and highlights success stories of organizations that have been supported through their platform.
 
About Paul Bolte
Paul brings to TrustBridge his entrepreneurial background, strong networking, people, systems, and number skills. For the 11 years prior to joining TrustBridge, he was the Founder, President & CEO of Bartercard USA and CEO of Bartercard New Zealand. He has led teams of over 150 people and client bases over 20,000. Paul is a past Chairman of the Global Board of Directors for the International Reciprocal Trade Association.  
About TrustBridge Global
Generous communities.TrustBridge inspires local leaders to create donor-advised fund foundations in their own country whose mission is to mobilize resources by inspiring generosity.  These Network Members serve business owners and families in their local communities, nurturing their journey of generosity, creating community and collaboration around giving and mission-related investing, and growing the volume of giving.
Global network.We then network these foundations together to create a global charitable platform to facilitate fast, efficient, and easy giving and mission-related investing – locally or anywhere around the world.  By radically lowering the cost, time and hassles of cross-border grant making, more resources will flow to the areas of the world that need it most.
Learn more: https://www.trustbridgeglobal.com/

Solutions Series: Community Impact Fund with Mike Scheid

In this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Mike Scheid, the Executive Director of the Community Impact Fund. The Community Impact Fund offers impact loans to individuals and families in need, providing a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet. Mike shares his personal journey and how it has shaped his passion for helping others. He explains the motivation behind the Community Impact Fund and how it has evolved from providing grants to offering loans. Mike also discusses the loan application process, repayment schedule, and the impact the fund has had on people's lives. He highlights the importance of working with employers and shares success stories of individuals who have been helped by the fund. Mike concludes by discussing the future of the Community Impact Fund and its potential to expand to other sectors, such as housing owners.
 
About Mike
Mike is a passionate leader focused on “doing good by doing well” in business. Before joining CIF in January of 2021, he owned Share Good Foods, which was successfully sold, and led the development of SGF, a Do Good Things social enterprise. He also worked to drive impact and growth through his leadership at Swoovy®, a platform fueling volunteerism, social connections, and a wraparound support system for nonprofits.
Miscellaneous Facts:
Colorado Native
Avid Outdoorsman who loves to camp, hike, ski, fly fish
Married to his wife of over 25 year who he met as a freshman in HS, She was a senior and not interested.
Father to three girls
On the Board of B:CIVIC a Colorado Nonprofit working to help further business as a force for good.
Previous Roles:
EVP, Social Impact & Partnerships at Swoovy
Director of Technology at Cherry Hills Christian Schools
VP Operations at Rewind Technology
Owner and VP of Do Good things at Share Good Foods
 
Takeaways
The Community Impact Fund offers impact loans to individuals and families in need, providing a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet.
The fund started as a way to bring families together over the holidays and provide food, but it evolved to focus on financial wellness and offering loans.
Loans are provided at 0% interest and with no fees, allowing individuals to repay the loan without additional financial burden.
The Community Impact Fund works with employers to offer the loan program as an employee benefit, leveraging the trust and relationship between employers and employees.
Learn More
https://communityimpactfund.org/
 

Solutions Series: Helping Hands with Shannon Hawkins Morris

In this episode, Eric and Laurie interview Shannon Hawkins Morris, Vice President of Helping Hands. They discuss the history and purpose of Helping Hands, a ministry that provides financial assistance to individuals and families in need. Shannon shares examples of projects they have supported, such as providing shoes for children in low-income schools and helping pastors with medical expenses. They also discuss the Corporate Assistance Program, which allows businesses to set up giving funds for their employees and community. The episode highlights the importance of due diligence and the peace of mind it provides to givers.
 
About Shannon Hawkins Morris
 
Shannon has a life-long dream to serve at an organization with a humanitarian mission! As Vice President at Helping Hands, a registered 501c3 charity organization dedicated to God’s calling to serve others. Helping Hands has the privilege of providing direct assistance to qualified individuals in need and charities, both locally and internationally. Shannon has a passion for people and strives every day to make a positive difference in the world by connecting with and serving others.
 
Episode Takeaways
Helping Hands is a ministry that provides financial assistance to individuals and families in need.
They qualify projects through a due diligence process to ensure that the funds go to true needy situations.
Helping Hands supports a wide range of projects, including providing shoes for children in low-income schools and helping pastors with medical expenses.
The Corporate Assistance Program allows businesses to set up giving funds for their employees and community.

Solutions Series: Complex Asset Giving with Jeff Waldron

In this week's  episode of the Generosity Now podcast, Eric and Laurie interview Jeff Waldron, a complex gift attorney with the National Christian Foundation (NCF). They discuss the power of asset-based giving and the various tools available for charitable giving. Jeff shares his personal journey of generosity and stewardship and how it led him to join NCF. They explore the benefits of giving from assets and provide examples of how it can have a greater Kingdom impact. The conversation emphasizes the importance of educating and inspiring givers to consider asset-based giving strategies. The episode concludes with final thoughts and advice for listeners.
Takeaways
Asset-based giving provides a powerful way to make a greater Kingdom impact with charitable giving.
Educating and inspiring givers about the possibilities of asset-based giving is crucial.
Giving a portion of an asset can be a beneficial strategy for givers.
Considerations such as debt ratio and cash availability should be taken into account when deciding between cash and asset giving.
Asset-based giving can exponentially increase the amount that can be given and have a significant impact.
About Jeff
Jeff Waldron serves as a Gift Planning Attorney with The National Christian Foundation (NCF) where he assists individuals and families to achieve their charitable goals through the gifting of complex assets. Prior to joining NCF, Jeff was a partner in a large Minneapolis law firm. In private practice, Jeff served closely held companies and their owners in the areas of business planning, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, succession planning, tax planning, and wealth preservation. Jeff obtained his law degree from Drake University Law School and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

The intersection of faith and work: With Ross Chapman and Bob Larkin

In this episode, Eric and Laurie  interview Ross Chapman and Bob Larkin from Denver Institute for Faith and Work. They discuss the organization's mission to help people connect their faith and work, and the importance of bringing hope and life to their communities through their daily work.
 
They also highlight Denver Institute's programs and initiatives, such as their fellowship program and events like Business for the Common Good and Women Working Calling. The conversation emphasizes the need for a compelling vision and purpose for work, and the role of faith in shaping the way people approach their work.
 
Takeaways
Denver Institute for Faith and Work helps people connect their faith and work, bringing hope and life to their communities through their daily work.
Denver Institute offers programs and initiatives such as fellowships, events, and resources to equip and support individuals in integrating their faith and work.
The intersection of work and faith is an opportunity to bring about positive change and contribute to the flourishing of individuals and society.
Denver Institute envisions a future where every person's work brings hope and life to their city, transforming workplaces and communities.
About our guests
Ross Chapman loves helping people see how they can serve God and others in their daily work. Ross has been the CEO of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work since October 2022. Before coming to Denver, he founded and served as the President at For Evansville and the Executive Director of CharlotteONE. Ross earned his Doctorate of Ministry in Faith, Work, Economics and Vocation at Fuller Theological Seminary, a Masters degree from Trinity International University in Chicago, and a Bachelor's degree from Taylor University in Upland, IN.
Ross lives in Denver, CO with his wife, Candace, and three sons. He's a die hard Colts and Pacers fan and aspiring Denver sports fan.
Bob Larkin has joined Treatment Technology as its President, responsible for managing all aspects of a chemical distribution business focused on a number of industries including water and wastewater chemicals, pool chemicals, industrial chemicals, specialty polymers, oil & gas chemicals and laundry chemicals. Bob serves the Denver Institute for Faith & Work on their Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and minor in Mathematics.In his free time, Bob enjoys golf, skiing, snowboarding, and travel. He has the goal of playing every golf course in Colorado. Bob, his wife, Rene and four young children reside in Denver, Colorado.
Resources Mentioned
Denver Institute for Faith & Work
The Faith & Work Podcast
Teach Us To Pray Podcast
Business For The Common Good Event
 

Journey of Generosity: with Dana Wichterman

On this weeks episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by Impact Investor and International Development Professional, Dana Wichterman. Dana shares her journey of generosity and stewardship, highlighting significant inflection points and the impact of impact investing. She emphasizes the importance of sharing generosity stories and provides helpful resources for those interested in exploring generosity and whole life stewardship.
 
About Dana
Dana views all of her treasure, time and talent as gifts from God that are meant to be stewarded towards three ends - for God's glory, the good of others and for our own well-being. The investment of our capital is an expression of our management of God's resources in such a way that one day we hear "well done, good and faithful servant." She aligns her investing and philanthropy with the specific areas God has called her, seeking sustainable impact. Over the past 10 years, she has come to understand that both our charitable capital and our personal capital can have faith-driven impact for spiritual and social good. She increasingly directs a sizable portion of the charitable capital in her family foundation towards impact investing.
Dana is an international development professional with 20 years at USAID and Department of Commerce. She has years of experience advising nonprofits engaged nationally and globally across many sectors, including micro-finance and private sector engagement. She is active in The Gathering, Generous Giving, Praxis, and Lion's Den. She is an FDE small group facilitator and is on the FDI leadership team launching a citywide network in the DC Metro area to develop a local community of faith driven entrepreneurs and investors. She holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University. Dana finds joy in helping organizations problem-solve, generating creative and faithful solutions. She loves to create community around ideas, connecting transcendent truth in both relational depth and practical application.
Resources Mentioned
NCF Weekly Digest
Faith Driven Entrepreneur and investor
The generous giving website
Journey of Generosity

Transformational Impact: With Jon Halverson

On this weeks episode, Eric and Laurie are joined by international business leadership, and investment expert, Jon Halverson for a look into the world of impact investing and the transformational impact that occurs when businesses thrive in challenging contexts. 
About Jon
Jon has 25 years of experience in international business leadership, investment, development and strategy consulting with two of world’s leading food and agriculture multinationals, Cargill and Land O’Lakes, where he served as a Vice President. He has lived and worked on three continents, most notably in Tanzania where he led a talented team in executing over 50 loans to SMEs across East and West Africa. Jon witnessed firsthand the transformational impact of a thriving business achieving scale in challenging contexts.
His areas of passionate interest outside of impact investing are mountain climbing, canoeing and skiing, both alpine and skinny skis! Jon has a BA from Wheaton College and an MBA – International Business from Regis University.
Connect with Jon
Talanton: https://talantonllc.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-halverson-5b0ba518/