Stewardship Stories: Givers and the Joy of Giving (M)

The History of the Maclellan Family and Foundation
The Maclellan Foundation, n.d.
Part of understanding God’s kingdom is acknowledging that Christians are called to help further the kingdom through the gifts that God provides. In addition to the gifts being different among each person, there are also some gifts that are passed on from one generation to the next, showing the continual faithfulness of God to an entire family. In this article, learn how God has gifted the members of a Tennessee family, the Maclellans, with the gift of giving. “Each individual and every generation from the Maclellan family has possessed a significant desire to minister and use the gift of giving for the furtherance of the kingdom of God.” Beginning with Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co. in the 1880s and continuing with the creation of the Maclellan Foundation in 1945, the Maclellan family has been active in giving to spiritual, educational and civic causes in its hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn., as well as around the world. See related stories and testimonies about Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr., and Thomas Maclellan.


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A Personal Pilgrimage of Stewardship
Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr. Testimony delivered at the annual Generous Giving Conference, Phoenix, Ariz., March 1-3, 2001.
Twenty years ago Hugh Maclellan prayed a very bold prayer: “God, I don’t think you are challenging me enough in my giving.” In the eight months that followed, the Lord responded with five events that changed Maclellan’s life forever. Today, this leader in Christian grant-making outlines his own lifetime giving plan, shares his valuable spiritual lessons along the way, and details his own giving practices.

Done Well, Doing Good: The Maclellan Foundation Does God’s Work through Philanthropy
Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr. Interview. Philanthropy, July 2001.
While a multi-generational trust in God fuels his charitable giving, Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr., often applies the lessons he has learned in the business world to his philanthropic activities. With over $300 million in assets, the Maclellan Foundation is a major contributor to evangelical causes around the world, especially in the field of education. The spiritual fervor of the foundation—which favors evangelical-run organizations over other faith-based groups—is captured in its mission statement, which professes a desire to “extend the Kingdom of God in accordance with the Great Commission.”

A Personal Pilgrimage of Stewardship
Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr. Testimony delivered at Generous Giving’s annual joint conference with the Christian Community Foundation of Kansas City, Overland Park, Kans., May 10, 2002.
Former insurance executive Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr., shares his personal story of the way God used major events in his life to change his priorities and bring generous giving to the forefront. Earlier in his life, Maclellan says he was concerned primarily with power, position and prestige. However, after powerful events God placed in his life, such as witnessing the joy and fervor of Christians in poor countries and attending conferences about Christian giving, his priorities changed. He wrote a 10-year life plan and reexamined every aspect of his ministry and goals, eliminating the unproductive. He began giving a minimum of 70 percent of his yearly income to God’s work and seeing the incredible results that reach people all over the world. He encourages listeners to “meet with God, to determine His giving goals for them, His passion for them, and the barriers that keep them from being a generous giver.” Note: No downloadable text or audio is available at this time. However, a similar testimony is available.


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Thomas Maclellan’s Covenant with God
Thomas Maclellan. Written in Blairgowrie, Scotland, 1857; subsequently amended in Chattanooga, Tenn., 1887 and 1907. Maclellan Family Papers, Chattanooga, Tenn.
In 1857 in the Scottish town of Blairgowrie, Thomas Maclellan made a covenant with God. It was the young Maclellan’s 20th birthday, but his youth apparently was no hindrance to his phenomenal spiritual maturity. Having come to terms with his own sinful nature and the grace of God through Christ, he covenanted control of his life and the proceeds to God Almighty, adapting his covenant from one written by the Puritan preacher Phillip Doddridge in The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. Amidst both trials and successes, Maclellan would renew and confirm his covenant twice in the next half-century; 30 years later on his 50th birthday and again on his 70th birthday in 1907 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Five generations later the company he built, now UnumProvident Corp., is the largest disability insurer in the world. Also, for more than 50 years the Maclellan Foundation remains committed to Maclellan’s God as it gives millions of dollars annually to further the kingdom of Christ in accordance with the Great Commission.


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For Benefit of Atlanta, New Money Follows Old
Maria Saporta. Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 9, 2001.
Home to idiosyncratic tycoon Ted Turner and businessmen like J. B. Fuqua, J. Mack Robinson, and Michael C. Carlos, Atlanta now looms large in American philanthropy. Two donors just becoming prominent are Home Depot co-founders Bernard Marcus and Arthur Blank, worth billions between them. The Journal-Constitution reports that they’ve stepped down from day-to-day management of the company, “pledging to dedicate their time and money to philanthropic and civic causes.” Marcus, for instance, is donating $200 million to a state-of-the-art aquarium, and Blank is putting $15 million toward a new symphony hall. Marcus has repeatedly pledged he’ll give away most of his wealth in his lifetime, but says giving it away is as hard as making it. “You have got to make sure that the trustees that follow you, the guardians,” don’t give money “for their own aggrandizement, that they follow the vision of their founder, even from the grave.” He added, “We can’t solve the problems of the world. My name is not Ted Turner. We are very focused on entrepreneurship, children causes, medicine, and Jewish causes. The aquarium is my gift to children.”

Rolling up His Sleeves: Hardware Magnate Takes a Do-It-Yourself Approach to Giving
Elizabeth Schwinn. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, August 22, 2002.
When it comes to philanthropy, Bernard Marcus wants to be in control of everything he can. His foundation, which last year provided $38-million to charity, gives mostly to groups that Marcus, a co-founder of Home Depot, learned about as he delved into the causes he cares about most: Medical research, children, the promotion of free enterprise, and Judaism command most of the foundation's grants. No unsolicited grant proposals are accepted. He hopes to give away a large portion of his fortune before he dies. This article is accompanied by a table, The Marcus Foundation: A Sampling of Grants Made in 2000.

Master Plans for Giving
Elizabeth Schwinn. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, August 22, 2002.
Bernard Marcus thinks big. Arthur M. Blank plans carefully. Together, they revolutionized an industry with Home Depot, the $70 billion home-improvement chain they founded in 1978, and became billionaires. Both of them stepped down from their jobs leading the company last year, and now are applying their wealth and business skills to philanthropy. Through their giving, they both say they seek to aid people struggling to help themselves, but their personalities have helped them create foundations that are poles apart.

Giving Kids the Right Tools: Retired CEO Supports Array of Programs for Youths
Elizabeth Schwinn. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, August 22, 2002.
Helping others build for themselves is a theme Home Depot co-founder Arthur M. Blank carries through to his foundation, which awarded $29 million in 2001. The biggest challenge, he says, is “to help young people build their self-confidence and self-esteem.” He adds: “If they feel good about themselves, they’re going to be successful in whatever they do, whether it’s family relationships or personal development.”


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A New Life
Money Matters, June 2003.
Kevin and Teri Maude moved across the country to take advantage of a promising job offer. What they found was a relationship with Christ and the freedom that comes from following God’s financial principles. As one of their top spiritual gifts is giving, they’re excited about being more financially free to serve the Lord.


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Oseola McCarty’s Simple Wisdom for Rich Living: Words from the Laundress Whose $150,000 Scholarship Gift Inspired the Nation
Oseola McCarty. Marietta, Ga.: Longstreet Press, 1996.
Having quit school at age 12 to care for a sick aunt, Oseola McCarty began taking in laundry for a living. For the next 75 years the Hattiesburg, Miss., woman worked hard, lived simply and carefully amassed a small fortune. Then she decided to give it away. In this small 80-page book, McCarty reveals the biblical and common-sense values that shaped her life, specifically her thoughts on the virtues of work, family, faith and saving money. Read a review of this book.

Oseola McCarty
Nancy N. Jacobs, ed. The Mississippi Writers and Musicians Project at Starkville High School, 1999.
How many times have you heard someone use the excuse, “I can’t give because I’m not wealthy”? Oseola McCarty puts those who would use this line to shame. Although only a poor laundress, McCarty teaches us that giving isn’t about how much you have, but rather how much you are willing to sacrifice and to trust in God.

The Oseola McCarty Fribble
Selena Maranjian. The Motley Fool Fribble, September 5, 1997.
This article tells of Oseola McCarty, an elderly Mississippi washerwoman who gave an extraordinary gift to University of Southern Mississippi. In reflecting upon the fame and honors bestowed upon McCarty, the author asks, “Has the spirit of giving become so rare in our society that a generous gift makes headlines across the country?”

The Riches of Oseola McCarty
Evelyn Coleman. Morton Grove, Ill.: Albert Whitman & Co., 1998.
Oseola McCarty worked all her life washing and ironing other people’s clothes. She didn’t earn much, but she always saved her money. Her one regret was that she had little education, for she had quit school to help her family. In 1995, at age 87, she did an amazing thing: She gave $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi, in her home town, so that other young people could afford to stay in school. This secular children’s book, illustrated by Daniel Minter, tells the story of McCarty, a woman who loved the Lord and loved to give.


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Generous Living
Pat McCowan. Testimony delivered at Generous Giving’s annual joint conference with the Christian Community Foundation of Kansas City, Overland Park, Kans., May 10, 2002.
To Kansas City construction executive Pat McCowan, “God’s blessing on our lives isn’t to spend upon ourselves,” but rather to invest into the eternal kingdom of God. In this brief and free-flowing testimony to fellow givers, McCowan takes his challenge a step further as he reminds his audience that “generous” should not only describe the way Christians give, but it also should describe the way Christians live. McCowan’s testimony serves as a good reminder to all Christians that we do not live for ourselves. Note: No downloadable text or audio is available at this time.


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It’s a Get-to, Not a Got-to
Mike McCoy. Testimony delivered at Generous Giving’s annual spring conference, Irving, Texas, April 19-21, 2007.
When successful retail businessman Mike McCoy became a Christian as an adult, he understood that his financial habits needed to change. McCoy shares the story of how he learned that giving is a “get-to,” not a “got-to.” One of the most important things he has learned and even made as a personal rule is that giving must be relational. Consequently, only a small number of ministry leaders receive his financial gifts, and he commits to developing deep, lasting friendships with each one. Giving has been a privilege that has contributed significantly to McCoy’s spiritual growth and taught him that God is much bigger than our wallets. This resource is available as downloadable audio.


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How Much Should One Give?
Thad McNulty. Testimony delivered at Generous Giving’s Pacific Northwest Conference, Stevenson, Wash., October 19-21, 2006.
At what point can we say our barns are full? Investor Thad McNulty, speaking from Luke 12:16-21, asks us to consider Jesus’ parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns for himself in order to live in personal pleasure and ease. God said to him, “You fool. This very night your life will be demanded from you.” Such is how it will be for anyone who “stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” If we are to avoid the error of the rich fool, we must ask ourselves continually, “Are my barns full?” As owner and manager of Trinity Fund, McNulty has had to consider this question since his fund began turning profits in the late 1990s. First, he began giving more than the fund spent each year, and that seemed good. However, when a lean year came, his fund was giving away more than it was making; at that point McNulty had to ask himself whether he was being a responsible steward. McNulty suggests that we pray, asking the Holy Spirit to show us whether we have enough and whether we are in fact being rich toward God. “When your barns are full, be ready to give beyond that and watch what God does.” If we continue to build bigger barns, aren’t we basically saying that our wealth is primarily for our own safety and comfort? Won’t we also miss out on a greater blessing—a chance to impact other people forever? McNulty shares several inspiring examples of people whose giving has profoundly affected others’ lives. Note: No downloadable text or audio is available at this time.


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The Struggle to Be Faithful
Mark McWilliams. Testimony delivered at Generous Giving’s annual joint conference with the Christian Community Foundation of Kansas City, Overland Park, Kans., May 10, 2002.
Do you ever struggle to remain faithful to the Lord when He is generous to you? Do you become caught up in your ability to buy things, thus hindering your focus on God? You are not alone. As his heating and cooling company grew, Mark McWilliams acknowledges that he began to steward his money poorly, allowing his newfound purchasing power to distract him from serving God. It became easy to spend money on his family, sometimes extravagantly so—a new boat, a larger house, a second home on the lake. Then he started to wonder, “How much is enough?” Rather than giving simple answers, McWilliams asks hard questions about understanding how to faithfully manage God’s money. He realizes that we are responsible to God in the midst of great blessing and sees the challenges that lie ahead as he tries to do what is pleasing to God.


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Capitalist Manifesto: Give Away a Machine Tool, and It Collects Dust. Sell It, and It Cures Poverty
Kerry A. Dolan. Forbes, May 27, 2002.
Founded in 1987 by former publisher Roy Megarry, the nonprofit organization called Tools for Development operates under a simple but powerful goal: to make secondhand equipment and tools available to poor entrepreneurs at affordable prices. By charging fair prices for these tools rather than giving them away, Megarry ensures that poor entrepreneurs actually will use and value them. “I realized we needed to be in the development business, not the charity business,” he said. Tools for Development has operations in Ecuador, Costa Rica and Jamaica. So far 2,500 entrepreneurs have purchased 6,000 pieces of equipment through this organization. In the process it has created or helped to sustain 10,000 jobs in these developing countries.


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Freedom: The Story of the Meloon Family
From “Giving Warriors: Inspirational Stories of Men and Women Who Experienced the Joy of Giving.” Chattanooga, Tenn.: Generous Giving, 2003.
Walter and Ralph Meloon were brothers in the family business Correct Craft, a pleasure-boat manufacturing company. After a series of struggles in their contract with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the company finally was pushed into bankruptcy when an inspector refused to approve an entire shipload of boats. The government inspectors’ measures were meant to thwart a company whose principles prohibited bribes, and had already created significant costs by sending boats back to the factory for reworking. Though a court canceled 80 percent of their company’s debt, the Meloon brothers knew that they had to repay every cent anyway. Thus, over the course of 18 years, they tracked down each one of their 228 creditors and paid off their debts. Walter Meloon even was convicted to forgive the government inspector. Their actions were a witness to several of what running a business God’s way truly entailed. This resource is available on DVD and streaming media.


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Stepping Stones to Giving
Don Meyer and Doris Meyer. Testimony given at the annual Generous Giving Conference, Colorado Springs, Co., April 21-23, 2005.
As a young couple with little money and college debts, Don and Doris Meyer learned the importance of tithing. Though it was not a part of Doris’ upbringing, she soon became convicted about the importance of tithing and wanted to pass a legacy of financial faithfulness on to her children. By God’s grace, the Meyers were able to raise their three children to be godly stewards and generous givers. However, God still had more to teach them. As He continued to prosper their company beyond their imagining, they had to struggle anew with how generous they were going to be. Would they give even when it didn’t make tax sense? Would they give from their assets as well as their income?


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When Times Are Tough
Paul Meyer. Interview. The Gathering 7, no. 2 (Spring 2001).
With the uncertainty of the market these days, many Christians wonder how they ought to continue giving when it may cause them such great financial loss. Veteran giver Paul Meyer demonstrates through personal testimony how people can be faithful to their giving commitments, no matter the circumstances. Throughout his life Meyer has experienced numerous downturns: “I have been there—more than once.” In 1986 he was giving away over $300,000 a month, but with a change in the tax laws, he experienced a sudden negative cash flow. However, “because I stayed steadfastly with my giving, my income from other sources went up almost exactly each month to cover what I needed.” “I have never made a commitment to a charitable organization, mission, or church that I did not keep—in no way, shape or form in 50 years.” Keeping commitments takes sacrifice and faith in God’s providence: Those who give “will probably have to adjust what they are spending in other areas of their life.” But to be a person of integrity, “our giving has to be first and foremost always and every time and never compromised—never even think about it.”

Paul J. Meyer and the Art of Giving
John Edmund Haggai. Atlanta: Kobrey Press, 1994.
People tend to think that sacrificial giving is either foolish or impossible, that generosity is a luxury belonging only to the mega-wealthy. In this inspirational biography, author John Haggai and Christian businessman Paul J. Meyer argue No! Any Christian can give generously to the Kingdom of God, provided he has the faith to believe God’s promises. Paul Meyer has shattered traditional ideas about philanthropy. Rather than giving out of his surplus, he sets annual giving goals and plans his business earnings to meet those goals. This man has inspired a generation of younger Christian givers, and this biography is excellent exposure to the power of the joy of giving in one man’s life.


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Mfuta Residents Share Their Good Fortune with Friends around the World
Outreach International. News release, n.d.
According to a corporate statement issued by this nonprofit ministry, the people of Mfuta, Democratic Republic of the Congo, are so grateful for the support they have received from Outreach International that they have sent rice to that ministry’s staff in the United States. Through this gift, these African townspeople serve as an example of how it is possible to give joyfully and generously while living in poverty.


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Beyond the Norm: The Amazing Story of a Traveling Salesman Who Went the Extra Mile to Become Chairman of Interstate Batteries
Norm Miller with H.K. Hosier. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1996.
From his less-than-glorious beginnings as a traveling salesman for Interstate Batteries to his eventual reign as the company’s innovative CEO and chairman, Norm Miller shares openly and honestly about his successes and failures in this autobiographical story of grace, mercy and God’s ultimate reward of blessing beyond measure. It’s a first-hand account of one man’s life changed forever by his powerful encounter with Christ and his commitment to pay it forward. Beyond the interior walls of his company, Miller shares his commitment to the ultimate investment—sharing the Gospel by empowering others who can successfully reach the masses around the world. His own creative energy has helped to forge new opportunities each year around the world in some of the most unexpected settings. Read a review of this book.


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‘Pro’ Athletes: Putting Their Faith in Action
Ralph Gould. Lutheran Laity Ministries for Stewardship.
It has long been established that religion and faith in God play an important role in the lives of both collegiate and professional athletes. Now, however, the increasing number of professional athletes earning at least $1 million a year has added a new dimension to their faith. According to many reports, more and more sports stars are tithing their income to the Lord’s work. In this article, catch a glimpse of how several professional athletes—including Chi Chi Rodriguez, Darryl Strawberry, Oral Hershiser and Reggie White—steward their money and, in doing so, seek to give back to God what He has entrusted to them.


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Spirit of Giving: Meet Three Small Business Owners Who Go Beyond the Regular Nine to Five to Make a Difference in People’s Lives
Sasha Smith. Fortune Small Business, December 18, 2001.
When large companies donate to charitable causes, it usually makes the headlines. But what about small businesses? In this article read about three generous small-business owners who went the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of others. Meet Karlin Sloan, president of a Manhattan-based company, who spends about a third of her time doing free counseling for emotional trauma. Then read of Jane Lockett, who runs a franchise in California but also “adopted” a shelter for battered women. Finally, hear about the Lambert Edwards Co., which spends about 10 percent of its time on volunteer projects, particularly doing free public relations for causes like a children’s museum and a deaf advocacy group. Let their stories inspire you.


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Giving Back: Using Your Influence to Create Social Change
Merrill J. Oster and Mike Hamel. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2003.
Social entrepreneurs apply business strategy to nonprofit services in order to improve efficiency and productivity. Merrill Oster, founder of Oster Communications and cofounder of Pinnacle Forum (an organization that promotes the study of the connection between faith and society), and Mike Hamel, author and former pastor, have compiled the inspiring stories and helpful advice of several successful social entrepreneurs. Included among the examples are: (1) Author Bob Buford, the forerunner of social entrepreneurship. (2) Juan Benitez, president and CEO of Enterprise Development International, a ministry that provides training and loans to low-income entrepreneurs. (3) Glen Kehrein and Abraham Lincoln Washington, a youth center founder and a pastor who work together in Chicago’s West Side to promote racial reconciliation in the church. (4) Elayne Bennett, founder of Best Friends Foundation, an abstinence program for adolescent girls. (5) Jerry Wilger, director of Prison Fellowship’s InnerChange Freedom Initiative, a ministry focused on prisoner rehabilitation. (6) Larry Donnithorne, president of Colorado Christian University. (7) Thomas Scott, founder of St. Clare Medical Outreach, a mobile hospital providing medical care for the homeless in Baltimore. (8) Several more men and women who are faithfully serving in various ministries. Suggestions on how to get involved in social entrepreneurship, lists of the books that influenced each of these social entrepreneurs, and further contact information for the ministries presented also aid anyone desiring to put their business skills to further use in God’s kingdom.

Sharing the Wealth: Ted Turner’s Not the First Big Giver
Laurie Dhue. CNN, September 19, 1997.
Some of the wealthiest people of all time are known as much for giving money away as for making it. While Ted Turner’s $1 billion gift to the United Nations made headlines, others like George Soros and Bill Gates are putting their money to philanthropic ends as well. Turner hopes that his example will spur others to follow his lead: After announcing his donation, he said, “I’m putting every rich person in the world on notice that they’re gonna be hearing from me about giving more money away.”


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Secrets of the Generous Life: The Power of Generosity to Effect Change in the World
Gordon MacDonald. Speech delivered at Generous Giving’s joint conference with the Servant Christian Community Foundation, Overland Park, Kans., October 7, 2005.
Did you know that the songs of a young farmer eventually would bring missionaries to China and lead to the founding of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship? Did you know that the continual generosity of one man would eventually lead to Paul becoming the great New Testament apostle? Giving generously to the Lord means being generous all the time in all things, regardless of whether we know the outcome of our actions. Pastor Gordon MacDonald describes the events of how relatively unknown persons have been used by the Lord through their generosity to affect the world for Christ. Note: No downloadable text or audio is available at this time.

A Cloud of Generous Witnesses
Matt Novenson. Money Matters, no. 322 (December 2004).
Have you ever been inspired to greater generosity through the example of another Christian? Do you think of your own giving as a way to stir others to greater faithfulness? Applying Hebrews 12:1 to the realm of generosity provides us with a new and insightful way to think about this familiar passage. This article tells of three Christians who are part of the “cloud of generous witnesses” who have gone before us. Read of Lady Huntington, who used her wealth and influence to spark a religious revival, or of R.G. LeTourneau, who was made rich in a time of economic depression so that he could be richly generous. Lastly, consider Stanley Tam, who built a thriving business and then gave 100 percent of its profits to Christian missions. These witnesses are living examples of what radical generosity looks like, and when we hear their stories, “we hear afresh the words of Jesus and the apostles.”

Giving Warriors: Inspirational Stories of Men and Women Who Experienced the Joy of Giving
Chattanooga, Tenn.: Generous Giving, 2003. Two DVDs.
Quaker Oats founder Henry Parsons Crowell gave away 70 percent of his earnings for more than 40 years. R.G. LeTourneau, the father of modern earth-moving equipment, was among the few men who amassed a fortune during the Great Depression. Lady Huntington assembled the crème-de-la-crème of English society before the great evangelists of the 18th century. This DVD contains eight 3-minute vignettes that capture the amazing stories of great givers from history—men and women whose wealth God used to stir spiritual awakenings in their respective times. Included are the stories of John Wesley, Stanley Tam, the Meloon family, Francis of Assisi and Katharine Drexel, plus a 20-minute interview with Campus Crusade for Christ founders Bill and Vonette Bright on how their “Contract with God” radically changed their lives. This DVD is useful for stewardship sermons, small group studies and personal reflection.

The Foundation Builders: Brief Biographies of Twelve Great Philanthropists
Martin Morse Wooster. The Berger Guides to Effective Giving. Washington, D.C.: The Philanthropy Roundtable, 2000.
There are many old, well-established foundations whose founders and their ideals are long forgotten. The Guggenheim Museum, for example, is well-respected in the art world, but few may remember who Solomon R. Guggenheim was or how his family made its money. This guidebook introduces readers to the great American philanthropists of the 19th and 20th centuries, sketching out the reasons why they chose to give and summarizing their most important writings on philanthropy. The guide also includes short bibliographies for readers who want to learn more about a particular giver. Featured sketches are: industrialist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919); industrialist John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937); industrialist and conservationist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960); Eastman Kodak founder George Eastman (1852-1932); banking and industrial entrepreneurs Andrew W. Mellon (1855-1937) and Paul Mellon (1907-99); Sears, Roebuck financier Julius Rosenwald; automobile entrepreneur Henry Ford (1863-1947); the Guggenheim mining family; oil baron J. Howard Pew (1882-1971); oil baron J. Paul Getty (1892-1976); engineer Joseph J. Jacobs (b. 1916); and former U.S. “energy czar” and Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon (1927-2000).

Notable American Philanthropists: Biographies of Giving and Volunteering
Robert T. Grimm, Jr., ed. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2002.
This encyclopedia-style book provides substantial profiles of individuals and families who made large contributions to the American philanthropic tradition from the 1600s to the present. The volume encompasses men and women who significantly shaped American life by their voluntary service or charitable donations. The 78 entries describe 110 individuals (a number of essays describe entire families, like the Rockefellers, Booths and Guggenheims). Each essay examines a philanthropist’s early years, education and career, then focuses upon his philanthropic philosophy and actions. Particular attention is paid to an individual’s secular motivations and justifications for philanthropy. Short samples of each philanthropist’s writings are included, and each one’s most important societal contributions are assessed. All entries are cross-referenced and include a bibliographic list of references. Many feature photos, and some describe the location of personal papers and other manuscript sources. To be sure, certain “philanthropists” profiled in this book arguably hurt the spiritual plight of their fellow man, contrary to what the word suggests. The book spotlights several upright givers (e.g. the Booth family, Arthur and Lewis Tappan) alongside others whose extra-biblical giving left damaging legacies (e.g. Margaret Sanger, Roger Nash Baldwin). This juxtaposition is a valuable testimony to money’s potential use for great good or great harm by its human stewards—and the urgent need for a righteous understanding of “Why give?” Read a review of this book. Also, read a review published in Philanthropy.


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Nation’s Leading Foundations Violate Donor Intent: Foundations Funding America’s Left Have Conservative Origins
Martin Morse Wooster. Foundation Watch (October 2002).
In this article, based on his book The Great Philanthropists and the Problem of Donor Intent, Martin Morse Wooster examines how six large foundations have made a practice of funding causes that their founders would have opposed—the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Pew Charitable Trusts, Barnes Foundation and Doris Duke Foundation. While the donors were “committed to free markets and traditional virtues,” these foundations have “ignored their founders’ ideals and championed big-government liberalism” and expansion of the welfare state. Wooster calls the problem of donor intent “the gravest problem facing foundations today.” He writes, “The best way donors can ensure that their wishes will be followed is to spend their fortunes within their lifetimes.”


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25 Most Generous Young Americans: Successful and in Their Prime, They’ve Made Giving Their Highest Priority
Worth 11, no. 10 (December 2002/January 2003).
In choosing their list of 25 top young givers, the editors of Worth magazine did not simply look at the dollar figure. “Generosity also means giving time, having compassion, and being willing to devote creative energy to endeavors that don’t bring personal fame or fortune.” Why young givers in particular? Because it’s more sacrificial to give before “the best days of a person’s career are past.” Athletes Curt Schilling and Andre Agassi, billionaire Melinda Gates, actress Angelina Jolie, comedian Denis Leary, and married couples such as the Omidyars, Berbers, Kirschs and Lauders make the list. This feature contains 25 short profiles on each giver.


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Testimony of a Tither
A.T. Mollegen, Jr. Stewardship for the 21st Century.
When he first heard of tithing, this church lay leader dismissed it as “archaic, extremist, legalistic, impractical and just not the sort of thing that an Episcopalian takes seriously.” Yet when put in charge of his church’s stewardship program, he began reading what the Bible says on the matter, and he became convicted of his need to tithe. In his testimony this Willimantic, Conn., layman describes his journey from seeing tithing as “an impending very serious loss” to finding “that once we had started down the path of significant giving, we really didn’t want to stop at 10 percent.” For Mollegen, great joy has come from being able to give back to the Lord what he has so graciously bestowed upon us.


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Giving Away a Piece of the Pie: Pizza Guys Herman Cain and Thomas Monaghan Look to Give It All Away
Kathryn Jean Lopez. Foundation Watch (August 2001).
Thomas Monaghan and Herman Cain have many things in common: Each is a multimillionaire through the pizza business, each has strong religious convictions that guide his personal and professional life, and each is giving away his personal fortune. Having grown up in a Catholic orphanage in Michigan, Monaghan bought Domino’s Pizza for $1,000 in 1960 and recently sold the chain for $1 billion. Cain, former owner of Godfather’s Pizza, also was raised in a low-income family, and his parents emphasized faith in God and freedom through education. The priorities of both men’s philanthropy are education, faith and youth. Their childhood dreams included making a lot of money and climbing the social ladder, but now “Monaghan’s new dream is to die broke,” and both men are working hard to make an impact on young people’s lives through their giving.

A Catholic College Will Rise in Florida
Tamar Lewin. The New York Times, February 10, 2003.
The vision for Ave Maria University, the nation’s first Roman Catholic university in 40 years, is that it be a faith-building, conservative institution for young Catholic scholars. Founder Tom Monaghan—better known for starting Domino’s Pizza—has committed $200 million of his personal fortune to the university, situated near Florida’s Everglades. He says, “For 25 years I’ve felt the need for a school with more spirituality.” Many established Catholic educators, however, are “irritated that Mr. Monaghan would start his own university rather than support an existing Catholic college and annoyed at his broad criticism of Catholic education.” Even so, Monaghan’s vision has attracted the support of many prominent conservative Catholics. Together their goal is that “Ave Maria is [a university] for students whose faith is central to their lives.”

Billionaire Traded Materialism for True Happiness; Pizza King Found Purpose in ‘Helping People Get to Heaven’
Thomas Monaghan. Interview by Del Jones. USA Today, September 19, 2005.
Thomas Monaghan, CEO of Domino’s Pizza until he sold it for $1 billion in 1998, discusses “how to juggle the competing worlds of faith, commerce, wealth and politics.” Growing up poor in a Catholic orphanage and later dropping out of two universities for lack of funds, young Monaghan was embarrassed of his situation in life. But he soon built the nationwide pizza chain with his brother, James, and became rich. Throughout his business career, he says, “I wanted my faith to be the center of my life. I thought I could show that you can live by Christ’s teachings and be successful. ... I don’t believe that in 38 years that I treated anyone unfairly.” He established trust in all his business and personal relationships, stating candidly that “people who have strong families have a foundation from which to operate a business.” Despite his integrity in the business world, Monaghan lived an extravagant lifestyle in his early years, owning airplanes, yachts and a collection of antique cars. But convicted in 1990 while reading C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, he simplified his life, disposing of his luxury items and turning over his wealth to his Ave Maria Foundation. He decided, “wealthy or not, [to] put God first.” “I enjoyed Domino’s, but I don’t miss it at all. [Giving away my fortune] is so much more fulfilling. I had to get rich to see being rich is not important.”

Opening a New Franchise: Tom Monaghan on Philanthropy, Fast Food, and Saving Souls
Tom Monaghan. Interview. Philanthropy, January/February 2002.
After selling his Domino’s Pizza empire in 1998, this Michigan entrepreneur began a new phase in his life as one of America's leading Catholic philanthropists. In fact, he has promised to give away his entire fortune, estimated at $1 billion, to Catholic causes.


From Material Wealth to Spiritual Joy
Tom Monaghan. Interview by Todd Harper at the Generous Giving Conference for Catholics, Naples, Fla., November 8-10, 2002.
After reading a chapter titled “The Biggest Sin” in C.S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity, the Domino’s Pizza founder and philanthropist was struck with the realization of his pride. After this discovery, God changed Monaghan’s outlook on the way he spent his resources, and he began to develop a passion for giving to certain ministries. His personal giving concentration has been Catholic higher education, and he shares what it means to contribute to the three essential parts of a human: mind, body and spirit. This resource also is available on compact disc.

Delivering on His Word: Pizza-Empire Founder Is Giving Away His Fortune to Catholic Causes
Domenica Marchetti. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, October 7, 1999.
Thomas S. Monaghan spent 38 years building Domino's Pizza into the world's largest fast-food delivery chain. That accomplishment, he says, was but a prelude to what he calls "the main event" in his life: his philanthropic support of Roman Catholic causes. Over the next 20 years, Monaghan plans to give away the majority of his fortune—estimated at around $900 million—through his Ave Maria Foundation.

$220-Million to Build College Pledged by Pizza Entrepreneur
Meg Sommerfeld. The Chronicle of Philanthropy, November 28, 2002.
In 1998 Domino’s Pizza founder Thomas Monaghan sold all but a 7 percent stake in his pizza empire for $1 billion, giving $250 million to his Ave Maria Foundation. The following year, he announced that he planned to give the majority of his wealth away within two decades. Since then, Monaghan has pledged $220 million to build a Catholic university in Florida. The new institution, Ave Maria University, will occupy a 750-acre campus about 15 miles east of Naples. The land was donated by the Barron Collier Companies, a southwest Florida real-estate and agricultural firm. This business partnership will spend $100 million developing a new town on 5,000 acres adjacent to the campus.

Catholic Philanthropist Plans University in Fla.
Alan Cooperman. The Washington Post, November 21, 2002.
When Domino’s Pizza founder Thomas S. Monaghan sold most of his restaurant empire in 1998 for a reported $1 billion, he vowed he would die broke. This year Monaghan, 65, took a major step toward that goal, pledging at least $220 million to build a Catholic university and a town to support it on 5,750 acres of pepper fields and citrus groves near Naples, Fla. “This should do the job very adequately,” he said, looking ahead to the steady evaporation of his wealth in the Florida sun. Monaghan spent part of his childhood in an orphanage, where he gained great respect for the nuns who worked there: “They were very holy women,” he said. One of his objectives is to promote orthodoxy in Catholic higher education.


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Honoring God in Your Giving: A Husband and Wife Giving Together
Scott Morrison and Stormy Morrison. Testimony delivered at the annual Generous Giving Conference, Sarasota, Fla., February 28-March 2, 2002.
Building upon the conviction that everything we possess belongs to God, Scott and Stormy Morrison share their lessons learned from a life of giving. Experiencing both success and hardship in their giving, they have formulated four concepts that serve as a guide in deciding where, when, and how much to give: (1) Honor God with what you give, (2) honor God in the way in which you give it, (3) honor God with what you keep and (4) honor God with how you keep it. In doing this, it becomes more difficult to act irresponsibly with the gifts God has bestowed upon you. Their testimony will delight and encourage anyone wishing to see how God uses the generosity of His people to build His kingdom.


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The Simple Life of Rich Mullins
Summary compiled from various sources by Generous Giving.
Rich Mullins (1955-97) is best known for the legacy of inspiring songs he left the contemporary Christian music world, including such hits as Awesome God and Sing Your Praise to the Lord. Though extremely successful in music, Mullins lived a simple and what many considered an eccentric lifestyle, renting an attic apartment and owning no home of his own. A couple years before his death in an auto accident, Mullins traded his fortune for a life of poverty on a Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico, where he taught music to the children. “One day it won’t make any difference how many albums I sold,” Mullins once said. “What I think He’ll be most pleased with is to see that we truly lived, that we were the person He created us to be.” Note: No downloadable text or audio is available at this time.

Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven
James Bryan Smith. Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, 2000.
This vivid devotional biography of singer/songwriter Rich Mullins is a book of great conviction and faith, and also rich in humor and personality. Growing up, Mullins learned from his Quaker roots a life of simplicity and genuine worship. He was not bound by material possessions; rather, he saw the necessity of serving only one Master, and he gave everything else away. He emphasized in his life and his songs that this world is not our home, and thus he lived free from pressures of the world. “The world will go right on no matter whether I succeed or fail. I can try anything I want to try because nothing is really at stake. And all this stuff we get caught up in, the idea of prestige, money, people recognizing you on the street. All those things become pretty secondary.” He also recognized that life is not always easy and that Christians must be prepared to endure pain and struggle. In one of his songs he said, “Sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all. When the mountains look so big and my faith just seems so small. So hold me Jesus ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf. You have been King of my glory, won’t you be my Prince of Peace.” Though greatly successful in the music industry, Mullins chose to live on a Native American reservation in New Mexico, living in a trailer and teaching children the joy of music and hope of the gospel until he died in an auto accident at the age of 41. This book tells the stories behind Mullins’ songs, ministry and life—it tells of his strengths, his weaknesses, his joys and his struggles.


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The Transfer of Wealth: What I’ve Done with My Money
Thomas B. Murphy. The Boston Globe, March 3, 2002, page D-8.
As a result of being in the right place at the right time, Thomas Murphy realized in the early 1980s that he had not only reached his lifetime financial goals, but he had exceeded them as well. “Now, the challenge was, ‘What should I do with the excess?’ Two options quickly ruled themselves out: Endless accumulation seemed purposeless; increased consumption was wasteful. After making some rough calculations, I determined that a portion of my earnings would go to my children and their families, the rest I would give away. Exploring exactly how I would do that has been my most recent occupation.”


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