A Heartfelt & Strategic Approach to Giving
I’m an artsy type, and I tend to make decisions with my emotions. When I see a need that tugs at my heart, I think, Yes! Let’s help! Planning, strategizing, and big-picture thinking? Not exactly my strong suit. Fortunately, my husband is both creative and logical, and he balances me out with his knack for strategy.
Recently, I came across the concept of a “Diversified Philanthropic Portfolio,” (or giving portfolio) and it hit me: this is what we’ve been doing!* The phrase sounds fancy, like something a billionaire would say, but don’t let it fool you. Philanthropy isn’t just for people with oodles of cash. (Take it from a family of artists, who thankfully aren’t starving, but who aren’t dripping in gold either.) It’s simply about giving what you can—whether that’s money, time, or talents—and doing it thoughtfully.
*Credit: Randy Newman’s Questions That Matter Podcast. Randy Newman was a Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism with the C.S. Lewis Institute. I’m grateful for the legacy of faith and wisdom he left behind in his publications and podcast episodes.
A Sidebar, Before I Go Any Further:
“Charity begins at home” is a popular saying, and it’s not without merit. Taking care of our families is a God-given responsibility, and meeting their needs should absolutely be a priority. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to stop there. Generosity isn’t about neglecting your own in favor of others; it’s about recognizing that God’s blessings are often abundant enough to share. When we give beyond our immediate circle, we demonstrate trust in God’s provision and extend His love to others in ways that can be transformative—not just for them, but for us, too. After all, generosity has a way of turning “home” into something much bigger than the walls we live within.
What is a Diversified Giving Portfolio?
A “Diversified Giving Portfolio” means spreading your giving across different organizations that align with your passions.
It’s like not putting all your eggs in one basket—except instead of eggs, it’s your generosity. For example, if you’re passionate about education, you could support a tutoring program, a scholarship fund, and a nonprofit that provides school supplies. This way, you’re tackling the problem from different angles.
Why Diversify Your Giving?
Let’s break it down:
- More Bang for Your Buck: Supporting multiple organizations helps you make a bigger dent in the problem.
- Backup Plans: If one group hits a rough patch, your impact continues elsewhere.
- Variety is the Spice of Life: You can get involved in causes that touch your heart in different ways.
- All the Good Feels: God wired humanity for communal living, and it downright feels right to help others. I’ll bet you’ve experienced that feeling at some point. There’s psychology behind it too. Check out this article.
- Targeted Prayer: Receiving updates from organizations who are in the trenches, hitting the issues that matter to you from different angles, can help you know how to pray more specifically.
Christian Giving
For Christians, charitable giving should begin with your local church (see Malachi 3:10). Beyond the tithe, we’re called to give cheerfully and generously to meet other needs. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Whether it’s financial giving, volunteering, mentoring, sharing your skills, or encouraging someone who works tirelessly for a charity, your giving will make a difference.
Our family cares deeply about sharing the Gospel and making disciples. This shapes how we give. Besides giving to our home church, we support organizations focused on missions, evangelism, and discipleship. We’ve found great joy in supporting ministries that work in different geographical areas, cultures, and through various methods—whether that’s training leaders, creating evangelistic tools, or mentoring new believers.
This diversified approach lets us combine my emotional enthusiasm (and occasional impulse to give to everything) with my husband’s strategic thinking. It also aligns with Romans 12:6-8, which instructs those compelled to give to “give generously.”
Start Building Your Portfolio
Creating a Diversified Giving Portfolio doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here’s how you can start:
- Pray and think about the causes that matter most to you.
- Research organizations that align with those causes. To make sure your donations are well spent, check out these resources, or look for their emblems on a charity’s website:
- Charity Navigator – Provides ratings on financial health and transparency for nonprofits.
- Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) – Certifies Christian organizations for their adherence to ethical standards.
- Guidestar – Offers nonprofit financial documents and detailed profiles.
- Prayerfully decide how to allocate your resources—whether it’s money, time, talents, encouragement, or prayer.
Giving intentionally and diversely allows you to make a lasting impact, support God’s work in many areas, and experience the joy of generosity.
Michelle Perez 