Book review of Faithful Giving: The Heart of Planned Gifts, a new book on planned giving from a multifaith perspective

Has your church or charity actually asked its supporters to leave a bequest in their wills to support the good work of the organization?

Let me guess - good intentions but so many things to do! The budget needs money this year, not some year. Special events demand lots of time; reports are complex and time-consuming. There are structural issues. However, people who find asking for gifts in wills to be off-putting remains a big barrier.

“I am unlike your white friends who have waited until they were rich and then help but have in proportion to my success, I have reached out and am helping others.” Madam C.J. Walker.[1] So begins this excellent book on Madam C.J. Walker’s life of generosity.

Walker and other black female philanthropists didn’t help only when they had free time or extra money; they always helped. Consistency. Walker was consistent in her giving, from when she had little to when she was wealthy.

Walker provides an excellent role model for generosity and breaks out of the narrow definition that philanthropy is something rich white people do. I’m grateful to Tyrone McKinley Freeman for telling her story so well.

If you are Christian who fundraises, this books is for you. If you are working for an organization that regards fundraising as a necessary evil, you might need to buy more than one copy!