3 steps to leaving a generous legacy

by Eric Most

I’ve often been asked, “What does biblical generosity mean to you?” To me, zealous, biblical generosity does not just refer to our finances. We are not owners of anything, but stewards of everything. God owns it all.

Because He is sovereign over your whole L.I.F.E (labor, influence, finances, expertise), intentionally planning your legacy is an act of biblical obedience (Proverbs 13:22opens in a new tab, Deuteronomy 6:5-7opens in a new tab), a way you steward the resources God has entrusted for his glory.

I pray these three steps motivate you to think about your legacy and set a plan for your future:

1. Complete our Giving Strategy™ legacy guideopens in a new tab

The story you write today will establish the foundation for the legacy you leave tomorrow. These exercises will empower you to pass on those things most important to you and set expectations for your heirs. You’ll focus on preparing the next generation to make kingdom impact an enduring trait of your legacy. Even if you have already done this, I urge you to take a second look if your circumstances have changed. As you complete this guide, you may even feel led to write your giving storyopens in a new tab and bring stewardship into your testimony.

2. Capture your family’s biblical beliefs in a simple statement

When my wife and I wrote our will, we included our family’s Statement of Faith to guide our boys to biblically steward our resources in the event of death. After we pass away, we want to be sure that our children understand clearly that everything we are and everything we have is his, both now and after we leave this earth.

The Most Family’s Statement of Faith

Writing a family mission statement can also be a helpful tool in establishing a legacy. Richard Leong shared how his family’s mission statement served as a guiding compass for their generosity. They answered a series of simple questions to help them see where God was directing them. I encourage you and your loved ones to prayerfully consider writing your own mission statement.

3. Set up your NCF succession planopens in a new tab

If you have a Giving Fund with NCF, we have a step-by-step process to help you create and manage your succession plan for it. This will allow you to share how you would like NCF to distribute the balance in your fund after your lifetime. It lets you continue your generosity for years to come, and it’s an important part of faithfully stewarding the resources God has entrusted to you.

With a succession plan, you can:

• Name your successors: your kids, grandkids, or others to continue your giving with a fund of their own at NCF.
• Recommend annual grants to your church, your favorite ministries, and other charities. This is your opportunity to leave your mark on the causes you care about most.
• Support the ministry of NCF to help us continue our work of mobilizing resources and inspiring biblical generosity in your local community, across the nation, and around the world. We would be honored to steward your resources to continue spreading generosity.

To create or revise your succession plan, log in to your Giving opens in a new tabFundopens in a new tab, visit the legacy page, and click the start button.

If you need any assistance or have questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to reach outopens in a new tab to us.