Faithful to the end: Steve’s legacy of generosity

The available balance in Steve’s NCF Giving Fund is $0.00. That’s because, a month and a half before he passed away, he thoughtfully granted every remaining dollar to his favorite charities—blessing them one last time. 

In his nineties, Steve* had recently entered hospice care after a season of steadily declining health. He knew his time on this side of eternity was short. Always organized, Steve used those final weeks with beautiful intentionality to put his affairs in order. This included mobilizing the charitable dollars he had placed in his Giving Fund. 

Steve had lived through the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II. Fascinated by nature and eager to learn, he earned a doctorate in science and became a respected, published laboratory researcher. Yet even greater than his intellectual curiosity was his desire to help others discover the love of Jesus. That legacy of faith began in his home. Steve and his wife, Lynda, celebrated 65 years of marriage before she passed away in her eighties a few years earlier. In lieu of flowers, friends and family were invited to give to her favorite charities. 

A pattern of thoughtful giving

In the months after Lynda’s death, Steve opened an NCF Giving Fund to make his charitable giving more strategic. Over the next several years, his fund mobilized just over half a million dollars for charity. More than 80 percent of his contributions were made through securities—a savvy approach that reduced his tax liability and made more available for charitable giving. He also gave two advisors from his financial advisory firm access to the fund, allowing them to see his complete financial picture and consider generosity alongside saving and spending. 

Steve’s list of favorite ministries included more than a dozen organizations. He supported Bible translation, local and global evangelism, apologetics at the intersection of science and faith, two prison ministries, his home church, children’s discipleship resources, orphan and widow care abroad, a Christian college, medical care for underserved communities, education for refugee children, and a seminary. His interests were wide-ranging, yet each reflected God’s heart. Steve once told a friend that he took seriously the Bible’s call to “store up treasure in heaven.” To him, that meant helping as many people as possible come to know Jesus. 

Humbly finishing well

In the event he passed away suddenly, Steve had established a succession plan directing the remaining balance of his Giving Fund to a charity serving new believers in South Asia. But when he entered hospice care, Steve prioritized completing the work himself. With a series of nine grants about five weeks before he passed, Steve emptied his Giving Fund so that its ultimate purpose of fueling Kingdom work could advance quickly. With each grant, he included a note for the receiving charity: “This is my last gift since I’m entering hospice. God bless.” 

Steve’s generosity reflected his joy and confidence in heavenly treasure over temporary earthly things. He had built a giving vehicle that allowed him to bless others with purpose and care. In the end, his final weeks of strategic, loving generosity were a fitting capstone to the faithful life he had lived. We praise God for givers like Steve whose generosity is marked by humility and intention. To learn more or share your own giving story, please contact us at michigan@ncfgiving.comopens in a new tab or 616.957.4372. 

*Name and identifying details changed to protect this giver’s privacy.