Category Archives: the foundation

We Believe… In Caring for the Poor

Posted on by

In our continuing series of reflections based on the credos, or statements of belief on which we founded The Stewardship Foundation, we explore care for the poor, specifically the hungry…

We believe… that it is our responsibility to care for the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged, and to use our talents for the betterment of mankind through education, opportunity and freedom.

We need not look further than Matthew 25 verses 35-45 to understand the source:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. … Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

According to the Urban Institute, poverty in the U.S. in 2021 is 13.7%, or 1 in 7 Americans. A leading charity, Feeding America puts the number of people experiencing hunger at 35 million. In our hometown of Columbus, Ohio, you can help support a local Food Pantry (see the list) or this coming Thanksgiving plan to provide a holiday meal to a family in need through the Byron Saunders Foundation. 

We understand that values are the driving force in a nonprofit and that the social mission trumps profit in the bottom line. 

Nonprofits and charities, like the Byron Saunders Foundation often seek funding from foundations such as ours. We work with estate planners, financial advisors, accounts and attorneys. Nonprofits and charities can benefit from our relationships within the charitable planning community. We offer:

  • A cost-free resource for charitable planning
  • Donor motivation seminars and events
  • A philanthropic partner that embraces your mission and cause
  • Opportunities to meet colleagues and potential donors and clients

We are willing to formally share what we know about the causes we support with other foundations and funders. Our success rests on our commitment, leadership, energy, enthusiasm and ideas that will emerge when we work together. Contact us now at (614) 800-7985, and please consider forwarding our message to a friend or associate.

Photo credit 222479223 © US Navy Medicine | Dreamstime.com

We Believe… in Transformational Giving.

Posted on by

Psalm 24:1 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” 

Last month we looked back on the Fifth Credo of the Stewardship Foundation — belief in the sanctity of human life, marriage between one man and one woman, sexual morality, religious freedom, and the rights of conscience. Our June message focused on the moral liberalism rampant in today’s society and in the press’s coverage of events. If you missed it, read it here.

This month we return to our First Credo, transformational giving. The one guiding question that permeates our thinking at the Stewardship Foundation is “where is your heart?” Within this question several others beg to be asked, such as, “what is the treasure you seek?”; “how much wealth is enough for you and your family?” and, “what does God expect of you?”

We encourage our clients to examine their giving motives, to more deeply explore where their hearts are leading them. It’s been said that what motivates us is revealed when we examine how we spend our time, and where we spend our money. Our purpose is to help connect our clients with the worthy charities and nonprofits that advance these passions and individual motivations.

Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for the world and should take care and look after it; to use and manage the resources given by God for His glory and the betterments of His creation. So how does it work?

We believe that Stewardship works when you identify where your hearts and passions lead you; when they are willing to seek, and share the treasure God desires for you. Stewardship works when you realistically define what is necessary to provide for your family now and in the future, and, most importantly, stewardship works when you honor what God expects of you.

This journey of financial stewardship involves a process of understanding, acknowledging, accepting, and acting. We embrace the opportunity to partner with you on this journey. Please share this message with like-minded friends and family, and call us at (614) 800-7985.

Stewardship vs Fiduciary

Posted on by

Where money and investments are concerned, a fiduciary is a person or organization that owes you good faith and trust and who promises to act in your best interest. The Stewardship Foundation has fiduciary responsibility to our clients. But we boldly do more—we are financial stewards.

Our first priority is to apply our passion and discipline to protect your long-term interests, not merely to demonstrate that we act in your best interest. Our work has a higher sense of purpose.

As financial stewards, we are committed to being a point of inspiration for moral, ethical and prudent decision-making. An investment fiduciary can ignore morality and ethics, and still serve as a fiduciary.

brainA financial steward must be able to judge wisely and objectively, while a fiduciary needs only to confirm to a uniform fiduciary standard. We believe that there’s a wide gap between being qualified to guide a client toward good decisions, and being competent to stand up for and speak out about unethical or illegal behavior.

Financial stewardship is a voluntary standard that is not subject to legal or regulatory oversight. Unlike a fiduciary, we don’t have to wait for regulators to define the standard of care for a financial steward.

The concept of fiduciary responsibility is processed in the neo-cortex portion of the brain involved in sensory perception, cognition, motor commands, reasoning and language. Stewards operate there too, but prioritize their thinking in the emotions of love, passion, trust and security, the limbic portion of the brain.

Our clients tend not to define their wealth in terms of cash, securities, real estate, business, cars or jewelry. While they may possess these things, they are not what makes their lives truly satisfying or happy. Victor Frankl, psychiatrist, Holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning presents a theory that our primary drive in life is not toward pleasure and power, but toward the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful. As good stewards, we help our clients identify the personal aspect of their wealth and to help them make a difference within the institutions and causes they care about.