Heather Larson, Philanthropic Advisor, on Aligning Families’ Giving to Create Meaningful Change (Ep. 162)

Heather Larson, founder of the philanthropy advisory firm LiveGive, traces her calling to early encounters with need and two decades of church ministry where God used her to build compassion and justice work and steward significant generosity. Those years formed a simple conviction, real change grows when giving is personal, prayerful, and connected to faithful people on the ground.

Today Heather comes alongside families, foundations, and ministries to clarify passion areas, align spouses and generations, and shape practical “giving dream” plans. Drawing on years of leadership with local and global initiatives, she helps givers move from scattered gifts to strategic portfolios, set gracious expectations with partners, and engage meaningfully beyond the check. We also explore where metrics help and where they can hinder, and how a clear plan can free a family to give thoughtfully together. This conversation offers steady, practical wisdom for anyone seeking to steward God’s resources with discernment and joy.

Major Topics Include:

• Heather’s heart-wrenching stories from the mission field
• Helping families develop a giving dream plan
• Narrowing down a family’s passion areas
• Exploring a family’s values to help select organizations to give to
• The importance of spousal alignment 
• Diversity and growth in philanthropic conversations
• Navigating missed expectations with donors and organizations
• Encouraging meaningful engagement with passion points
• Considerations for impact metrics

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

• “God, help my heart to always break for the needs in Your world and don’t let me get calloused.”
• “It’s the local church in a community that can really help meet long term needs and bring about transformation.”
• “Even for the most data-driven person, their deepest passions are almost always connected to story.”
• “Once you know a family’s causes and their values, then you can look for great organizations that line up with that criteria.”
• “It will never become a family legacy if it’s one person’s drive. If it’s going to be a family legacy, it’s going to be shaped by all the family members coming together and everyone having a voice.”
• “In our world, there is a need for crisis response and immediate relief services, and there is opportunity for long-term transformation.”
• “If you really want to see transformation and you want to engage well with organizations, it does take intentionality and hard work.”
• “Keep building your giving muscles!”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

• LiveGive
• American Red Cross
• The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
• The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

 

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