The Finish Line Podcast Calvin Edwards, Philanthropy Consultant, with an Inside Look into Evaluating Ministries (Ep. 43)
Calvin Edwards is the founder of the philanthropic advisory firm Calvin Edwards and Company, a consulting firm that helps philanthropic donors perform due diligence for ministries they might seek to support and to help determine the quantitative impact these organizations are having.
Calvin started his career with 20 years in the nonprofit world working for a number of ministries including Walk Thru the Bible Ministries. He then pivoted to spend several years in leadership at the Ronald Blue & Co. accounting firm before going off to launch Calvin Edwards and Company.
In addition to sharing all about how his firm evaluates ministries, Calvin had much to say about what “being a good steward” actually entails. In his words, no giver is off the hook for how they invest their giving dollars and philanthropy is a responsibility that should be taken quite thoughtfully. Calvin also had plenty of helpful guidance for new givers or those seeking to ramp up their giving. Listen now to hear all Calvin had to share!
QUOTES TO REMEMBER- “Charitable organizations have trouble telling you what their strategy is.”
- “Good stewardship pushes through supporting kingdom work to supporting kingdom work that is carried out in a positive manner.”
- “It’s interesting that in scripture, fruitfulness is praised.”
- “God does care what our giving achieves.”
- “Good stewardship goes beyond the ‘I gave it away’ to ‘to whom did I give it to and what was accomplished?’.”
- “I don’t think good stewardship can be outsourced. I don’t think you can let someone else be your good steward for you.”
- “When we give, we should sense God’s pleasure.”
- “What is it that upsets me or gets me going? Maybe I should help people that are addressing that problem.”
- “It is the work of the giver in their relationship with God to work out where they should give.”
- Calvin Edwards & Company, Calvin's philanthropic advisory firm
- Walk Thru the Bible Ministries
- Ronald Blue & Co. (see our interview with founder, Ron Blue)
- MacLellan Foundation (see our interview with Director of Generosity, John Cortines)
- The Finish Line Community Facebook Group
- The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group
Matthew 25:14-30 | The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!If you have a thought about something you heard, or a story to share, please reach out! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also contact us directly from our contact page. If you want to engage with the Finish Line Community, check out our groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.