Giving Wisely This Giving Tuesday and Beyond with Al Mueller

Dec 2, 2025

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Giving Tuesday has become a global moment to celebrate generosity. But for believers, it can be much more than a once-a-year opportunity to give. It can become a catalyst to cultivate a lifestyle of intentional, joy-filled stewardship all year long.

Today, we explore how to give with both heart and wisdom—so that our generosity reflects God’s purposes, not merely the moment. Joining the conversation is Al Mueller, founder and CEO of Excellence in Giving and former executive with Morgan Stanley and UBS.

Beyond the Moment: What Giving Tuesday Really Represents

For Al Mueller, Giving Tuesday is more than a charitable trend—it’s an invitation.

“Giving Tuesday is a great opportunity to begin acting on generosity,” he says, “but it’s also a moment to pause and align with God’s purposes.” Al reminds us of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart… for God loves a cheerful giver.”

In other words, generosity is more than an impulse. It is an act of worship. Giving Tuesday can be a spark, but intentional stewardship is the flame that keeps burning throughout the year.

Al summarizes biblical giving with a simple idea: “God gave us both a head and a heart—He didn’t say pick one.”

Wise stewardship holds both together:

The heart expresses compassion, joy, and worship.
The head evaluates impact, effectiveness, and alignment with God’s purposes.

Stewardship looks at the Kingdom outcomes we long to see and asks how we can best contribute to them. Some giving is planned, some spontaneous—but all of it can be intentional.

Helping Donors Give With Excellence

At Excellence in Giving, Al and his team equip high-capacity givers—often those giving $1 million or more annually—to make well-informed, impactful decisions. They offer research, due diligence, and accountability that help donors shift from reactive to proactive giving.

But these principles, Al emphasizes, are not reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

“Everyone can do their own homework,” he says. “Everyone can ask good questions. Everyone can give intentionally.”

Whether you’re giving $50 or $50,000, evaluating ministries wisely matters. Al recommends starting with three core questions:

What problem is the ministry trying to solve?
What do they believe is the root cause of that problem?
What measurable results have they seen?

Healthy ministries provide clear reporting, measurable outcomes, and transparent leadership. They welcome questions and view accountability as part of discipleship.

Key indicators to review include:

Leadership stability
Donor and staff retention
Clear communication
Transparent financial practices
Evidence of life change

Strong ministries don’t hide their results—they celebrate them.

Red Flags: When to Think Twice

Just as there are markers of strong ministries, there are warning signs that should prompt caution:

Vague vision without a clear plan
Emotional pressure or over-spiritualizing results
Lack of reporting or unwillingness to share outcomes
Over-dependence on a single donor
Repeated urgent appeals for funds

Al calls vague visions “ministry hallucinations”—dreams without blueprints. Just as you wouldn’t build a house without plans, you shouldn’t fund ministry without clarity.

A Growing Trend: Collaborative Giving

One of the most exciting developments in philanthropy today is collaborative giving—donors pooling resources to make a larger, more strategic impact.

Pooling resources:

Helps ministries secure larger grants
Reduces duplication
Saves ministries' valuable time
Strengthens unity within the body of Christ

“This model lets donors and ministries accomplish something bigger together,” Al explains.

No donor wants to micromanage, and no ministry seeks to be controlled. But accountability doesn’t mean control—it means clarity.

Al puts it this way: “Accountability is information given, not control taken.”

Trust grows when ministries offer clear plans, measurable results, and honest reporting—what Al calls “a form of blessing” to donors.

The Next Generation of Givers

Younger donors give differently than their parents do. They are:

More global in perspective
More results-oriented
More experiential—they want site visits and direct engagement
Motivated by conviction rather than obligation
Passionate about transparency and impact

Al believes this next generation will reshape Christian generosity—mainly as significant wealth transfers occur in the coming decades.

Al concludes with a powerful insight: there is a meaningful difference between being generous and being a steward.

In the first century, a steward managed the household, finances, and fields on behalf of the master. The steward’s job was simple: to know the heart of the master and act accordingly.

Stewardship today means:

Recognizing God owns it all
Seeking His desires for His resources
Giving with discernment
Aiming to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Generosity is beautiful—but stewardship is a calling.

Growing in Intentional Generosity

Whether you’re giving on Giving Tuesday or cultivating lifelong generosity, the call is the same: give with joy, wisdom, and purpose.

If you want to explore tools to help you give more strategically, you can learn more at ExcellenceInGiving.com. And if you’d like to partner with the mission of FaithFi, visit FaithFi.com/Partner to join us in helping believers integrate faith and financial decisions for the glory of God.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

What are your thoughts on annuities for someone approaching age 70?
My wife and I are senior citizens and now have custody of our 10-year-old granddaughter—her father passed away, and her mother isn’t involved. We want guidance on setting up a trust for her future. What’s the best way to approach this?

Resources Mentioned:

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