David Wills Chairman Emeritus National Christian Foundation NCF Generous Giving Faith Driven Investor Impact Foundation Finish Line Podcast
Finish Line Podcast Episode 86

David Wills, President Emeritus of NCF, on the Evolution of the Modern Generosity Movement

You want to steward God’s resources faithfully. But questions about generosity, calling, and impact are rarely simple.

In this conversation, you’ll hear from someone who has walked through these kinds of questions and learned along the way. Listen for the next step God may be inviting you to take.


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Meet your guide

David Wills stands as a beacon of philanthropic leadership and financial wisdom, carving his niche as the President Emeritus of the National Christian Foundation (NCF). A luminary in shaping generosity, David co-founded Generous Giving, an organization dedicated to fostering a culture of charitable living. Under his guidance, NCF has flourished, disbursing over $18 billion to charitable causes, reflecting an unparalleled commitment to transformative giving. He adeptly navigates the complexities of donor-advised funds, turning the concept into a strategic tool for streamlined and impactful philanthropy. David’s innovative approach is evidenced through his advocating for ‘finish lines’ in financial planning, ensuring wealth serves as a tool for good, not a master.

Merging financial stewardship with spiritual growth, David is a pioneer in impact investing, where charitable dollars yield social and spiritual dividends. His stirring personal journey from litigator to philanthropic strategist is a testament to living a faith-driven life. David’s insights are not just theories—they’re lived experiences that promise to resonate with listeners, urging them to explore the joy and responsibility of giving. Tune into The Finish Line Podcast for a profound dialogue with David Wills, where financial acumen meets the heart of generosity.

What you’ll gain

  • What inspired the creation of the National Christian Foundation, and how has it evolved since its inception?
  • Why is a financial finish line such a powerful tool of generosity and faith?
  • How do finish lines contribute to a sense of liberation and freedom?
  • What is impact investing and how does it intersect with generosity?
  • Who should have a donor advised fund, and how is it used effectively?
  • What motivated the start of Generous Giving, and what role does transformational heart change play in the conversation around generosity?
  • How has the modern generosity movement evolved over the past several decades?
  • How is the growth in generosity aligned with movement in the Great Commission and what progress has been made?
  • How can acts of spontaneous giving enrich family and community ties and demonstrate the joy of generosity?

Inspired? Take your next step

Financial Finish Line Pledge Step 1

Take the Finish Line Assessment

Take a brief assessment to see if you are ready for a financial finish line right now 

Financial Finish Line Pledge Step 2

Build a Finish Line from Scratch

Use the Finish Line Builder to identify the finish line that fits your season of life best

Financial Finish Line Pledge Step 3

Try a 90 Day Finish Line Experiment

Receive practical guidance and encouragement as you spend 90 days with a finish line.

Complete your first step right now in under 3 minutes.

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Play the Game of Life Simulator

Not ready for the assessment? Try a quick interactive simulator to see how you stack up in managing wealth.

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Inspired? Take your next step

Try the Game of Life Simulator

Step into a four-minute interactive experience and see what unfolds as you decide how to manage your resources.

Start the Game
Game of Life Simulator Mobile Screenshot
Game of Life Simulator Mobile Screenshot

Inspired? Learn how to partner with ministries well.

A compelling ministry story can inspire you to respond. But wise partnership often begins with better questions.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Focus

What is the ministry really seeking to restore?

Learn to look beyond visible needs toward people, context, relationships, and flourishing.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Fruitfulness

How do you recognize meaningful impact?

Consider how ministries learn, evaluate their work, and pursue lasting change.

Applied Generosity Intervention Partnership Faithfulness

What does genuine ministry partnership look like?

Explore how to foster trust, alignment, and shared mission in your giving.

In our Intervention Series on the Applied Generosity Podcast, we’ll help you become a more thoughtful, discerning, and faithful partner.

Start the Series

Quotes to Remember

  • “There’s this extraordinarily large group of people that actually have the gift of giving, the spiritual gift of giving.”
  • “This year, we will, for the first time, have over a billion dollars worth of complex assets contributed to NCF.”
  • “Generosity is contagious when people are transformed.”
  • “When you grow in the how and the where, your giving will grow arithmetically. You’ll feel better about it. You’ll be more strategic. But when you get the why question right, your giving can grow exponentially.”
  • “If you’re well planned, you will give more and you will give more wisely. Part of the planning process are finish lines.”
  • “If a trustee starts to get confused about their role and they don’t have any parameters around how they’re dealing with whatever it is that they’re stewarding, the stuff will actually own them as opposed to them stewarding the stuff.”
  • “All investing is impact investing. So what kind of impact are you having?”
  • “If you want to meet somebody in heaven that has never had God’s word in their native language, you better get on it right now because we’re running out of these languages”

Links from the Show

Bible References from the Show

Luke 16:9 | Making Eternal Friends

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.

Enter your information below and we’ll send you our free PDF guide to explore the specific adventure you were called into.

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Use Our
Free Guide

Have you considered the ways you are uniquely called into generosity? We’re not all called into the same adventure.
Generosity Profile Image
Enter your information below and we’ll send you our free PDF guide to explore the specific adventure you were called into.
Generosity Profile Image

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