We’ve had the privilege of working with many generous families over the years. For some, generosity is something that comes naturally, passed down through generations. Others give joyfully at a level they feel comfortable with. Some wish they could do more but feel limited. Others feel that they have to make their larger gifts later in life, once they see what remains.
Wherever you find yourself in that spectrum, one question often brings clarity to the conversation:
What is Your Giving Capacity?
Your giving capacity is simply this: how much could you give away each year while still meeting your goals, covering your expenses, and enjoying life?
When we help families plan, we look at giving capacity right alongside regular expenses. Once you know the amount, it brings flexibility that allows you to give thoughtfully each year. Instead of waiting until “someday,” you can begin giving now in a way that aligns with your goals and resources. There’s real joy in experiencing generosity today rather than postponing it.
Prioritizing Family in Generosity
When we talk about giving, I often encourage families to also think about their giving capacity to the next generation. Financial support early in life, when your children or grandchildren are launching careers, starting businesses, or building young families, can make a much greater difference than a gift given later when their incomes and opportunities may already be more established.
This doesn’t mean handouts. I’m talking about thoughtful, intentional investment into their future: helping with a first home, seeding a business idea, or funding education. Those kinds of gifts create opportunities that can shape an entire lifetime.
When you know your own giving capacity, you can plan for generosity not only toward charities and causes you care about, but also toward family. In many cases, that early support carries more impact and more joy than waiting to pass it on someday.
Passing on a Legacy of Generosity
Generosity doesn’t just stop with us. One of the most meaningful ways to make giving last is by involving the next generation. Once you know your own capacity, you can help your children or grandchildren start their giving journey.
A practical way to do this is through tools like donor-advised funds or similar giving accounts.
These accounts allow you to:
- Provide financial resources for the next generation to give.
- Teach them how to evaluate ministries and charitable organizations.
- Encourage them to develop their own giving strategies.
- Guide them as they prayerfully consider how to use their resources.
In doing this, you’re giving more to causes you care about today, and you’re also giving your family the gift of giving. That gift alone can carry generosity forward for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Generosity grows when it’s practiced. Knowing your giving capacity is simply the first step; choosing to live it out today and with those who come after you is what leaves a lasting mark.