My Expertise
My current roles
I co-founded and now serve as Executive Chairman of The Signatry: A Global Christian Foundation, after many years as CEO. With The Signatry, I work to change the way people view and practice generosity, particularly focusing on the intersection of generosity and multi-generational family legacy. I have led the foundation’s efforts from its beginning in 2000 to now sending out over $3 billion in grants.
I coach families on creating a shared purpose and implementing healthy practices that will set up the family for success for generations to come. That's family legacy.
I also work with individual givers, ministries and financial advisors. I specialize in guiding business owners who are looking to sell or transition to the next generation of leadership. I also teach ministries how to work with major donors.
I helped launch Vyne Legacy, as a ministry of The Signatry, to serve families with the toolkit they need to build lasting legacies. Through courses, workshops, and resources, I am part of serving families across the country.
Forbes Nonprofit Council
In 2019 I became an official member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council. The council brings together executives from a wide range of successful organizations to connect, collaborate and share insights from their experience in the nonprofit world.
My professional career
Prior to starting the foundation in 2000, I worked as a partner with Blackwell Sanders Matheny Weary & Lombardi, a large law firm in Kansas City, and later with Sanders Warren Russell & Scheer LLP, where I remain Of Counsel.
In addition to my responsibilities with The Signatry, I have helped found a couple technology companies: iDonate.com, a fundraising software company providing an online solution for nonprofits to market and receive gifts of all kinds; and FamilyArc.com, an online personal and private family legacy platform.
I am also a published author and sought-after conference speaker. I was honored to be named one of America’s Top 25 Philanthropy Speakers for 2017 as ranked by Philanthropy Media.
My writings
Some of my recent books include:
- Leadership Not by the Book: 12 Unconventional Principles to Drive Incredible Results (2022), coauthored with David Green, CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby
- A Generous Life: 10 Steps to Living a Life Money Can't Buy (Zondervan 2019), coauthored with David Green, CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby
- The Spiritual Roots of Kansas City: Discovering the Past to Shape Our Future (2019), coauthored with Annika Bergen
- Charity Shock: Ten Critical Trends Revolutionizing the Fundraising World (2018), coauthored with Ray Gary
- Giving It All Away…And Getting It All Back Again: The Way of Living Generously (Zondervan 2017), coauthored with David Green
I’ve coauthored or contributed to these books:
- Sell Well: Understanding the M&A Process and Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes of Selling a Business (2017), coauthored with Rene Robichaud and Peter Kubasek
- unPrepared, Heirs at Risk: 14 Elements of Successful Wealth Transfer (2017)
- This Dangerous Book: How the Bible has Shaped our World and Why it Still Matters Today (Zondervan 2017), coauthored with Steve and Jackie Green
- unHeritage: 11 Pitfalls to Family Legacy and How to Avoid Them (2014)
- The Generosity Bet (2014)
- Stories of the Generous Life (2013)