October 27, 2025

Heather Larson, Philanthropic Advisor, on Aligning Families’ Giving to Create Meaningful Change (Ep. 162)

1 hour 2 minutes

Heather Larson, founder of the philanthropy advisory firm LiveGive, traces her calling to early encounters with need and two decades of church ministry where God used her to build compassion and justice work and steward significant generosity. Those years formed a simple conviction, real change grows when giving is personal, prayerful, and connected to faithful people on the ground.

Today Heather comes alongside families, foundations, and ministries to clarify passion areas, align spouses and generations, and shape practical “giving dream” plans. Drawing on years of leadership with local and global initiatives, she helps givers move from scattered gifts to strategic portfolios, set gracious expectations with partners, and engage meaningfully beyond the check. We also explore where metrics help and where they can hinder, and how a clear plan can free a family to give thoughtfully together. This conversation offers steady, practical wisdom for anyone seeking to steward God’s resources with discernment and joy.

Major Topics Include:

Heather’s heart-wrenching stories from the mission field

Helping families develop a giving dream plan

Narrowing down a family’s passion areas

Exploring a family’s values to help select organizations to give to

The importance of spousal alignment

Diversity and growth in philanthropic conversations

Navigating missed expectations with donors and organizations

Encouraging meaningful engagement with passion points

Considerations for impact metrics

QUOTES TO REMEMBER

“God, help my heart to always break for the needs in Your world and don’t let me get calloused.”

“It’s the local church in a community that can really help meet long term needs and bring about transformation.”

“Even for the most data-driven person, their deepest passions are almost always connected to story.”

“Once you know a family’s causes and their values, then you can look for great organizations that line up with that criteria.”

“It will never become a family legacy if it’s one person’s drive. If it’s going to be a family legacy, it’s going to be shaped by all the family members coming together and everyone having a voice.”

“In our world, there is a need for crisis response and immediate relief services, and there is opportunity for long-term transformation.”

“If you really want to see transformation and you want to engage well with organizations, it does take intentionality and hard work.”

“Keep building your giving muscles!”

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

LiveGive

American Red Cross

The Finish Line Community Facebook Group

The Finish Line Community LinkedIn Group

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 Facebookand LinkedIn.

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