As we close the Idle Treasure series, we turn the spotlight back to the real question behind donor-advised funds. This conversation was never simply about how much money sits in charitable accounts. It's about what our money reveals about our nearness to Jesus.

We walk alongside the rich young ruler, as he holds a key to the DAF dilemma. 

From there we name three themes that consistently marked the people we interviewed throughout the series. We also share a big assumption underneath this whole project, and offer a conclusion that both challenges and inspires.

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

What are possible solutions to the DAF dilemma?  And, how should Christians be responding to this Idle Treasure? 

Some obstacles to generosity are practical, some are relational, and others are spiritual. 

In Part One of the Idle Treasure finale, we walk through two practical, concrete tools that can change the trajectory of your giving: a financial finish line and a sunset strategy. 

We hear from one financial advisor who put a cap on his personal spending to free up more funds for giving, which resulted in an interesting new dynamic with his clients.

We also meet someone who ran a private foundation and developed a strategic plan to give away all the money, which led to their most fruitful years in philanthropy.

If you’re using a DAF, leading a foundation, advising clients, or just trying to follow Jesus with your money, this conversation is an invitation to rest in enoughness and take the next faithful step. 

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

In the last several episodes of Idle Treasure, we’ve been unpacking reasons why money in DAFs stay stagnant.

Many people are starting to wonder who should be held accountable for the DAF dilemma.

Some say it’s the government’s responsibility to put more regulations in place.

Some say the duty falls on the advisors and DAF sponsors.

Some say it is up to the individual to ensure funds are deployed.

And many say it is a different entity entirely that should be held accountable. 

In this episode, we look at four key players in the DAF dilemma and begin asking: Who’s responsible for creating change?

Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

In this episode we sit down with best-selling author Randy Alcorn to talk about the money accumulating in DAFs and private foundations. Randy argues that God rewards implemented choices, not stored intentions, and he challenges us to think practically about "good works." Along the way, we explore stewardship, spiritual warfare, and why mammon remains a live threat even for sincere Christians.

Randy also addresses several practical questions about giving charitable assets. Questions like: how long is too long to keep money in a DAF, what to do when you can’t find one organization with capacity for a large gift, and whether it’s wise to preserve the principal. Then we turn to family questions, including inheritance and legacy building. Randy closes with stories that bring the whole conversation back to joy, eternity, and the kind of generosity you never regret.

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

Choosing which charities to give to is not an easy decision. For Christians who want to steward wealth well, partnering with nonprofits can prove challenging.

In this episode, we talk through the psychology of giving when there are millions of nonprofits, constant fundraising pressure, and too little clarity to make confident decisions. Then we zoom in on the practical obstacles that stall grantmaking: limited information, wildly different charity effectiveness, nonprofit capacity constraints, and the complexity of social ecosystems where “helping” can accidentally harm. You’ll hear what causes donors to pause, and how ministries can lower the barriers to generosity.

We also wrestle with a question that cuts close to home: if a ministry claims to follow Jesus, should its fundraising sound like everyone else’s?

If you are interested in Christian generosity, nonprofit accountability, and biblical fundraising, this conversation will give you insight and next steps.

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

“I hate having money.” 

When a young inheritor says that out loud, it exposes something most of us rarely name: wealth can bring loneliness, fear, and constant relationship tension.

In this episode we sit down with Kate, who inherited millions of dollars at 21, to talk about the burden of blessing and the hidden pressures many next-gen inheritors carry while families navigate the Great Wealth Transfer and the growing DAF dilemma.

Dr. Gary Hoag also joins us to explore how scripture challenges us to think differently about legacy building. 

If you’ve ever felt conflicted about wealth, suspicious of generosity talk, or stuck deciding what to do with charitable assets, this conversation is for you.

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship. 

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

In this episode we pause our Idol Treasure series to sit down with Dr. Craig Blomberg. Craig joins Courtney to dive deeper into many of the topics covered so far. There are strong cultural and spiritual factors that influence our behavior with money, so as we continue to learn why wealth is accumulating in DAFs, Craig brings a strong biblical perspective to expand on the purpose of wealth, the roles our society plays in our understanding of stewardship, and we’ll explore many questions like: 

• How much do I have to give for it to be considered generous?
• How does scripture balance the goodness of wealth with the potential dangers of it?
• Why aren’t more pastors preaching about money?

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

What if our most “responsible” money moves are quietly discipling us away from Jesus? 

Joined by guests John Rinehart, CEO of Gospel Patrons, and Leo Sabo, president of the Christian Stewardship Network, we peel back the layers of conventional wisdom to reveal how fear, control, and comparison often masquerade as stewardship—and why scripture calls us to a radically different way with wealth. 

We also examine donor advised funds, the temptations of control and social capital, and the subtle ways both givers and fundraisers can drift from mission. The thread through it all is an invitation: let money become a mirror of the heart, not a mask. 

If this conversation challenged you, share it with a friend, subscribe for bonus content of the Idle Treasure series, and leave a review with one step you’re taking to trust God over money. Your story might inspire someone else's journey.

Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

What if the real barrier to generosity isn’t a lack of resources, but the stories we’ve believed about safety, success, and “enough”? 

When talking about the charitable assets sitting in donor advised funds, many people are eager to jump to solutions, as perhaps they should be. While we do want to address possible solutions to the DAF dilemma, we first need to uncover why this is happening in the first place.

Over the next several episodes we’re going to explore the various reasons why funds stay stagnant. And remember, we may be narrowing in on donor advised funds, but the behavioral patterns apply to all of us. You won’t have to look hard to find a story that intersects with your life, too. 

In today’s conversation, we’re going to discuss how our culture is shaping the way Christians behave with money. We'll explore the beginnings of our consumer-driven economy; we'll discuss why so many Americans suffer with money anxiety, and we'll also see how consumerism is showing up in our churches and shaping our faith.

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Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

In this episode we pull back the curtain on donor advised funds to ask a sharper question: if assets are allocated but not activated, have we truly surrendered them to God’s purposes? With billions of dollars sitting in DAFs and urgent needs multiplying, we explore the tension between smart planning and delayed impact.

Throughout the conversation we break down the core mechanics of DAFs, from why givers use them to the real advantages for non-cash gifts and tax efficiency. Then we tackle the metrics. We explore the statistics around DAFs and what these numbers represent. We also step back to see what information might be missing and what false assumptions we might be bringing to the table. 

If you’ve wondered whether DAFs are parking lots or highways for charity, this conversation offers both clarity and challenge. 

Links from episode:

DAF Research Collaborative Report

Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.

Idle Treasure is sponsored by the Center for Financial Discipleship.