Empowering Generosity Workshop: Equipping Nonprofit Leaders for Greater Kingdom Impact

Empowering Generosity Workshop: Equipping Nonprofit Leaders for Greater Kingdom Impact

by | May 2, 2025 | Generosity, Nonprofits

Last month, Ten Talents Foundation had the privilege of hosting the Empowering Generosity Workshop—a gathering designed to equip Central Valley nonprofit leaders and pastors with tools to manage gifts wisely,  honor those who invest in their organizations by strengthening their financial practices, and multiply the impact of every gift they receive for eternal impact. 

45 nonprofit leaders and pastors attended the workshop, which was a powerful time of encouragement, equipping, and connection around the shared mission of advancing God’s Kingdom through generosity. 

During the workshop, participants heard from several leaders, including Pastor Andy White of Legacy Christian Church, who opened the morning with a message on developing a Heart of Generosity. Brent Riffel, President of Ten Talents Foundation, also shared how ministries can best utilize the Foundation to steward gifts strategically for long-term Kingdom impact.

Attendees also learned from Ten Talents Foundation leadership and local experts about: 

  • How to have intentional conversations with people who want to support their organization  
  • Practical ways to better steward gifts for long-term organizational health  
  • Ways ministries can work with Ten Talents Foundation to accept asset-based gifts 
  • Building strong relationships with the community through consistent communication, stories of impact, and relational events 

Last month’s workshop equipped ministry leaders who are committed to using every resource entrusted to them to fulfill their mission.  As organizations learn how to accept new types of gifts, honor those who support their work, and develop long-term strategies to remain healthy, they are more equipped to make an impact in Central California for generations to come. 

Thank you to everyone who attended and made this gathering such a meaningful time! 

Interested in learning more or joining a future training? Contact Ten Talents Foundation here.

2024 Ten Talents Foundation Annual Impact Report

2024 Ten Talents Foundation Annual Impact Report

by | Mar 12, 2025 | Donor Advised Fund, Generosity, Ministry Partners, Nonprofits, Ten Talents Foundation Updates

Read full 2024 impact report

Dear Friends,

As we reflect on 2024, one word comes to mind: growth . Growth is rarely easy—it comes with stretching, refining, and moments of uncertainty. This year was no exception. We’ve navigated challenges, asked hard questions, and sought wisdom from those around us. But through it all, our faith and commitment to our mission has grown.

The Ten Talents Foundation exists to mobilize a movement of generosity, helping individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits steward their “talents,” and give more strategically so their resources can make a lasting difference in our communities.

This year, that mission has come to life in powerful ways. Over $1 million in grants supported ministries working on the front lines of our region and world’s greatest needs. Families have learned how to maximize their giving. One local business owner was able to double his giving to ministries because of the creative giving strategies and tax savings incurred through Ten Talents’ giving tools! A nonprofit leader attended one of our events which inspired him to invite a donor to consider leaving a legacy gift to the organization. That single conversation resulted in the donor designating one-third of her entire estate to the nonprofit —a gift that will impact lives for generations.

These stories demonstrate why we exist. Last year, we prioritized education and training, offering workshops, webinars, and resources on asset-based giving, legacy giving, and charitable bequests. When people understand how to steward their resources wisely, they can give more—and more effectively—to the work they value most.

As we look to the rest of 2025, we are committed to expanding these efforts—educating more nonprofits, training financial advisors on how to help their clients use these giving tools, and equipping more families and businesses to give with greater impact. Thank you for being part of this movement. Together, we are investing in something far greater than ourselves. Here’s to another year of growth!

With Gratitude,
Brent Riffel
Executive Director
Ten Talents Foundation

Read full 2024 impact report
What is the role of a Community Foundation? Multiplying Generosity in a Region for Lasting Impact 

What is the role of a Community Foundation? Multiplying Generosity in a Region for Lasting Impact 

by | Feb 20, 2025 | Generosity

At Ten Talents Foundation, we see both the challenges and opportunities in the Central California region. The San Joaquin Valley has the highest rate of violent crime in California (PPIC, 2023) and shorter life spans due to disparities in education, pollution, and food access (SJVPHC Report, 2022). Many in our communities struggle with poverty, homelessness, and mental health challenges (Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, 2022).

At the same time, our region is home to thousands of businesses, churches, and nonprofits. Our farms produce nearly one-fourth of the nation’s agricultural output (USGS), and our communities are filled with resources, funding, and people ready to make a difference.

So how do we bring these resources together to meet the greatest needs more effectively?

That’s where a community foundation comes in.

Community foundations like the Ten Talents Foundation exist to connect generosity with impact. By managing Donor Advised Funds, facilitating non-cash giving, and distributing charitable grants, we help donors give more strategically while equipping nonprofits to maximize every dollar given.

When generosity is thoughtful, strategic, and long-term, it has the power to transform communities for generations to come. We invite you to be part of this movement—where generosity is not just an action, but a legacy.

What is a Community Foundation? 

A community foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps donors strategically manage their giving to maximize impact. Instead of simply giving directly to a single charity, donors can establish a donor advised fund and allow the foundation to oversee the distribution of funds to various local causes.

Community foundations exist to  connect resources with a region’s greatest needs, and ensure charitable giving makes a lasting impact in a specific region. By managing special donor advised funds, processing asset-based gifts, and equipping local nonprofits, they make generosity more effective and sustainable.

What Does a Community Foundation Do?  

  • Manages Donor Advised Funds – Helps donors create funds like Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) to simplify and plan their charitable giving.
  • Processes Non-Cash Gifts – Accepts and processes non-cash donations such as real estate, stocks, agricultural assets, and cryptocurrency, making giving more tax-efficient and helping nonprofits accept gifts they otherwise would be unable to..
  • Distributes Grants & Equip  Local Nonprofits  – Distributes grants and resources to nonprofits, ensuring gifts make a lasting impact in the community.
  • Provides Community Education – Offers resources, workshops, and training to help individuals and organizations maximize their charitable giving.
  • Supports Generational Stewardship – Encourages families to engage in long-term, impact-driven philanthropy by structuring giving plans and including charitable donations in estate planning.

Want to Learn More?

If you’re interested in opening a Donor Advised Fund, donating a non-cash asset, or learning how Ten Talents Foundation can equip your nonprofit, we’d love to help.

Watch the video to see how strategic generosity can create a lasting impact, or contact us here. 

How to Make a Lasting Impact through an Estate Plan: Insights from Experienced Attorney, Lanier Thomas

How to Make a Lasting Impact through an Estate Plan: Insights from Experienced Attorney, Lanier Thomas

by | Feb 11, 2025 | Estate Planning, Generosity

Lanier Thomas is a seasoned estate planning attorney at Fennemore Dowling Aaron Law Firm based in Fresno, CA. When asked why he became an estate planning attorney, Lanier said, “I wanted to help people build and preserve things.” 

With an impressive 45 years of experience helping individuals and families preserve their assets and legacies, Lanier has a unique perspective on the value estate planning has for an individual, family, business, and community.

The Ten Talents Foundation exists to help people mobilize a movement of generosity through strategic giving tools. With this in mind, our team asked Lanier, how can a person give to causes they love and make a lasting impact through an estate plan?

Understanding the Basics of an Estate Plan

Before diving into Lanier’s insights, it’s essential to understand what an estate plan is. In simple terms, an estate plan is a collection of legal documents that outline how a person’s assets will be distributed upon their passing. More than just a financial blueprint, it ensures loved ones are cared for and minimizes potential legal complications.

An estate plan isn’t just for the wealthy. Lanier explained, “If you’ve got a house, you’ve got something worth protecting… It’s about leaving your family with good instructions and saving them years of needless expense and heartache.”

Reflecting a Person’s Values through an Estate Plan

Lanier approaches estate planning with curiosity and precision, ensuring each plan reflects the client’s unique values.

“One of the biggest questions I like to ask people is, ‘Where did you learn about money and money’s role in your life and the world?’” Lanier explained. This helps him understand a client’s heart for giving and how that can be reflected in their estate plan.

Lanier encourages clients to focus their generosity on a few key causes. “[I] like people to focus on 4-5 charities in their estate planning,” he said.

He also asks: “What organizations can you give to nowI?” and “What assets do you not need anymore?” Helping clients work through these questions can lead them to give to causes they love now, sell assets, and create a much simpler, straightforward estate plan. 

The Transformational Impact of Including Nonprofits in Estate Plans

Incorporating nonprofits and ministries into estate plans has the potential to bring transformative, and lasting change to entire communities. 

“I’m a realist—I don’t think you can fix everything,” Lanier admitted. “But if it’s done effectively, I think [if more people included giving in their estate plans], we would hear more stories of impact.” It costs a lot for nonprofits to make real change in people’s lives, and strategic giving can fuel that work, explains Lanier.

Lanier emphasized the ripple effect of generosity: It’s not just here in the Central Valley; ”you can make an impact worldwide.“ From funding local community programs to sending medical supplies overseas, the possibilities are endless.

Why Give through an Estate Plan?

“In my experience, people who have had a heart of generosity… [are] more satisfied in life,” Lanier shared. 

 

Lanier emphasized that generosity isn’t just about monetary gifts; it’s about instilling values. “To me, it’s not about what you pass on and who you pass it on to, as much as it is about passing on a spirit of generosity for your family- for your kids, and for your grandkids.”

By weaving generosity into an estate plan, individuals not only provide financial security for their loved ones but can also create a lasting example of giving that can inspire future generations. 

Estate planning provides a unique opportunity to align one’s values with their resources, ensuring their legacy reflects what truly matters most.

Your Legacy, Your Impact

While it is challenging, estate planning challenges us to confront an often-uncomfortable reality. “Many people don’t want to think about death,” Lanier acknowledged. “We have to face our mortality, and as Christians,… we should be able to face that.”  

Rather than avoiding the topic, estate planning allows you to take intentional steps to steward what you’ve been entrusted with in a way that reflects your faith and priorities. By including nonprofits in your will or trust, you can provide for your loved ones while also supporting the causes that matter most to you. 

The impact doesn’t end with this generation—gifts given through thoughtful estate planning can plant seeds of generosity that will bless communities, transform lives, and inspire others for decades to come. 

Your legacy is more than wealth; it’s a reflection of your values and the hope you want to leave behind. A well-planned estate ensures that the love and generosity you’ve shown in your life will continue making a difference long after you’re gone.

The Role of Ten Talents in Helping You Build a Generous Legacy 

Creating an estate plan or updating an existing one doesn’t have to be  overwhelming. The Ten Talents Foundation can connect you with resources and experts like Lanier who can help you incorporate giving into your plan in a way that reflects your heart and priorities.

We also provide tools like Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), a simple yet effective way to steward your generosity. DAFs are like charitable investment accounts, allowing individuals, families, or businesses to give in a tax-wise, strategic way to causes they care about. DAFs can be incorporated into an estate plan and passed onto the next generation.

“A family can say, ‘Here are the causes that matter to us,’ and within reason, Ten Talents will follow that guidance [when helping you give through your DAF],” Lanier  shared. It’s a powerful way to leave a legacy of generosity.

Whether you’re creating your first estate plan, refining an existing one, or starting a Donor Advised Fund, Ten Talents want to help you along the way. 

Lanier Thomas, one of Ten Talents’ first board members and a current member of our advisory team, has helped us understand how a strategic, prayerful, thoughtful estate plan can bless lives, transform communities, and inspire future generations. 

If you would like to start an estate plan or include a charitable gift in your existing will or trust, contact Ten Talents through the button below. We will connect you with the right people and resources to help you have peace of mind and leave a lasting legacy.

Contact Ten Talents

How this Church Gym is bringing Hope to one of California’s Poorest Neighborhoods

How this Church Gym is bringing Hope to one of California’s Poorest Neighborhoods

by | Jun 20, 2024 | Donor Advised Fund, Generosity

The Challenge of Leading a Church in Southeast Fresno

“God has given me the privilege of pastoring this church for 24 years.” says Pastor Elias Loera.

Family Christian Assembly is located in Southeast Fresno and is nestled in the second poorest zip code in California. This is the church Elias Lorea has pastored for over two decades.

“It has not been an easy endeavor as finances are an issue in this area of town,” says Pastor Eli.

“God has given me the privilege of pastoring this church for 24 years.  It has not been an easy endeavor as our church is located in the second poorest zip code in California. “

Pastor Elias Loera, Family Christian Assembly Church

Despite limited financial resources, Family Christian Assembly has served as a beacon of light to the community. One way the church has done this is through hosting the only kids basketball league south of Shaw Avenue. This basketball league offered a safe way for kids to make friends, get exercise, and learn from healthy adults. The program also provided a way for the church to build relationships with parents and other community members in Southeast Fresno.

Unfortunately, several months ago, the gym became unsafe for kids to play in.

The floor was falling apart, and the space was in such desperate need of renovations, it was not usable for basketball practice.

Gym before renovations ↓

How Generosity Restored the Gym to a Space of Refuge

Several months ago, members of the Ten Talents Foundation team attended a meeting at Family Christian Assembly. During this meeting, God made it clear to the team what an important role the church gym played in their neighborhood and how desperately it needed to be renovated for continued use.

Through intentional and God-ordained conversations, the story was shared with a Ten Talents’ Donor Advised Fund holder. This person eagerly asked that resources in their fund be allocated to help the Family Christian Assembly renovate their gymnasium.

Then, a local contractor heard about the need and offered to put new flooring in the gym for a highly discounted price.

As the renovations neared completion, those who gave to the project financially through their Donor Advised Fund, the Family Christian Assembly leaders, and members of the Ten Talents Foundation staff gathered to pray over the beautiful new space.

Standing in the church gym was a tangible reminder of God’s unmatched ability to connect people’s unique gifts with a community’s practical needs.

“When Ten Talents approached us about partnering with us to remodel and upgrade our gymnasium, we saw the faithfulness of God at work,” says Pastor Eli. “Through generosity, our gym has been transformed from a dark and dreary outdated facility to a bright new room that is welcoming and warm for the kids in our community.”

Gym after renovations ↓

The New Gym’s Impact on Kids and Families

“We just completed our Little Hoopsters Basketball league for kids 7 to 12 years old [in the newly renovated gym] and it was a complete success. Eighty kids participated in a thirteen-week league in a safe environment where they prayed before every game and practice,” says Pastor Eli.

Some Little Hoopster children walked into the church gym off the streets. For at least two days a week, these kids found safety and community in the walls of the Family Christian Assembly gym.

“Since the league started in February, our church has also ministered to several families outside the league through our church,” says Pastor Eli. “Three families who were not attending any church are part of our church family now.”

Though You May Never Meet these Little Hoopsters…

“Ten Talents givers may never meet the kids whose confidence is built up through basketball; they may never meet the single mother who cannot afford the expensive leagues on the north side of town but was able to bring her kids to Little Hoopsters. They may never meet the families who spent ten Saturdays together in a church gym rooting on their kids…”

Pastor Eli continues, “[But] I thank Ten Talents [donors] for transforming our gym league and the lives of so many people in our part of town. 

Our people are faithful and so is God.”

Unified Generosity is Making Our Community Look More like Heaven

Hope grows and neighborhoods are transformed when individuals, businesses, families, nonprofits, and churches unify together through the Ten Talents Foundation to connect generosity with our community’s needs.

You have the talents. The Ten Talents Foundation is simply a “hub” designed to bring those talents together. Whether you are a church offering your gym as a safe space for kids to play basketball, a contractor using his skills to install new flooring, a business person helping to fund the project and pray for the children whose little feet will walk across the basketball court, YOU are helping our city and world look more like Heaven.

Tax Considerations for Donor Advised Fund Holders

Tax Considerations for Donor Advised Fund Holders

by | Feb 21, 2024 | Donor Advised Fund, Generosity

 At the Ten Talents Foundation, we love to educate our community about tools they can use to live a tax-wise and generous life. One of these powerful tools is called a Donor Advised Fund. A Donor Advised Fund is like a charitable investment account! When you use a Donor Advised Fund to give to causes you love, you will:

1. Receive tax deductions. Donor Advised Fund holders enjoy a federal income tax deduction of up to 60% of adjusted gross income for cash contributions and up to 30% of adjusted gross income for the appreciated securities they donate. (Source: Investopedia)

2. Simplify your giving. When you use a Donor Advised Fund to make your donations, you can give to multiple organizations you love while receiving only ONE tax receipt letter.

3. Plan ahead. A Donor Advised Fund allows you to give assets or cash into the fund, receive tax benefits based on that gift, but distribute the funds to ministries later. This allows you to be more intentional and strategic in your giving, without rushing to make a gift now.

4. Give non-cash assets. When you donate an asset into your Donor Advised Fund, we sell the asset and the proceeds fund your generosity and provide tax savings. 

5. Incur tax-free growth. Funds in your Donor Advised Fund may be invested in a variety of investment models, providing the possibility of tax-free growth. 

Still have questions about Donor Advised Funds? Grab coffee with Ten Talents’ Chief Operating Officer, Dan Kimball, and hear a helpful overview of how a Donor Advised Fund works! ↓

Contact Ten Talents