Ep. 24 - Beyond Profit: National Christian Foundation's Len Hardison on How High-Level Leaders Turn Wealth Into Lasting Impact

Most business owners think about charitable giving the same way: write a check, take the deduction, move on. But Len Hardison, Executive Director of the Memphis office of National Christian Foundation (NCF), has spent years helping families and business owners discover a fundamentally different approach.In this episode of the Growth Minded Marketing Podcast, Len joins hosts AnnieLaurie Walters and Steve Phipps to unpack how donor-advised funds (DAFs) work as a charitable giving vehicle, why donating appreciated assets — real estate, closely held businesses, investment portfolios — is often far more tax-efficient than writing a check, and what it really means to build a company that functions as a generosity engine.Len’s take? “Friends don’t let friends give cash.” If you hold appreciated assets, you’re almost certainly leaving impact on the table. NCF, consistently ranked among the top 10 largest nonprofits in the U.S. and the largest Christian ministry in the country, has pioneered asset-based charitable giving since 1982. In 2025, NCF donors recommended grants to roughly 35,000 organizations and gave away over $3 billion.The conversation goes deeper than financial strategy. Len challenges leaders to wrestle with three questions most CEOs quietly push aside: How much is enough? How much do you pass to your heirs in a way that actually helps them? And what do you do with the rest? He also introduces a reframe that lands hard for Christian business owners: many claim God owns their business, but far fewer have actually invited God in as a real shareholder. What would that look like in the books, the culture, the way employees are treated?Whether you’re exploring strategic giving for the first time, sitting on appreciated assets you’ve never thought to leverage, or just making sure your business is building something worth leaving behind, this episode offers a practical, thought-provoking framework for turning success into lasting impact.What You’ll LearnHow donor-advised funds (DAFs) work and why they’re the best-kept secret in charitable givingWhy donating appreciated assets beats writing a check and what qualifies (real estate, closely held businesses, investment holdings, and more)The three stewardship questions every leader should sit with: How much is enough? How much do you pass to loved ones? What do you do with the rest?What it means to invite God into your business as a real shareholder, not just a sentimentHow a clear purpose helps attract and retain great employees in a competitive talent marketHow to use your company as a generosity engine that creates impact beyond the bottom lineTimestamps00:00 – Wayfind’s mission and the legacy question04:21 – Meet Len Hardison & National Christian Foundation07:12 – What is a donor-advised fund? The basics explained09:22 – Giving appreciated assets instead of cash12:19 – Len’s journey back to Memphis15:50 – What makes NCF unique in the market19:25 – Faith, stewardship, and the questions families wrestle with23:54 – Leadership advice: building a generosity engine28:30 – Post-interview key takeaways33:09 – Next steps and closingAbout Len HardisonLen Hardison serves as Executive Director of the Memphis office of National Christian Foundation (NCF), one of the largest Christian ministries in the United States. He works with families, business owners, and advisors to develop strategic, tax-efficient charitable giving plans that maximize generosity and long-term impact. With deep expertise in donor-advised funds, asset-based giving, and stewardship conversations, Len helps leaders align their resources with their values and build legacies that outlast them.Connect with Len: ncfgiving.com/memphis |  LinkedInResources MentionedNational Christian Foundation (NCF): ncfgiving.comDonor-Advised Funds (DAFs)Asset-Based Giving StrategiesValues-Based Legacy PlanningFrom Wayfind MarketingFree B2B Marketing AssessmentAI Marketing GuideGrowth Minded Marketing Podcast ArchiveConnect with the Hosts on LinkedInSteve Phipps  |  AnnieLaurie Walters