The Simple Charity Podcast

What do thrifting, composting, and philanthropy have in common? One theme that may tie these three together is the idea of "stewardship." How do we live when we realize that God, not us, is the true owner of all we have? What does it actually mean to steward what we possess?In this episode, we dive deep into thrifting, composting, and philanthropy with Tony Whitter, a Simple Charity philanthropic advisor and the CEO of Compost Collective KC and previous CEO of Blessings Abound, a regional thrift store that granted millions of dollars to local nonprofits.To get in touch with Tony about his philanthropic advising services, visit www.simplecharity.org/tony-whitter.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and "Love your neighbor as yourself.”These are the commands that Jesus says are most essential. But what does the word "love" mean in the original languages and context of the Bible?Kevin Grasso is a biblical languages scholar and the founder of Biblingo. In this episode, we discuss these two biblical commands in the old and new testaments.Learn more about Biblingo at www.biblingo.com.

In 1912, 100% of the black residents of Forsyth County, Georgia were forcibly expelled from their land. Durwood Snead is one of the founders of the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship, which supports descendants of black residents from Forsyth County to get a college education. Join us for a conversation about racism, history, truth, and love.Learn more at the website for the Forsyth Descendants Scholarship: https://forsythscholarship.org/You can also learn more in Patrick Phillips' book Blood at the Root or in the podcast 1912: The Forsyth County Expulsion and Its Aftermath.

Souzan and Tony Ghareeb started Shining Hope International to minister the gospel, care for physical needs, and serve the people in their home country of Lebanon. Even as war has broken out in the southern portion of the country and the suburbs of Beirut, Shining Hope continues to bring the light of Jesus to Lebanon. Learn more about their ministry here: https://shininghopeinternational.org/And consider making a gift to support their work during this difficult time.

Manna Worldwide has projects in over 40 countries around the world and hosts many short-term mission trips every year. Learn more at: www.mannaworldwide.comCraig Alsup is the Associate Director for Asia for Manna Worldwide. In this wide-ranging conversation, he shares what we can learn from the global church, the value (and limitations) of short-term missions, and how to care well for vulnerable children.

Learn more about Highland Ministries: www.highlandministries.comBill Chapman loves camp. For the past 33 years, he's been building Camp Highland and, now, Highland Ministries, creating spaces for thousands of kids to have TAG (Time Alone with God) every year. Listen to the story of how Camp Highland became what it is today and why getting away and spending alone time with God can be transformational.

Learn more about Untold at www.untold.org.Untold is a global nonprofit that empowers HIV+ people to live a life beyond AIDS. Molly Heacock has worked at Untold for 13 years and will become the next CEO in April 2026. She suggests that because HIV medication is effective and widespread, stigma has become more deadly than the virus itself, as social marginalization discourages medication adherence. She explains the history of the epidemic, the current status of PEPFAR, and what Jesus teaches us about loving people with stigmatized medical conditions.

Dr. Stacy Hall is a business professor at Truett McConnell University, a private baptist college in Georgia. What impact does it have on the Kingdom of God to invest in the Christian formation of the next generation? A significant amount of philanthropy goes to higher education, and some of the most sophisticated fundraising efforts in the country are connected to universities, especially large, wealthy, secular universities. How does giving to Christian higher education make a Kingdom impact?Stacy also shares much of his own faith journey and a parallel journey of generosity. Learn more about TMU's upcoming webinar on planned giving on April 19th: tmu.edu/give/planned-giving/

Chris Gabriel is a wealth manager and the author of WISE Generosity. In this episode, Chris shares about the wisdom of wealthy families who choose to give generously and the wisdom of financial advisors who encourage that generosity. But then, the conversation goes deeper, exploring the call to radical generosity and the role of developing virtue to heal what's broken in our world.Purchase Chris's book WISE Generosity here: https://www.amazon.com/WISEgenerosity-Purposeful-Practical-Living-Giving/dp/1637631936

Did you know that there are 50 million people in modern day slavery today? And this is despite the reality that slavery is illegal in every country in the world.Love Justice claims that every $112 that is donated to the organization prevents a person from becoming a slave. And, as John and Brian discuss on the show, it’s possible that this is a significant underestimate of their impact.Learn more about Love Justices work at www.lovejustice.ngo.

There's the self and the other. When we form a deep community of friends, we train ourselves to focus more on others and grow in the generous love of Jesus. In this episode, we learn from Rick Steinberger who has journeyed with a committed group of friends for over 18 years. Maybe God is calling you to be the catalyst for a community like this. Listen to learn more about how to get started.Learn more about NCF Orlando: www.ncfgiving.com/orlando/During the conversation, Rick mentions the books Being with God by AJ Sherrill and Fifty-Seven Words That Change The World by Darrell W. Johnson.

Purchase Funding Your Mission to learn more about nonprofit finance.Explore Karen's organization, Infinite Giving.The nonprofit sector is a $1.4 trillion portion of the US economy. That’s 5% of US GDP. How can nonprofit organizations wisely steward their funds? Why are cash reserves important, what are endowments, and is it possible to have too much cash reserves? What are the differences between endowments, foundations, and donor-advised funds?This is a conversation that's essential for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and philanthropists about nonprofit finance.Give us your feedback by emailing [email protected].

Learn more about Judy's retreat center in Italy: www.villadivorno.com/Judy Nelson Lewis is a spiritual director and writer. She is the author of Exhale, which includes brief meditations to guide you to God's heart. In this wide-ranging conversation, she shares about a retreat center in Italy, the rise of the spiritual formation movement in evangelicalism, and an itinerary for the spiritual journey. Join for a conversation about faith and love with a wise guide.

Learn more about Flagship Equip: www.flagshipequip.com/This conversation features the origin stories of two impactful organizations: A shelter for sex-trafficked minors in North Carolina and a consulting business that helps faith-based nonprofits raise more money and have a greater impact. Emily Reed shares many insights about nonprofit leadership and fundraising excellence.

In this conversation with Amelia Thompson, a professional in international development with a master's from Harvard, we learn about how we know what we know about international development. We discuss RCTs, instrumental variables, focus groups, interviews, and mixed methods approaches. But we also talk about why love leads us to care about outcomes.

Learn more about the Forum at www.forumtogether.org.2025 has been a disruptive year for America's immigration system, including the refugee resettlement program. On this episode, Brian interviews Jenny Murray, the CEO of the National Immigration Forum on what has changed this year and why. They also discuss how faith in Jesus should influence our view of immigration policy and why refugee resettlement is one of the most morally unambiguous issues in this complex system.

Learn more about Inspiritus: www.weinspirit.orgTo come to America as a refugee is one of the most highly vetted immigration pathways in the world. In this episode, Sarah Burke, who has worked in refugee resettlement for over a decade, shares about this process and the experience of arriving in America as a refugee.This episode is part of a three-part series focusing on loving refugees.

Learn more about Every Shelter: www.everyshelter.org/Follow Moses Sawasawa on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mosessawasawaMost people don't realize that refugees often stay in camps for decades, not years. In this episode, Brian interviews Scott Key, an architect and the founder of Every Shelter, about his nonprofit that builds homes in refugee camps. Learn about life in refugee camps and the shelter options that are available.This episode is part of a three-part series focusing on loving refugees like Jesus. This series follows the journey that refugees take, beginning with life in camps.

Support Adama's school at www.blagrovespecialneedsservices.org. In this episode of the Simple Charity Podcast, host Brian Grasso sits down with Adama Blagrove, founder of a rapidly growing school for special needs children in Jamaica. The conversation touches on the impact of Hurricane Melissa, as well as the resilience of Adama’s community. Adama shares how fasting and prayer have guided her work, including moments of striking spiritual discernment in caring for her students. She tells the story of how her journey began—moving from New York to Jamaica and starting her first special needs program out of her basement. Together, Brian and Adama explore the challenges faced by special needs families in Jamaica and the stark contrast in resources compared to the United States.

In this special episode, our CEO and founder Brian Grasso shares Simple Charity's origin story, the problems that we solve (poverty, complexity, and duplicity), and a vision for our organization's future. You can learn more about Simple Charity at www.simplecharity.org.

Learn more about Blazing Trees at www.blazingtrees.org.In this episode of The Simple Charity Podcast features a conversation between host Brian Grasso and James Harvey, founder of Blazing Trees, a nonprofit organization that supports fundraising for missionaries by providing prayer, encouragement, and resources. The discussion centers on the importance of authentic discipleship in the church and the key role of the Holy Spirit throughout the process. James Harvey shares his personal story about church planting and working with refugee communities, highlighting a vision for deeper and more genuine discipleship—moving away from fast-paced movement culture and rooting it in a relationship with Jesus.

On this episode of The Simple Charity Podcast host Brian Grasso interviews Abrm McQuarters of the (&) Campaign, a nonprofit that integrates Christian faith with political engagement. The discussion centers on practicing generous, Christ-like love and explores how faith can shape political involvement and early childhood education as pathways to civic engagement.Learn more about their work at andcampaign.org

In this episode of The Simple Charity podcast, our host Brian Grasso sits down in person for an interview with Boyd Bailey, president of the National Christian Foundation (NCF) in Georgia and author of The Power of Generosity. The conversation centers on how to cultivate love and generosity inspired by Christian faith. Bailey shares personal stories about his role models of generosity and discusses the importance of consistency in practicing generosity and aligning one’s actions with Christian values. He suggests that while generosity is often associated with money, it also includes time, attention, and love.

On this episode of The Simple Charity Podcast, host Brian Grasso has a conversation with Charlotte George, a passionate advocate against human trafficking. We discuss her experiences as the president of the International Justice Mission (IJM) chapter at Baylor University and how Charlotte connects her Christian faith with her commitment to justice, seeking to inspire others to take action in the fight against human trafficking.

In this episode of The Simple Charity Podcast, host Brian Grasso interviews Christy Smucker, founder of The Mom Community, a nonprofit organization in Atlanta dedicated to supporting vulnerable mothers. Christy shares her personal journey of opening her home to help young mothers in difficult situations and how she eventually formalized that work into a structured organization. The Mom Community provides comprehensive support — from housing to emotional and material assistance — for mothers in vulnerable circumstances.

In the episode of the Simple Charity Podcast, host Brian Grasso talks with Beth Vanderbeck and her team from Morningstar Children and Family Services, a residential home in Brunswick, Georgia, dedicated to serving children in foster care with special needs. Morningstar provides a safe and nurturing environment, with a staff trained to handle the complex needs of the youth in their care.

On this episode of The Simple Charity Podcast, our conversation with Justin Lonas explores the work of The Chalmers Center, the nonprofit organization that produced the book When Helping Hurts. Learn more about their new class called Helping Without Hurting in Generosity at chalmers.org/generosity.

On this episode of The Simple Charity podcast, hosted by Brian Grasso, we explore urgent topics such as the global water crisis, the link between poverty and violence, and the importance of sustainable development through the experiences and insights of Joshua Kurtz, leader of the Ayin Project. We also are treated to more insight on the water crisis from returning guest, Griffin Storm.

On this episode of the Simple Charity Podcast, the conversation today features an interview with Sarah Beth Fentress, Executive Director of 127 Worldwide, a nonprofit organization focused on forming partnerships with local leaders to implement their visions. The discussion touches on concepts like cultural humility and the importance of creating real, sustainable impact in vulnerable communities. It also highlights aspects of Sarah's personal and professional life, as well as her experience managing these partnerships over 14 years of international work. We hope this episode inspires you to explore what it means to show cultural humility in your own life!

In this episode of the Simple Charity podcast, host Brian Grasso interviews Steve Steddom, the former executive director of a foundation that chose to "sunset"—that is, to donate all its funds until the principal capital was fully distributed. During the interview, they discuss the experience of giving away over $100 million, the growing trend of foundations choosing to sunset, the importance of building effective relationships between funders and nonprofit organizations, and how to engage in philanthropy with love and commitment. They also highlight the need for effective communication and the idea of fostering collaboration between foundations and organizations. We hope this episode inspires you to find new ways to give to your community!

This episode of the Simple Charity podcast features Alex Grant, a member of Venture, a nonprofit organization that brings hope to places that need it. The episode discusses the impact of the March 2025 earthquake in Myanmar within the broader context of long-standing political and economic instability. Alex highlights Venture’s holistic mission, which focuses on sustainable community development and church planting, particularly in unreached and underdeveloped regions of Southeast Asia. The conversation emphasizes humanitarian responses to the earthquake and other challenges, and explores the role of the private sector in filling gaps left by USAID cuts. We hope this episode inspires you to bring hope to somewhere that needs it.

In this episode of the Simple Charity Podcast, hosted by Brian Grasso, we discuss the ongoing work of the college chapters of IJM (International Justice Mission) and are joined by presidents of their respective chapters, Sydney Baker and Bethany Waters, who share their experiences leading initiatives to combat human trafficking and violence against the poor. In addition, the episode explores the benefits of having a Christian community focused on an external purpose beyond the community itself. We hope that this episode inspires you to discover your balance between developing your internal community and commitment to outward acts of service towards others!Learn more about IJM's work at ijm.org.

In this episode we have the pleasure of interviewing Amy and Clay Churchill of Just One Africa, a nonprofit that has been working for the past 13 years to provide access to safe drinking water in Kenya. The organization began by distributing 60 water filters in 2012 and since then has distributed around 14,000 filters and benefited nearly 300,000 people. Through partnerships with local leaders, Just One Africa not only addresses water issues but also supports the education and well-being of children and underserved communities.Amy and Clay talk about the agency each of us has to make a difference as we depend on the Lord. Listen for an inspiring and challenging conversation with two faithful nonprofit leaders!

In this episode, we explore how education can be a powerful force for community transformation. Learn how Edify International is using microfinance to support private Christian schools across Africa and Latin America, creating sustainable impact at a remarkably low cost. We also dive into the inspiring story of Atlanta Youth Academy and discuss whether churches should broaden how they consider their involvement in local service.

On this episode of the Simple Charity Podcast, we got to dive into the inspiring story of Griffin Storm and Nicholas Hathaway, two young men who founded the Norman Water Club at their high school in Oklahoma to raise funds and awareness about the global water crisis. Together, they raised over $60,000 to provide access to clean drinking water for people in need around the world. Throughout the episode, we cover how important leadership, service, and the impact of active empathy in the face of global crises is in today's world. We hope this episode inspires you to make an impact in your community!

In this episode of the Simple Charity Podcast, host Brian Grasso interviews Susan McSwain, Executive Director of Reality Ministries in Durham, North Carolina. The conversation explores some of the challenges faced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and how these experiences can teach us about belonging. Susan shares insights on the ministry’s organizational development, the need for authentic inclusion, and the transformative impact of mutual relationships. We hope that the conversations in this episode inspire you to build communities that value unconditional love and belonging from the very beginning!

Welcome to the Simple Charity Podcast, hosted by Brian Grasso. This podcast is about learning to love like Jesus in a crazy and complex world.On this intro episode, we have three special guests: Brian's wife, Savanna, and two of his best friends, Matthew Brague and Chris Kuo.Brian introduces the podcast to his wife and friends, and they give him feedback on what issues to cover and what challenges they experience that hinder them from loving like Jesus.Then, his wife and friends introduce Brian to you. This is your podcast, and as we’re launching, please reach out if you know someone we should interview, something we should cover, or anything that we get right, or wrong, along the way. Send Brian an email at [email protected].