Nov 30, 2022
Kendra VanderMeulen is the CEO of the National Christian Foundation, the largest Christian grantmaker in the world. The team at NCF mobilizes resources and inspires Biblical generosity, serving thousands of families, advisors, and ministries nationwide. Previously, Kendra served as the President of the National Christian Foundation Northwest, where she loved growing in her Journey of Generosity and helping those she served to do the same. Kendra received the Distinguished Alumna award in 1990 from the College of Engineering and is the recipient of the 1999 Catherine B. Cleary award as the outstanding woman leader of AT&T. She was also recently recognized by C3 Leaders with the Ralph Palmen High Ground Award.
Kendra joins me on The Wow Factor this week to talk all about her leadership journey and how her path led her to the Lord, who still accompanies her on her path. She describes how she moved up the career ladder, making a pivot into the technology space en route, but why ultimately, taking some time off gave her the space to really think about what she wanted to do in life. Kendra also shares the details of her work at the National Christian Foundation (NCF) and the joy she finds in helping others to live generously.
“I spent two years trying just walking with the Lord learning how to practice silence and solitude.” - Kendra VanderMeulen
“Our mission is to mobilize resources and inspire biblical generosity.” - Kendra VanderMeulen
“We get to see lives changed for the givers, we get to see lives changed for the organizations they send the money to, and we get to see our own lives changed as a result.” - Kendra VanderMeulen
This Week on The Wow Factor:
- Kendra’s childhood and teenage years in competitive swimming
- How she found her way into the world of technology
- The challenges of moving up the career ladder with a very young family
- When Kendra came to know the Lord and why that relationship was so meaningful in the moment
- Some of the technological innovations that Kendra has been part of
- What prompted Kendra to request a sabbatical, and how her time away from work helped her gain clarity
- How the generous giving conference energized Kendra and introduced her to so many different experiences and questions
- What is National Christian Foundation (NCF), and how they make it easier for people to deploy resources for God's work
- How donor-advised funds help givers mobilize resources and inspire biblical generosity
Kendra VanderMeulen’s Word of Wisdom:
You need to find space in your life for the Lord. There's there needs to be an hour in the morning that's focused on Him and what He has to say so that you can move forward according to His Word.
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