Giving That Truly Transforms

Christians everywhere want to make a difference. But how do we know our generosity is actually helping — not just making us feel good?

That’s the question JD Bauman, 28-year-old husband, new father, and founder of Christians for Impact, has devoted his life to answering. Through his work with Christians for Impact and Effective Altruism for Christians, JD equips believers to use their time, talent, and treasure with maximum Kingdom impact.

From Gold Bars to Global Generosity

JD’s journey began in an unexpected place: selling gold bars in Manhattan at age 18. Closing deals with clients three times his age taught him two lessons:

• The world has plenty of wealth.
• Those resources can either be wasted or used to save lives.

Raised in a missionary family (his father served with Wycliffe Bible Translators), JD carried a passion for generosity. But he also saw how not all giving is equal. Some efforts unintentionally harm local communities. Others save lives for a fraction of the cost of less effective interventions.

What Is Effective Altruism?

Effective altruism is both a principle and a movement:

• The principle: Use evidence, research, and humility to identify the best ways to do good.
• The movement: A global network of people committed to giving more effectively — moving beyond “what feels good” to “what works best.”

JD notes:

“We research laptops before buying them. But when it comes to saving lives, we often give without research. If we truly love our neighbor as ourselves, we’ll take their lives just as seriously.”

The Cost of Impact

Consider this:

• Training a seeing-eye dog in the West costs around $60,000.
• A surgery preventing blindness in the developing world costs under $100.

Both are good — but one saves hundreds of times more sight.

JD challenges Christians to ask: Are we being good stewards with our giving?

Beyond Money: Careers with Kingdom Impact

JD’s work also helps believers think about their day jobs as levers for Kingdom impact. There are three main paths:

1. Direct Good — Work for an effective nonprofit or in policy.
2. Earning to Give — Build a career in business, then give generously to effective causes.
3. Skill-Building — Gain expertise in management, finance, or tech to later serve in Kingdom ventures.

Why Christians Have a Unique Role

Non-Christians may fund health and poverty programs, but JD highlights a gap:

• Very few invest in evangelism and church planting in the 10/40 Window — where billions still haven’t heard the gospel.
• Church plants in rural India, for instance, can be launched for around $1,000 a year — a fraction of U.S. costs.

Effective altruism, combined with a Christian mission, can multiply eternal impact.

A Call to Stewardship

JD isn’t asking believers to give out of guilt, but out of wisdom and love.

• Pray: Seek God’s will for your giving.
• Research: Use tools like GiveWell.org or Christians for Impact.
• Act: Make generosity strategic, not sentimental.

“God doesn’t need our money. He wants our hearts. And stewarding our resources effectively is one way we show Him we care about what He cares about.” — JD Bauman

Learn More

Christians for Impact — resources for careers & giving.
Podcast: Hear from leaders like Henry Kaestner (Caylx Fund, Faith Driven Investor).
Conference: November in DC and London. Affordable, inspiring, and practical.

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