Randy Nyce, CAP®, is the Managing Director for the Souderton, Pennsylvania office. He serves families, businesses, nonprofits and congregations in the eastern Pennsylvania region with stewardship and charitable gift planning, while also supporting our Virginia office in Harrisonburg. Randy draws from his experience as an educator, nonprofit director, and church lay leader. Prior to joining the Everence team in 2007, Randy served at the Historic Mennonite Meetinghouse in Germantown (PA), Philadelphia Mennonite High School (PA), Eastern Mennonite High School, and with the Hopi Mennonite Church Council and Hopi Mission School in northern Arizona.

Most people don’t think of their generosity as a story.

It usually starts in a much simpler way—someone asks for help, a need shows up in the community, or a cause catches their attention at the right time. They respond, give what they can, and move on.

Over time, though, those moments add up. And without ever planning it, a pattern begins to form. The organizations someone supports, the causes they return to, and the situations that prompt them to give often start to reflect something deeper: their experiences, their values, and the things that have shaped their life.

In that sense, giving is rarely random. It tells a story about who someone is and what has mattered to them along the way.

Giving Often Tells a Story You Haven’t Named

Most people don’t consciously think about their giving as a pattern. They respond when a need arises, support causes that come across their path, or give when something feels important in the moment. That kind of generosity matters. But it is often reactive rather than intentional. Over time, a series of disconnected decisions can quietly replace what could have been a clear, consistent reflection of values.

Intentional generosity starts when someone steps back and asks a different kind of question: What impact do I actually want my life and resources to have over time?

What Intentional Giving Begins to Look Like

When people move from reactive giving to intentional giving, the shift is not necessarily about giving more. It is about giving with more clarity and direction. Instead of only responding when something comes up, people begin to think in terms of patterns and priorities:

  • Supporting causes that reflect long-standing personal values, not just one-time needs
  • Planning giving as part of a broader financial picture, not just what is left over
  • Looking at the full range of resources available, not just monthly income

One of the most common blind spots is assuming that giving only happens from income. If there is money left at the end of the month, people give. If there is not, they assume giving has to wait. In practice, however, many people have more flexibility than they realize.

Depending on the situation, giving can sometimes be structured through retirement accounts, appreciated investments, or longer-term estate planning. Each approach looks different, but they all reflect the same principle: generosity does not have to be limited to what shows up in a paycheck.

Turning Awareness Into Action

Once people begin to see giving differently, the next step is clarity. A good place to start is simply asking yourself:

  • What experiences have shaped what I care about most?
  • What organizations or communities have had a lasting impact on my life?
  • If someone looked at my financial decisions, what story would they see?
  • What do I want my giving to reflect about my values over time?

These questions often reveal that generosity is already present in people’s lives — it just hasn’t always been organized or intentional.

Where Everence Financial Fits In

This is where conversation becomes important.

At Everence, the conversation begins with what matters most to you — not with products or plans. From there, the focus shifts to how financial decisions can support those priorities in a more intentional way.

For some people, that may mean creating more consistency in their giving. For others, it may involve understanding how different financial resources can be used more effectively over time. In many cases, it is simply about bringing clarity to decisions they already care deeply about.

Your Story Is Already Being Written

Legacy is often thought of as something far in the future.

In reality, it is being shaped right now through everyday decisions about how people spend, save, invest, and give.

The encouraging part is that meaningful alignment does not require dramatic change. It often begins with a shift in awareness and a willingness to think more intentionally about what is already being done.

Because when financial decisions and personal values start moving in the same direction, giving stops being reactive and starts becoming a consistent expression of a life already in progress.

If you’re interested in contacting Everence, contact Randy Nyce here.

Listen to Randy’s full interview below.