Who We Are

Heather Larson

FOUNDER

Heather brings more than 25 years of non-profit experience to LiveGive, including more than a decade of executive leadership and overseeing an annual budget of $77 million and 350 employees. Heather has worked for the American Red Cross and Willow Creek Community Church. She has overseen partnerships with more than 150 non-profit organizations around the world. As an executive, Heather:

• Launched Celebration of Hope (COH), an annual campaign to engage people in global causes. During the 10 years that Heather provided oversight for COH, it mobilized more than 20K volunteers annually and donated more than $21 million to global causes.

• Oversaw the distribution of almost $50 million in grants and donations.

• Led a $10 million Care Center project, which included fundraising, strategic planning, and the construction of a beautiful space that serves 17,000 under-resourced families each year.

• Created and led a performance-effectiveness system that maximized the impact of more than 100 projects, teams, and departments.

Heather’s leadership, vision, and strategy has always been about investing in great people around significant causes. Whether partnering with a local entrepreneur in Guatemala, brainstorming with a woman in a hut in Malawi, or problem-solving with a business owner in Chicago, Heather loves connecting generous people.

“We can all do our part for good in this world,” Heather says, “and it’s a privilege to come alongside people and organizations who are using their passions and generosity to influence positive change.”

Heather is an alumnus of Taylor University and Kellogg School of Business.

The LiveGive Team

Through her two decades of philanthropy experience, Heather has developed an expansive network of local and global experts throughout North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

LiveGive contracts with a trusted team of people to provide you with the best possible giving opportunities from around the world. Their expertise includes:

• Philanthropy research

• Financial viability of recipient organizations

• Cultural context | Understanding how financial gifts will affect the local community

• Best practices in community transformation

• Current updates on global issues

Our Guiding Principles

LiveGive is founded on the belief that getting to be part of a cause bigger than ourselves is one of life’s greatest joys. Generosity not only blesses the receiver, it blesses the giver as well. The ancient prophet Isaiah captured this concept well: If you extend yourself on behalf of the poor and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, "you will be like a spring whose waters never fail" (Isaiah 58:11). 

It’s Personal

No other family, foundation, or corporation is just like yours, and no algorithm or magic website can spit out the best giving plan for you. We listen to you so we can truly understand what you most desire in your giving.

Dream Big

You have dreams you want to accomplish through your giving. We can partner you with great people around the world who also have big dreams—but lack resources to see them come true. Giving is about so much more than writing a check. It’s about matching dreams with investments that will leave a legacy for you, your family, your company, and the world.

Numbers Plus

Numbers are important—but they’re not the only thing that matters. Our donors receive qualitative and quantitative reports about how their giving makes a positive difference in the world. We also understand the complexity of some causes and some chaotic parts of the world where things are just messier than a typical return on investment. We work together to provide customized impact reporting so you can see how your donation made a difference.

Do Good

In some situations, a donation can unintentionally do more harm than good. Our knowledge of each potential recipient helps ensure that your giving will help, not hurt, the causes you care about. We partner with donors and organizations to determine the scope and pace of a project—and to ensure each donation will be maximized.

Make the Hard Call

We are committed to candid feedback. When necessary, we’ll take steps to help you transition out of a giving relationship that is no longer mutually beneficial, protecting you, the recipient, and everyone involved.

Respect Everyone Always

We believe in the inherent potential of every individual. We treat each individual and organization with love and respect, encouraging them to live out their fullest potential.

Never Stop Exploring

Our world is a constantly changing place, and when it comes to causes and organizations, we uphold a posture of learning, seeking best practices, and exploring innovative ideas. We believe we can learn from anyone, and we function from a posture of humility.

Enjoy the Journey

Giving doesn’t have to be a headache or yet another thing on your to-do list. We engage with you from start to finish, so your philanthropy is life-giving and enjoyable. Let’s partner together and make giving one of the most enriching parts of your life!

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