The Hodgdon Family: Four Generations of Family Business Changed by Generosity
They didn’t just pass down their family business, they passed down their family values along with it.
The Hodgdon family built their business on the core values of generosity and treating others they way they’d want to be treated. With each new generation, the future business owners were able to grow up watching their parents live out these values and hold faithfully to their commitment to biblical stewardship. By the time the business was theirs to steward, the values were their own as well.
Read More of The Hodgdon Story ⬇️
The Hodgdon family shares the story of Hodgdon Powder Company, founded in the 1940s by Bruce and Amy Hodgdon and carried forward through multiple generations. From the beginning, their business has been rooted in clear values: faithfulness, generosity, and the belief that what they manage ultimately belongs to God.
Through a donor advised fund (DAF), the Hodgdon family has built a strategic approach to giving. Their company tithes consistently, directing a portion of its profits into a DAF so generosity remains central to their operations.
A donor advised fund is a giving vehicle that helps individuals, families, and businesses steward generosity with intention. In this story, you will see how a DAF supports consistent giving and prayerful decision-making, embedding generosity directly into the company mission.
For the Hodgdon family, using a donor advised fund has helped reinforce their mission, protect their values, and pass a culture of generosity on to the next generation. From reviewing grant requests together to praying over decisions as a family, their DAF serves as a tool for both stewardship and discipleship.
This video offers a real-life answer to the question, “What is a donor advised fund?” by showing how one family has used it to align faith, business, and legacy, ensuring generosity remains part of who they are and what they are known for.
Dive Deeper: More Hodgdon Lessons:
The Power of Nonliquid Assets and Maximizing Generosity
Chris Hodgdon explains how the family has made a bigger ministry impact by contributing nonliquid assets, like real estate, into a donor advised fund.
Joel Hodgdon’s Lessons as a Next Generation Business Owner
Joel is following in the footsteps of three generations of faithful, generosity-focused family business leadership. How does he view the previous values and handle the weight of carrying on a family business after nearly 80 years?
A Tool for Every Family: How the Hodgdons Use a DAF
The Hodgdon family uses a donor advised fund (DAF) to coordinate and collaborate on their giving. The DAF adds structure so that generosity becomes a multigenerational rhythm.
Motivation: Hear the Hodgdon Powder Company’s Mission Statement
The Hodgdon’s third generation business owner, Chris, and his fourth generation business owner son, Joel, read their carefully crafted mission statement reflecting their biblical and generosity values.
Incorporating Family Generosity with Intentional Impact: Cause Champion Stories
Want to see a story of how families at The Signatry are using these generosity strategies in conjunction with solving a specific problem in a cause area dear to their heart? Check out our cause champion series for a lesson on becoming a cause champion.
Explore Cause Champion Families at The Signatry