The Holy Spirit Guides Stewardship Journey

The Holy Spirit guides Peter and Michelle Baldwin on their stewardship journey

“You can never out-give God.” This observation by an impactful priest inspired and challenged Peter and Michelle Baldwin’s philanthropic journey. Peter and Michelle’s stories may be very different, and their approaches to giving unique, but their shared perspective on first fruits has made generosity a foundational  part of their marriage, business,  and parenting philosophy. Members of Shrine of St. Francis Xavier & Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Peter and Michelle’s stewardship journeys started small — and from very different places.

Early lessons in giving

Raised in the Protestant faith, Peter’s giving story began with his great-grandmother Claire’s generous spirit. Though she relied on state support in her home country of Switzerland, she always found enough to give her grandchildren and great-grandchildren thoughtful gifts. Later, Peter discovered she saved up all year to afford the purchases. It was “Great-granny Claire’s generous spirit” that taught him his first lessons in humble giving. These lessons continued in Peter’s childhood through his father, who taught him about stewardship from a young age. From his father, Peter learned that “Comparison is the thief of joy,” especially when it comes to finances. “He taught us that we would always be giving, and he made it easy.” Michelle’s giving story began as a child in the Catholic Church. Her father died when she was just 10, leaving her family uncertain of the future. Michelle was able to attend Catholic schools through the generosity of others and that began God working on her heart to establish a commitment to giving.

Unique perspectives

Peter converted to Catholicism, and as a couple, Peter and Michelle gave to their parish regularly. However, it soon became apparent their approaches to tithing differed. Because Peter’s family had consistently prioritized tithing, it had become somewhat automatic and transactional. For Michelle, whose childhood did not allow for regular tithing, giving always came from the heart. In the earlier years as young parents of four children, Peter’s mathematical brain often worried about their ability to give consistently. But even when the math didn’t add up, as Peter would say, Michelle made room for giving. “Michelle is one of my giving heroes,” says Peter, who celebrates his wife’s profound faith and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Together, they were devoted to giving regularly, even when Peter established his partnership  with the architectural firm AMDG. The couple agrees they’ve been inspired by the Holy Spirit to combine their talents in the shared goal of building God’s kingdom.

A legacy of giving

Over 30 years ago, partnering with founder and former University of Michigan Architecture School Professor Calvin Jen, Peter took a leap of faith in a new business venture. During their first discussions, Calvin and Peter deliberated about how future potential profits would be spent. Peter shares that Calvin had a clear vision from the beginning, saying, “We’re going to give charitably off the top. First fruit. And then we’re going to give back to our team members. And then we’re going to reinvest in the firm. And then we’re going to bonus ourselves last,” he remembers. “And I remember thinking…that seems consistent with faith…and that has patterned how we’ve done things ever since.”

The name of the firm itself is an acronym for the Latin phrase Ad majorem Dei gloriam, meaning, “To the greater glory of God.” This foundational principle and its practice showed Peter the practicality of giving in a business environment. “It’s doable. And it’s scalable,” he says. Though it may be different for Fortune 500 companies than for a small business, “You can contribute to creating access for other families with more financial need.” “That really was the motivator for how we got involved with the Catholic Foundation,” he adds. “And many of the things that AMDG’s been able to support, Michelle and I have also been able to support.” 

Supporting faith-based education

Peter and Michelle’s most recent endowment supports St. Paul the Apostle School in Grand Rapids, where their daughter is a teacher. This new endowment with the Catholic Foundation  of West Michigan combines their passion for leaving  a lasting legacy of giving with their belief in the power  of faith-based education. “One way to give with our hearts is through education. That’s why we work on scholarship funds at Catholic schools,” shares Michelle. “The future of our Church is in the children and  helping to raise Catholic leaders, families, and businesses. This benefits us all.” 

For Peter, this newest endowment is, “A pretty natural confluence of personal and professional priorities.”

Recent lessons on giving 

Though Peter and Michelle were initially intimidated by the thought of setting up an endowment, they quickly learned that they could take it step by step, dollar by dollar — and that the Catholic Foundation simplifies the process for ease and accessibility. “The Foundation is there for you every step of the way,” says Michelle. “They are truly your partner, helping you determine what level of giving works for you and making it grow with their resources and experience.”

In their marriage and in business, Peter and Michelle continue to prioritize philanthropy. They have also passed on this priority to their children. “I knew we always wanted them to give of their time and talent, and not just their treasure,” says Peter, who has taken the children on mission trips to help them better understand populations in need. 

With decades of giving under their belts, Peter and Michelle have learned many lessons about faith-filled charitable endeavors. “God loves a cheerful giver,” says Peter, clarifying that this does not mean someone who is happy or silly, but joyful. “It’s an expression of gratitude,” he adds. “Don’t give to anything if your heart’s not in it.” 

Michelle advises potential givers: “If it’s on your heart, go for it. The Catholic Foundation will take care of the details.”

As originally seen in Generous Hearts Fall Newsletter 2023