Contact: Matt Baxter, Mission Increase Foundation, 503-906-1622

PORTLAND, Or., Aug. 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, recently declared that the world is becoming increasingly philanthropic as the wealthy donate more. Buffet himself gave roughly $38 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last year.

For the second year in a row, Buffett agreed to auction a "power lunch" on eBay to benefit a San Francisco homeless charity his late wife supported. This year two bidders paid more than $650,000 for the privilege of dining with the well-known investor.

Is the eBay donors' gift evidence of Buffet's claim of a more philanthropic world? Or could it be that today's giving runs the risk of not being quite as philanthropic as in the past?

"Much of fundraising today is transactional," notes Dave Farquhar, Executive Director of Mission Increase Foundation. "If you give, you'll receive 'this' in return. Charities certainly benefit from this, but in the end it's the donor who gets cheated - something that only Jesus talks about."

Jesus considered all giving to be an "investment," something that would grow through the heart of a generous donor. "The Bible reminds us we own nothing and we are to be faithful stewards of what the Owner has entrusted to us," Farquhar observes. "There is no better calling."

"Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than receive. That is the heart of Transformational Giving- giving that makes a long-term difference in the heart of a faithful donor," says Farquhar. "We are training Christian ministries to focus on this key transformational element."

Mission Increase Foundation believes giving has the power to transform the giver, the organization that receives the gift, and the clients that the ministry serves. "Transformational Giving impacts all three parties in the giving cycle," says Farquhar. "The power of Transformational Giving is that it can change individuals, organizations and communities at their core levels - from their vision to their hearts."

Farquhar adds, "Giving is learned, not latent-donors experience this transformation in no small part because of the way nonprofits ask. Charities, regardless of size, need to watch how they build relationships as well as how they ask for a gift. When they ask for a gift, it should produce transformational, generous giving."

For more information about Transformational Giving, and to read success stories from Mission Increase Foundation, visit www.missionincrease.org.