The Conviction

For Omri Thomas, the question has never been whether to give, it has been how to give in a way that creates durable, compounding impact rather than a series of individual transactions. A Donor-Advised Fund, he says, transformed charitable giving from something transactional into something strategic. 'I wanted to set aside assets that had already been dedicated to God's work and create a growing pool of capital that could support ministry and charitable initiatives for years to come,' he explains. 'That requires a vehicle, not just an intention.'
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The Complexity

Omri held meaningful shareholdings in private companies, Abax Investments and, more recently, Plato Coffee. These were not listed securities that could be easily liquidated, nor were they the kind of assets most charitable structures are designed to receive. The value was real and growing but converting it into giving required a platform capable of accepting and managing private equity interests. Waiting to donate cash from a future sale also carried an opportunity cost: all the growth and income that would accrue between now and that future point would remain on a personal balance sheet, rather than being compounding within a charitable vehicle.
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The Solution

Tree of Life's ability to receive not only cash and listed investments, but also interests in private companies, provided the pathway Omri was looking for. By contributing a portion of his Abax shareholding directly, the growth in value of those shares began occurring within a Kingdom-focused vehicle (Tree of Life Foundation) rather than on his personal balance sheet. Dividends generated by the shares have since contributed to Tree of Life's broader operations, while a portion has been allocated to Omri's personal DAF for grant-making to causes he cares about. The structure functions exactly as intended: the original contribution has continued to generate impact year after year, without requiring further action. More recently, he followed the same approach with a portion of his shareholding in Plato Coffee, demonstrating that the mechanism works across different types of private business interests, not just investment management firms.
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The Impact

The most important shift, for Omri, is conceptual. By contributing appreciating assets rather than waiting to donate cash at a later date, the growth and income that would otherwise have accrued to him personally are instead being directed toward Kingdom purposes, compounding in a vehicle that exists specifically to support charitable work.

'Rather than simply making a once-off donation, the underlying asset has continued to grow and generate income,' he explains. 'That is a fundamentally different kind of generosity.' The DAF allows him to retain advisory input on where grants are directed, recommending support for the ministries and charitable organisations he is most connected to, while the underlying asset continues to do its work. It is, as he puts it, a legacy worth building.