The En Factor Podcast features conversations with entrepreneurs who have started, stumbled and succeeded.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Chad Jenkins, the visionary president and CEO of SeedSpark, a groundbreaking technology company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience, Chad shares his remarkable journey from launching a landscaping business in middle school to founding multiple successful ventures, including SeedSpark and JenCon Builders. Learn how Chad’s unique Growth FlyWheel principlesâ„¢ have transformed businesses by removing inefficiencies, setting audacious goals, and leveraging strategic collaborations. Discover the innovative strategies behind SeedSpark’s mission to provide technology solutions that impact companies’ bottom lines, and Chad’s commitment to empowering SMBs through Charlotte Growth Partners and SMBHR. Don’t miss this episode filled with valuable insights and actionable advice for entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Chapters
00:00 • Introduction: Welcome to The En Factor!
01:16 • Introducing Today’s Guest: Phoenix Hafen
02:17 • Welcome to The En Factor, Phoenix!
02:45 • Background on UI Charitable: Building Philanthropic Bridges for Entrepreneurs
05:00 • The Inefficiencies of Donating Cash From a Tax Perspective
08:00 • How Phoenix and UI Charitable Collaborate with Financial Advisors
09:27 • Phoenix’s Advice on When to Start Thinking About Philanthropy as an Entrepreneur
10:18 • Donor Advised Funds: How They Work to Promote Financially Healthy Giving
19:55 • The Current State of Philanthropy in the United States
26:20 • Phoenix’s Advice for Young Entrepreneurs Wanting To Give Back
28:20 • Phoenix’s Background and How His Perspective on Philanthropy Has Changed
30:30 • Phoenix’s Plans for the Future Going Forward
33:30 • Phoenix’s Final Piece of Advice for Current and Aspiring Entrepreneurs
34:35 • Where Our Audience Can Connect with Phoenix and UI Charitable
35:25 • Wrapping Up with Dr. White: Thank You for Listening to The En Factor!
Episode takeaways
- The best giving starts by asking which assets should fund the gift, not how much generosity feels appropriate. Appreciated assets are often far more powerful than cash because they unlock both a deduction and the avoidance of capital gains tax.
- The real advantage is separating the tax event from the giving event. Vehicles like donor advised funds work because they let you capture the tax benefit now and decide the charitable deployment later. That separation creates flexibility that direct giving cannot.
- Not all philanthropy has to be a grant. Some of the most effective charitable capital can be deployed through loans, impact investments, or asset purchases that recycle value back into future giving.
- Many donors cannot or will not write a large check, but they can often give an illiquid or troublesome asset. The trick is to ask what asset they have, not just how much cash they have. Fundraising gets constrained when nonprofits only speak the language of cash. Creative asset sourcing can reveal much larger gifts and solve problems for both sides at once.
- Early-stage entrepreneurs do not need to wait until they are wealthy to begin philanthropy. The first step is figuring out which problems, geographies, or communities they actually care about.
- Purpose precedes scale. People who start building a giving identity early are more likely to make philanthropy intentional later instead of random or performative.
- Entrepreneurs already know how to think rigorously about building value, but that discipline often disappears when they give. The opportunity is to bring the same intentional design to philanthropy that they bring to business.
The En Factor® Podcast
Conversations with Entrepreneurs
Hosted by Dr. Rebecca White
Our audience of aspiring and established entrepreneurs are inspired to persevere throughout their entrepreneurial journey. You will hear first-hand stories of success, resilience through failure, and how to become a master in your field.
