Ben began consulting with church and non-profit organizations on February 1, 2009. He continues a relationship with the Episcopal Church Foundation for planned and capital giving support. He also consults with churches and institutions, including the Diocese of San Diego, to help them strengthen their annual giving programs, event planning, developing or expanding planned giving programs, and referrals to consultants for capital giving services.

On July 1, 2004, The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, appointed Ben as Missioner for Planned Giving. Ben’s role was to assist Episcopal churches and agencies in building their financial resources so future ministries will be assured. Ben met with church leaders, prospective donors and allied professionals on a daily basis. He regularly delivered small group presentations throughout the six counties of the LA Diocese. As of December 31, 2008 we were involved in over $11.5 million in life income gifts and 1,580 new bequests. On September 1, 2006, Bishop Bruno appointed Ben as Missioner for Stewardship & Development. He expanded Ben’s duties to include annual, planned, capital and outreach giving. The Diocese offered churches and agencies a full-service development office. Assisting in this process were 12 experienced clergy and lay leaders of the Program Group on Stewardship & Development. Diocesan staff members and our four Diocesan Bishops continued to serve as consultants in these four areas of stewardship growth. Professional advisory services were also available through the Diocesan Stewardship Development Office. Services included leadership training, presentations, media resources, and assistance in developing funding programs. Support from a 44 member Planned Giving Advisory Council of allied professionals was also available. . On March 18, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Corporation of the Diocese assigned Ben to create a fund development program to help them expand their support of churches and other ministries through foundation and individual grants. Ben is allocated 80% of his time meeting with potential donor prospects, funders and support organizations. A three-year funding strategy was in place, and potential supporters were responding. Ben resigned on January 31, 2009.

From April 1995 to July 2001, Ben was Associate for Stewardship at The Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel, California. In that capacity Ben was responsible for annual giving, planned giving, capital funds, corporation and foundation grants. His significant achievements during his ministry at Our Saviour were: (1) Annual giving increased more than 100% (2) More than 50 households included the church in their wills and estate plans (3) He helped raise more than $3 million for capital improvements, including $585,000 in estate gifts (4) Ben created a $250,000 perpetual stained glass window fund (5) He raised $400,000 in corporation and foundation grants in support of outreach programs, (6) and he helped establish the San Gabriel Community Foundation.

Ben spent 44 years in the grocery business, advancing from bagger to company president. The past 17 years he has been involved in “giving back” through training and placing 400 disadvantaged people in full time supermarket jobs with benefits, and serving people in the religious and non-profit communities.