Before celebrating or making personal purchases, Dean Sweetman's first financial move after his nine-figure exit was to establish and fund a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). This pre-planned act of charity underscores a disciplined approach to generosity that treats giving as a primary financial obligation, not an afterthought.
Despite understanding the financial arbitrage of borrowing at a low rate to invest for a higher return, Dean Sweetman chooses to be nearly debt-free. He buys cars and homes outright, prioritizing the psychological benefit of simplicity and sleeping well over maximizing returns through leverage, a counter-intuitive stance for a savvy businessman.
Dean Sweetman views his wealth as a tool for immediate, life-changing impact. He regularly gives tips as large as $10,000 to service workers he meets, such as single mothers in airport restaurants. This is not for a tax deduction but is a personal commitment to a "generous lifestyle," creating moments of profound and unexpected blessing.
Tithely’s growth strategy involves acquiring smaller companies to build an all-in-one solution. Unconventionally, they actively avoid deals where founders want to exit. They prioritize retaining the founding team to help integrate the software and drive the next phase of the journey, viewing founder talent as a key asset, not a redundancy.
Dean Sweetman frames capitalism as a moral imperative. He argues that biblical commands to care for the poor presuppose that individuals have a surplus. Therefore, a system that allows for personal wealth accumulation (capitalism) is the only one that enables individuals to make the personal choice to be generous, a core tenet of his faith.
Dean Sweetman advises founders of growing, profitable (EBITDA positive) companies to take personal liquidity during funding rounds. He sees this not as a lack of faith in the business, but as a prudent way to reward the founders and senior team for years of hard work, which de-risks their personal lives and benefits the company long-term.
As a major donor, Dean Sweetman instructs his church not to incorporate his large donations into their annual operating budget (OpEx). Instead, they should treat the funds as capital expenditures (CapEx) for specific projects like building renovations, ensuring long-term financial stability and preventing reliance on unpredictable windfalls.
Dean Sweetman posits a theological reason for generosity beyond helping others. He believes God designed the system of giving to "cleanse the soul" and prevent money from "owning you." The act of regularly giving money away is a spiritual discipline that keeps wealth in its proper perspective, ensuring it remains a tool rather than becoming a god.