Don's Thoughts

The Power of a Life Verse

Those of you who have followed my career for some time know that I strive to live each day guided by my life verse, “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). It is this verse that has helped me discover and frame my purpose. Throughout time, people have benefited from reflecting on their purpose as defined by their faith, tradition, or philosophy. My verse is deeply connected to my faith as well as my childhood experiences.

This verse has driven my deep desire to serve at scale. Over the years, DLP Capital has grown in many ways, but one thing has remained the same: the dedication to create solutions for America’s working families. Growing up in a working family and moving 37 times by the time I was 17 helped shape my view that safe, stable, attainable housing can make a meaningful difference in the life of a child. Today, DLP Capital is working to boldly solve the attainable housing crisis. Together with our investors, sponsors, builders, developers, and borrowers, we are not just making housing attainable; we are building Thriving Communities. This work is more than the work of a private real estate investment fund. We believe that building Thriving Communities enriches lives, creates opportunities, increases safety and security, and builds connection and community. The net effect of this is an increase in fulfillment for our residents. We believe this allows residents to live fully, while targeting better-than-average market returns for our investors. This is Purpose over Profit. This is Impact Investing.

Thriving Communties

With more than 130 million Americans living in rental communities, the need for Thriving Communities is greater than ever, especially when we look at some of the challenges faced by residents:

• More than 50% are cost-burdened, or simply put, cannot afford their rent. They are spending more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities, with 61% living paycheck to paycheck with no savings.

• The average renter moves every 15-16 months, meaning there’s little to no time to place roots in a home or community.

• More than 30% describe themselves as being depressed, and more than 50% as unhappy.

Through Thriving Communities, DLP can meaningfully and positively impact residents. We’ve developed a framework to define the essential elements of a Thriving Community Life.

For those who choose, this is an optional benefit provided as a part of Building Thriving Communities. All are welcome, participation is voluntary.

• Attainable Housing: Rent is below 30% of the area median income (AMI), bringing families above the rent-burdened threshold and affording more room for the basics of wellness, education, transportation, and leisure.

• Banking, Lending, and Investments: People can access financial literacy programs, community banking, loans, and investment opportunities targeting passive income through strong returns and distributions.

• Companies that Create Jobs: Jobs are available within the community to support residents. Job creation is primarily the product of entrepreneurial small businesses.

• Deep Connection: Residents are happy and fulfilled thanks to deep connections with others. These connections include family, friends, neighbors, and a deep connection to their purpose.

• Education: Education is highly valued, especially education to develop skills valued by society. Emphasis is placed on children’s literacy, especially reading at grade level.

• Family: Opportunities to deepen relationships and build extraordinary families, lives, careers, and legacies strengthen families.

• Government: Thriving Communities are aligned with and find allyship in local government, which offers critical support for the community's overall strength.

• Healthcare and Nutrition: Physical and mental fitness is considered paramount. Healthcare, nutritional food, and wellness education are available.

• Impact: People are living lives of significance, finding community with their neighbors, and making a difference in the lives of others.

• Jesus: People have the opportunity to build a relationship with God and may choose to accept Jesus as their Savior. They are invited to participate in small group discipleship and church. 

We have shared this vision with others and launched the concept at the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) in January 2023, but we are still in the early stages of defining success outcomes, and we invite your input. Here is what we have come up with so far:

Success Outcomes:

• Rent is affordable, aiming for less than 30% of the area median income, below the cost-burden threshold

• 84% of residents self-report feeling connected to their community

• 80% count at least two of their neighbors as friends

• 50% are involved in a club or group within the community

• 80% of residents renew their lease annually, affording greater opportunities to develop lasting connections

• 80% of students are reading at grade level by 3rd grade, thanks in part to educational initiatives within the community

• 50% of residents have three months of savings and an increased level of financial literacy

Our goal for Thriving Communities is ambitious. By 2030, we expect to make a positive impact on 1 million residents, with 10x that impact in 2035. By 2040, DLP Capital will have brought Thriving Communities to 25 million residents. I have full faith in my team and our ability to execute our mission.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we’re building Thriving Community Life for our residents, watch our recent Capital Dinner presentation in St. Augustine.

WHAT IS A THRIVING COMMUNITY

The Value of Discernment

At DLP Capital, we have 10 core values, beginning with Driven for Greatness and leading us through to Servant Leadership. Embodied by every member of the DLP Capital team, these values have become more than just words–they are the essence of who we are as an organization and a key to our never-ending pursuit of extraordinary execution.

Today, I want to introduce another core value that’s paramount to an extraordinary organization: the value of discernment.

In Proverbs 3:5-6 and James 1:5, we learn that discernment is a gift from God that refers to the ability to perceive and understand spiritual truths or make wise decisions based on God’s will. It involves evaluating the concepts of good versus evil, truth versus falsehood, and determining the optimal choices in alignment with God’s will.

The ability to exercise discernment and make sound decisions is foundational to creating a culture of trust, reliability, integrity, and overall performance within any organization. Without the ability to evaluate and gather information and make educated decisions, it is very hard to thrive, especially in a fast-paced organization, where there are not always clear written guidelines or an example to follow. Discernment starts with aligning your decisions around the values and goals of the organization. Those who exercise discernment can clearly navigate complex situations, making well-informed choices that support an organization’s overall values and goals, while driving performance.

Discernment is rooted in thoroughly understanding the values and goals that drive an organization or team. This means digging deep, asking the right–and sometimes tough–questions, and having a founder’s mentality to ensure you make the best or right decision. It is a value that requires discipline, practice, and the motivation to pursue excellence, even when it isn’t the easiest path forward.

If you’re interested in learning more about the essential role of discernment in business, here are some of my favorite books on the subject. 

• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't by Jim Collins
• The Effective Executive by Peter Trucker
• Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Ram Charan
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Taking on the Trailblaze Challenge to Benefit Make-A-Wish

Since 2022, the DLP Capital team has made an impact in a pretty unique way: hiking the foothills of North Carolina. For the third year in a row, I, along with 20 team members, spent the last few months training and fundraising for the Make-a-Wish Foundation’s Trailblaze Challenge—a humbling 28.3-mile journey.

They call the hike a challenge for a reason; it is a true test of physical and mental endurance–and that’s the point. No matter how tired we were or how much our bodies ached, there was a clear (though at times very distant) finish line to our suffering. The children helped by the Make-a-Wish Foundation can’t say the same. The Trailblaze Challenge is a tangible reminder that the daily challenges and discomforts many of us complain about pale in comparison to those battled by wish kids each and every day.

Serving as the title sponsor for this year's hike, DLP Capital raised over $50,000 to help make wishes come true for critically ill children–just shy of our goal of $52,500. With wishes costing an average of around $7,500, we were able to make an impact on the lives of at least six wish children and their families.

In recognition of the over $250,000 DLP Capital has fundraised for the challenge over the past three years, the Central and Western North Carolina chapter of Make-A-Wish honored us with our own star. The star Aquila RA 19h 40m 18s D15’ 32’ is now named DLP Capital, with the framed certificate from the International Star Registry proudly displayed in our St. Augustine office.

With your help, we can make an even bigger impact. Our team is still gathering donations via our fundraising page below. Every single dollar brings another child a step closer to seeing their wish come true.

Donate Now