Don's Thoughts

In September, the DLP team traveled to Asheville, NC to lead some of the nation’s top multifamily developers and operators in workshops on Building Thriving Communities. In the days and months we spent preparing for our Mastermind, to educate others on transforming lives through housing, we didn't know that Hurricane Helene would visit alongside us, transforming lives in her own way.

Our team and partners attending the event were all able to get out of harm’s way ahead of Helene’s landfall, and only a handful of DLP-managed properties sustained property damage. Just days later, our team and residents were again blessed to remain relatively unscathed as Milton tore through the Southeast.

Throughout both storms, the Dream. Live. Prosper. Communities team worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of all residents in affected communities above all else, going above and beyond to assist others. 

While we are deeply blessed that our employees and residents are safe, hundreds of families are now faced with the unimaginable task of rebuilding their lives. If you’re looking for a way to make an impact on ongoing hurricane relief efforts, the DLP Positive Returns Foundation will be directing the distribution of 100% of all donations made to DLPgives* to Samartian’s Purse to support the organization’s relief efforts across NC, GA, and FL.

If you’re ready to give or want to learn more, visit the campaign below.

*DLPgives is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) account established with GiveClear Foundation, a 501(c)3 DAF Sponsor, offering inventors the opportunity to participate in DLP Capital’s philanthropic programs, as directed by the DLP Positive Returns Foundation.

Visit the Campaign

What Makes DLP's Impact Investments Unique

It won’t surprise you that a quick Google search for “private real estate impact investing” will reveal that DLP Capital is far from the only firm looking to impact America’s affordable housing crisis. Transforming lives through Thriving Communities may be what people know the most about us, but it’s far from the only way we strive to make an impact through investing. Arguably, the most significant investment we make—and where I hope our impact is felt the most—is in people.

This Summer, we hosted our Building an Extraordinary Family event in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, offering DLP investors and partners a unique opportunity to strengthen their relationships, get clear on their purpose, build the foundation of their financial legacies, and much more. This week, we’ll host our annual Extraordinary Impact & Legacy Event, headlined by notable speakers, including one of my favorite authors (and recent guest on my podcast), Mark Batterson.

Earlier this year, we decided to find a way to magnify our impact on real estate sponsors and multifamily operators. Our Building Thriving Communities Mastermind did just that, sharing insights and strategies on developing and managing Thriving Communities, panel discussions about the future of build-to-rent and manufactured housing communities, workshops on underwriting, and other vital topics.

During my presentation, 10xing Your Business in Seven Years or Less, I shared the strategies that have driven DLP to grow by 50% for 18 consecutive years. One of the crucial elements of success I shared with the audience might surprise you: presence. I want you to think about the next two things I’m going to share with you.

• The #1 regret of CEOs is that they did not spend more time with their kids.

• 55% of entrepreneurs and CEOs get divorced.

As I added these stats to the presentation, I was reminded of Matthew 16:26, “What is it to gain the world and lose your soul.” Running a highly disciplined, high-performing, elite organization is hard work. It is intense work requiring dedication, grit, clarity, and determination. However, it is through that high level of discipline that not only success but freedom is unlocked.

It’s not uncommon for people to ask me how I sustain working at such an intense pace. It’s simple: I do it because presence is the key to success. I work extraordinarily hard and run an organization that runs at the same pace so that there can be no conflict between where my feet are and where my head is at any given time. So that when I’m sharing dinner with my family, putting the boys to bed, or having Sabbath on the weekend, I can be present. The same is true for when I am in an L10 meeting, a core component of the Elite Execution System we run at DLP, or evaluating a potential deal. When you work with incredible discipline, you accomplish enough to free yourself from distractions and the stress of lingering to-do’s.

You can watch recordings of select sessions from this event, including the presentation I’ve been talking about here, on the event recap page. We’ll also be hosting a similar mastermind next year. More details to come.

Update on DLP Financial Ventures' Current Investment Opportunity

In 2022, I led the strategic decision to expand into the banking sector, forming a separate bank company that acquired, rebranded, and transformed a bank. Just two years later, DLP Bank has earned a spot on the prestigious Inc. 5000, a list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. 

Over the last month, I’ve hosted several webinars detailing the next steps of a planned expansion into the banking sector with DLP Financial Ventures, a newly formed bank holding company, including an exclusive investment opportunity. Since then, investor interest has been overwhelming. 

If you haven’t joined one of these webinars yet, we’ll be hosting another in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for that email. In the meantime, the DLP Investor Success Team can answer your questions. Once you schedule a meeting with them, they’ll share how to complete the necessary NDA.

Schedule a Meeting

Never Always Meet Your Heroes: John C. Maxwell & Mark Batterson at DLP

In July, I shared the story of how John C. Maxwell went from being my ideal mentor on paper to someone I have the privilege of learning from today. Since then, he has led DLP Capital team members in a discussion of his book High Road Leadership: Bringing People Together in a World That Divides and now also in a roundtable session as part of the Beyond Success program. Beyond Success is a leadership and personal growth movement through his non-profit, EQUIP. The DLP Positive Returns Foundation has offered this program to interested DLP team members over the last several weeks. John Maxwell spent nearly an hour sharing not only his wisdom but also his faith in what I’ve heard from many was one of the most unforgettable hours of their career. This week, his team will lead over 250 attendees, including DLP leaders, in a training on one of the most highly regarded books on leadership, The Five Levels of Leadership. A day later, he’ll take the stage at the DLP Extraordinary Impact and Legacy Event—a tough act to follow, but remarkably, my team has scheduled me to do just that. 

Mark Batterson, author of one of my all-time favorite books Chase the Lion will also be a speaker at the upcoming event, finally coming off my list of “Most Wanted Speakers” for the first time in the 18 years since I started this company. I reread this book once a year (and so does the DLP team), using it to realign my goals and personal compass. I know I have recommended a lot (a lot) of books over the years, but if you haven’t read this one yet, it’s a must. 

Mark also did me the honor of being a guest on my podcast earlier this month, where we talked about everything from tackling life’s challenges head-on to the approach he takes to setting meaningful goals. Listen to the full episode here.

Now Recruiting: DLP Accelerator Program

Recruitment is underway for the next Accelerator Program cohort, which begins in July of 2025.

This highly respected and competitive program offers a 24-month curriculum that blends intense professional education with real-world experience at DLP Capital. The team has its work cut out for it, with nearly 600 applications submitted so far for the upcoming cohort, which has room for only 6-10 future analysts.

If you know someone who might be a fit for the program or if you want to learn more, you can find the application and more information here.

DISCLOSURE

Statements are those of Don Wenner/DLP Capital only and are not guaranteed, nor should such statements be relied upon. Forward-looking statements are expressions and beliefs of DLP Capital and should not be relied upon. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Nothing in this is a solicitation or offer of solicitation. All investments in any DLP Capital Sponsored Fund are to be made after review of the PPM, OA, and subscription agreement. DLP Capital is not providing tax advice. Consult your tax and legal professional before making any investment decisions..