It is with deep sadness and profound gratitude that I share FM Financial’s founding president, Dr. Stanley Thompson, went to be with the Lord on June 15, 2025. We grieve with his wife, Janet, children Steven, David, and Jill, and extended family, and will continue to surround them with love and prayers. We have no doubt Stan was welcomed into heaven with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
After briefly serving as a high school literature teacher, Stan began his service to the Free Methodist denomination at its Publishing House in 1968 as the youngest executive ever hired. In 1975, he was asked to launch the denomination’s first Department of Planned Giving, which set the course for the remainder of his professional career. In 1981, Stan went to Spring Arbor University to serve as its Vice President for Institutional Advancement, successfully leading a $10 million dollar campaign.
Because of his extraordinary administrative skills, his rich background in planned giving, and his uncanny ability to locate and engage talented young leadership, Stan was selected by his denomination in 1987 to establish and manage The Free Methodist Foundation (now known as FM Financial). Everything FM Financial does today traces its roots back Stan and his incredible vision for what this organization could be.
Stan led with humility, but inspired excellence. He hired qualified financial professionals who, like him, cared about mission and stewardship as much as returns and retirement. And he treated his staff like family. Today, our staff continues to enjoy Stan’s tradition of holding a weekly break simply to eat, chat, and be together. A prolific writer and lover of poetry, Stan’s red editing pen will always be remembered fondly.
During Stan’s tenure, FM Financial experienced extraordinary growth:
- More than $20 million was given in outright gifts to various ministries
- Investments in the Free Methodist Investment and Loan Fund grew from $9.5 million to $38.6 million; more than $35 million was loaned to over 150 FM ministries
- The Endowment for Free Methodist Ministries increased from $350,000 to over $9 million
- Funds designated through life income plans increased from $6.7 million to $23.9 million
- Assets entrusted to FM Financial for investment increased from $45 million to $176 million
- Donor advised funds were added as an option for charitable giving
- A 5600 sq. ft. addition was built at FM Financial’s headquarters in Spring Arbor, MI
- King Trust Company, which later transitioned to become GuideStream Financial, was established
Upon Stan’s retirement in 2003, David Goodnight (Chairman of FM Financial’s Board of Directors), remarked, “During his 16 years with the Foundation, Dr. Thompson has provided strong and consistent leadership. In his quiet and methodical manner, and motivated by his personal love for Christ and the Church, he has projected stability and integrity so important to those who look to the Foundation as a trusted fiduciary.”
It wasn’t until after Stan’s retirement that FM Financial began to use the phrase Stewardship Well Done. But looking back, it seems this phrase was inspired by how Stan lived his life before his Lord, his family, his church, and this organization. He left FM Financial a rich example and legacy that we will continue to build upon with God’s help.
Well done, Stan. We will miss you.
Mark Olson
President / CEO