Measure twice, cut once, as any builder will tell you. For David Weekley, founder of David Weekley Homes, the need for accurate measurement is fundamental to building a strong foundation.

Having grown up watching his father give a donation at church every Sunday, Weekley learned that “giving back was important” at an early age. After deciding that he had made enough and realizing that he was “no longer motivated by the money alone,” Weekley looked to another “avenue to keep [his] energy and excitement up – philanthropy. Today, Weekley is intent on making sure that he doesn’t leave behind a “big pot of money” that somebody else will have to give away. “I wanted to spend it now, while I’m here, and I can have some impact with it,” he says.

Early in his philanthropy, when he needed to focus his efforts, Weekley turned toward the Boy Scouts and other character-based programs. The Boy Scouts philosophy resonated for a man known for his tough love, generous spirit, and deep desire to help others.

When Weekley made a major shift to giving in 1990, he took his business skills, including his commitment to measurement, with him. Although others may debate the nuances of bringing business skills into the social sector, this hard-driving, results-oriented businessman proudly commits 50% of his annual income and time to his philanthropy, and fully expects to see a return on that investment. For Weekley, that return must be measured with data, which, he sees as the “only way to know what’s working.”

With a penchant for scaling organizations, Weekley prizes leaders who are honest about their needs and who have an “inbred desire to do more.” it was a similar desire that drove Weekley to expand beyond his local Houston focus and begin giving in Africa. He highlights his work in Rwanda with the One Acre Fund as “breathtaking.”

Weekley’s three pieces of advice for new philanthropist? First, “educate yourself in philanthropy,” second, “start making significant bets now” and third, “go forward with confidence and energy.”