The Lutheran Community Foundation

Congregations and Schools: Conference within ALDE Conference

This conference within the 2008 ALDE International Conference is designed for the specific needs of churches and schools. In these special sessions participants may choose to learn about capital campaigns or how to make an "ask" from a congregations standpoint. One keynote session in this exclusive conference asks the questions, "Will Our Children be Stewards?"  

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A Real Life Approach to Endowment Building by Cynthia M. Adams

A few months ago I was asked to sit on the Advisory Board for a local nonprofit I had helped start 35 years earlier. After I attended the first meeting, I understood that one of the major priorities of this newly convened Advisory Board was to build an endowment fund. I thought it would be helpful to share the steps we go through with you – in essence providing a practical guide to this process. Each week, A Real Life Approach to Endowment Building will mirror the Board’s work as we confront the challenges of creating a successful endowment fund. If you have questions or thoughts, please send them to me (cadams@grantstation.com).

- Cynthia M. Adams, CEO, GrantStation

For the nine part series from GrantStation click here: http://www.grantstation.com/Public/tracks_to_success/EndowmentBuilding/main.asp

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Are You Going Dark On Your Donors?

Every fundraiser knows the trend: as donors start to think about making or have made their estate plans, many consolidate or even wholly discontinue their annual giving.
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Recording - Gift Option Training Teleconference

Thank you to all who were able to participate in our online Gift Option Training on Thursday, November 9th. For those who would like to share the presentation with others in their organization, or for those who were unable to attend, you can find a recording of the meeting here:
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Philanthropy Study on Charitable Motivations of Wealthy Individuals

On Oct. 26, 2006, Bank of America released the initial results of the most comprehensive survey to-date of the philanthropic behavior of wealthy Americans. The Bank of America High Net-Worth Philanthropy Study was conducted by The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University for Bank of America.
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Grants and Related Resources - Religious Fundraising

This web site, from Michigan State University Libraries, is intended as a starting point for people who are interested in raising money for their churches, synagogues, etc. or religious organizations:
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New Federal Law Can Grow Your Endowment

On Thursday, August 17, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 was signed into law. In brief, members of your congregation or organization who meet the criteria can make gifts from their IRAs to your organizational endowment fund at the Lutheran Community Foundation. This act allows participants of traditional and Roth IRAs to make direct transfers from such plans to qualified public charities without having to take such distributions into their taxable income.

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The Critical Importance of a Policy to Protect the Endowment by Don Lewis

Over the past several months much has been written regarding the importance of promoting planned giving and stewardship programs within congregations. Motivational messages and practical tips involving charitable remainder trusts, lead trusts, and annuities have helped to shape many church endowment programs. However, in the development of a planned giving plan, one key work detail and one crucial document all too often is ignored - the establishment of a written endowment policy.
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Getting Serious About Building Endowment by Kathryn Miree, J.D.

In her article, Getting Serious About Building Endowment: Straight Talk for Charities and the Professionals That Serve Them, Kathryn Miree, starts off with this Quiz for Nonprofit Managers and Development Staff:

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