Church and KFUO Radio.

Direct response, he says, is building relation 

ships. The contacts help donors identify with a min 

istry and understand that work is being accom 

plished. As the relationships are strengthened, mis 

sion and ministry is supported by sustained giving.

Springer said that LCMS members also

respond in times of need, citing the response after

the terrorist attacks in September 2001. Within five

days the Foundation had a letter in the mail and

members responded with $2.5 million in gifts.

Other gifts raised the total to $4 million. 

 There are marvelous people who have a 

passion to support what their church is doing.  

A catalog for giving

 Fast  and  easy  characterize the Internet's

availability for everything from shopping to taking

Retirees Shirley and Fred Becker devote much of their time to

college courses to making donations. The Mission

Atonement Lutheran Church and School in Dearborn, Mich.They have

and Ministry (or  Giving ) Catalog

remembered the congregation as in a Donor Advised Fund, which they

(http://catalog.lcms.org), provided by the LCMS

established with the LCMS Foundation as part of their estate plan.

Foundation, allows Lutherans to make gifts using

their home computers.

have given attention to estate planning. With the

Donors can  shop  for projects supporting

counsel of their accountant, attorney, Thrivent rep 

missions, world relief, higher education, Lutheran

resentative and Patricia Bilow, a gift planning coun 

schools, family ministry and districts. Donations can

selor with the Foundation, they set up a Donor

be made using a credit or debit card.

Advised Fund as part of their charitable estate plan. 

Since its introduction last June, the Mission

After beginning the fund with a basic amount,

and Ministry Catalog has averaged 29 visits per day

they add to it yearly. As the fund grows and earns

with average gifts of $163 to national ministries and

interest, the earnings are distributed to ministries

$150 for district ministries.

that the Beckers choose. They also specified how 

 We are not maintaining names for additional

at their deaths the fund will be distributed to min 

solicitation,  adds Earl Fedderson who maintains

istries that include their church and school.

the catalog.

 I feel pretty good,  Fred said of their plans.

 You can't take it with you, but you can cer 

G I F T S   F O R   C U R R E N T  

tainly send it ahead. 

Shirley adds,  I share those feelings with

A N D   F U T U R E  W O R K

Fred. We've been blessed, not just financially,

but with our family and our church family and

From July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002:

by the fact that we've been chosen by God

   163,666 direct gifts were generated by the LCMS Foundation, providing

through our baptism. 

$38,320,771 in support of LCMS and related ministries.

   4,747 matured gifts, totaling $17,143,436, were distributed from trusts,

Relationships grow ministries

endowments, gift annuities, pooled funds and bequests benefiting 481

 We sow the seeds out there,  says Hans

different ministries and organizations.

Springer.  It's an on going way of getting out

   $25,261,781 was received in 1,843 new managed gifts trusts,

the message and asking for a gift.  

endowments, gift annuities or pooled funds for future distribution.

As vice president for direct response

   A total of 6,224 gift arrangements were being managed by the

with the Foundation, Springer oversees the

Foundation.

ongoing contacts with donors through direct

   $42,150,614 was identified for future ministries in the form of 

mail and telecare efforts on behalf of LCMS

revocable gifts through wills, living trust designations or payable on 

World Mission, World Relief/Human Care,

death designations.

the Joint Seminary Fund, For the Sake of the

30

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS (58)

Photo: Shirley Becker