Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. - 2021-01-08T115600.995

Serving LCMS Members and Ministries Since 1958

The LCMS Foundation was established in 1958 as a stewardship ministry of the church and dedicated to the belief that the Foundation would, “be a vehicle which can, and under the blessing of God’s will, usher in a completely new era for our church.” 

Since that awe-filled beginning, thousands of inspired stewards, joyful in their thanks to God—people like you—have used the LCMS Foundation to plan and manage gifts that benefit their families, congregations and ministries worldwide.

At the same time hundreds of LCMS congregations, as well as dozens of schools, RSOs, our two seminaries and many of the Concordia universities have trusted the LCMS Foundation to be their dedicated investment resource.

Our purpose and mission

The Foundation has four primary purposes:

  • Providing planned giving services to LCMS members for the benefit of all ministries of the Synod.

  • Providing investment management services for ministry funds and endowments held by congregations and other LCMS ministries and institutions.

  • Providing training to others in the LCMS on how to do charitable gift planning.

  • Receiving non-cash gifts, like land and securities, on behalf of any LCMS organization, so that they can convert those gifts into liquid assets.

When the Foundation does its job well, both donors and ministries are blessed. Specifically, donors are assisted in using their God-given spirit of generosity to make the most effective gifts to ministries and their families. While ministries are blessed through the creation of long-term funding sources, as well as by having the Foundation as a trusted steward to invest and grow those sources. To learn more, click here to view the Foundation's annual Ministry Report. 

Our leadership

The Foundation leadership team is grateful for, and dedicated to, the opportunity to serve our Lord and Savior through the support provided by the Foundation. Click here to read more about the Foundation's leadership.

The Foundation is governed by a 13-member Board of Trustees. Our Board meets quarterly with staff to ensure the Foundation is following its mission, effectively stewarding its resources, and overall serving His people and church as effectively as possible. Learn more about our Board of Trustees here.

Our gift planning counselors

Our LCMS Foundation gift planning counselors are fellow Lutherans who share your love for the Lord and understand your desire to help spread the Gospel. Each counselor is an experienced professional who can assist you with Christian estate gift planning and the transfer of blessings to family, heirs and the ministries you love. Click here to see a list of our gift planning counselors.

Our investment services team

Our investment services team is comprised of veterans of some of the world's best-known financial firms, banks and universities. They work diligently to leverage that experience to help LCMS ministries invest their resources wisely so that they might thrive for generations to come. Learn more about our investment services team here.

Our client services team

The Foundation's skilled staff of client relations managers are dedicated to serving you. If you have an account with the Foundation, they are available to answer questions or provide assistance reviewing your account details. To contact a member of the client services team, click here.

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Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce. Proverbs 3:9
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Investment Services for Ministries

We provide congregations, schools, RSOs, seminaries and universities with the expertise to invest their assets in a variety of market funds. With vision, these funds can provide long-term stability, helping fund your ministry for generations to come. 

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Gift Plans for Members

Imagine a future in which your gifts continue to benefit your family and faith after you’re called to heaven. A gift plan structures your assets in a way that often minimizes taxes and provides an opportunity to do more with the blessings God has provided.

 

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Gift Planning for Ministries

Starting gift planning at your ministry can be simple. We partner with dozens of congregations, schools, RSOs and other ministries. Each year these partnerships result in nearly $150 million in future planned gifts to LCMS organizations.

 

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Testimonials

 

If you're a current donor, account holder or investor with a question, or if you're new to the LCMS Foundation and would like more information, we'd love to hear from you. Please use the "I have a question or comment about" drop-down field below to get your comment to the correct person or department faster.