Before you begin the process in earnest, ask your pastor or ministry leader if your congregation, organization or LCMS district already has an existing gift planning program in place, or uses the services of a dedicated gift planner. If they do, they’ll be able to put you in touch with your counselor, or provide you with resources about their gift planning program.
If not, you might ask leadership to explore the value of gift planning within your organization.
If you prefer, fill out the form below to indicate you'd like to discuss creating a gift plan with a LCMS Foundation gift planning counselor. We'll confirm whether your ministry is already partnering with the Foundation, and if not, how we can still help.
Attending a scheduled Lifetime Plan for Giving™ seminar is often a great place to start. The LCMS Foundation offers regularly scheduled seminars at most ministries and congregations where we have a gift planning partnership. At each seminar, we walk through the “why” of gift planning, but also the “how,” and leave plenty of time for questions. There’s never any obligation—attendees aren’t pressured to begin the process. Ask your ministry leader if any seminars are planned.
If your ministry has a gift planning program in place, and you’d like to start a gift plan, you can request an initial call or meeting with your dedicated gift planning counselors by filling out the form below.
If you're uncertain if you have a dedicated counselor at your ministry, we can confirm whether you do or not. But even if you don't, and you're a member of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, we'll be happy to discuss how we might be able to still assist you in creating a gift plan.
Just as everyone has different goals and needs, we offer a variety of different options to structure your gift plan. Each option has its respective strengths and variables, and each can be of benefit to someone if applied thoughtfully, and with guidance.
Starting a gift plan program for your ministry can be simple and the rewards great. We have partnerships with dozens of LCMS congregations, schools, RSOs and even our seminaries. Each year these partnerships result in $125 to $150 million in future planned gifts for LCMS organizations.
Gift planning has many options that may seem overwhelming. We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you start considering the ways that gift planning can make a positive impact to your ministry or your personal stewardship.
We are thankful that we can leave a bequest to our children, and also through the Foundation’s work, make a gift to all the congregations we have served, our Concordias, and an agency we are passionate about.
Edward & Janet Krauss
We developed a plan that creates security for ourselves and our young son while furthering the work done by the church and others. Your process provided us the means to shape a plan that is useful now and easily flexible for the future.
Mark & Kristine
Indianapolis, IN
It was with great joy that we were able to work on our legacy for Lutheran ministries. The LCMS Foundation helped us to formulate a plan to ensure that a portion of the gifts God has given us would be used to bless others.
Charlotte & Roy
Radcliff, KY
The process provided us with an easy to use form to compose a gift letter that models for our children continued ministry support after our passing as well as a personal faith statement that will be given to our children and their families upon our passing.
Cam & Janet Fuerniss
Loveland, CO
How can we help you today? If you're a current donor, 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.