Letter from the President/CEO

March 2013

PLEASE READ FOR IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE JUNE 2013 FUNDING CYCLE.

Dear Friends:

Thank you for visiting Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis’ website. We hope you find the content both informative and inspiring. 

Our vision is to see the Church brought into the lives of hurting people and people included in the healing life of the Church. We accomplish this by providing financial support (grants) to area congregations and organizations that, in turn, provide the skill, expertise, and care needed to improve the care of people in the St. Louis metropolitan region. Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, through our grant support, acts as a conduit for Christians to model Christ’s servant leadership, thereby creating a healthier community attuned to mind, body, and soul.

As many of you know, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis' current strategic funding plan runs through 2013. Last fall, the Foundation's Board embarked on a new strategic planning process to guide our efforts over the next five years, 2014 - 2018. The Foundation will announce our new strategic funding plan in September 2013.

The Board and staff have learned much during the current plan. Most importantly, the Board strongly believes that focusing on specific funding areas has increased the Foundation's understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and appropriate outcomes in each area. This has resulted in better grant decisions and hopefully greater community impact. The Board has also identified several opportunities to strengthen our grantmaking; these learnings are being incorporated into the next strategic funding plan.

In its review, the Board has confirmed its commitment to continuing four (4) of our five (5) funding focus areas in the next strategic funding plan. The Board has made a difficult decision to discontinue Children's Mental Health - Prevention and Early Intervention as a funding focus area starting in 2014. The Board is currently researching potential new funding focus areas as well as strengthening the other four areas (Congregation Social Service Outreach Ministry, Christian Volunteerism, Lutheran Education, and Services to Prisoners/Ex-offenders and Their Families) based on learnings to date. Again, these new and revised focus areas will be announced in September 2013.

In light of this, Lutheran Foundation will NOT accept any NEW applications for funding in the Children's Mental Health funding focus area in the June 2013 grant application cycle. Organizations currently receiving a grant under the Children's Mental Health funding focus area may submit a request to continue funding for one additional year. Such organizations are strongly encouraged to contact Foundation staff before submitting a request to further discuss this change.

Applications for new and renewed funding will be considered in the other four (4) funding focus areas.

 

We welcome the opportunity to learn about your efforts and explore ways in which we can work together to positively impact the lives of hurting people in our community.  If you feel your congregation or organization addresses the issues identified in one of our funding focus areas, please contact us and schedule a time to meet.

 

Faithfully,

Ann L. Vazquez
President/CEO