Funding Strategy

Please note that the goals, anticipated outcomes, and funding strategy/eligibility of the Christian Volunteerism funding focus area were updated Summer 2011.

In 2010, nearly 63 million Americans volunteered. Individuals served in a variety of ways and positively impacted a multitude of community needs. Most nonprofit organizations and churches rely on the dedicated service of volunteers to carry out their important missions. This volunteer workforce gave 8.1 billion hours of service or $160+ billion in donated services.

Each of us is endowed with gifts to be used to honor and glorify our risen Lord. As Christians, we are called into servanthood to be the hands and feet of Christ. Serving offers an exciting opportunity for ministry as we discover and carry out our unique gifts, thereby building the Body of Christ. When we selflessly reach out to serve others, we are living as Christ called us to live. Our faith-filled acts of service are living expressions of Christ’s love for and in us. The wonderful news is that God continually equips us to serve.

Churches are perfect conduits to support congregants as they apply their gifts in service to other members and to the community. These acts of ministry can range from serving as a Sunday school teacher or usher, to assisting with the church's food pantry or after-school program, to organizing outreach ministries to the homeless and unwed mothers, and more.

Lutheran Foundation has a rich history of encouraging and supporting Christians in carrying out these acts of servanthood. We have done this in a variety of ways, including supporting volunteer-driven programs and services, and funding volunteer recruitment campaigns.

Updated Funding Focus Area
The Foundation is committed to annual review of our funding focus areas to ensure that we are accomplishing our intended goals and outcomes. As such, in 2010 and 2011 we used these learnings to adjust our Christian Volunteerism funding focus area to better support pastors and congregational leadership as they equip their members for service, both within the congregation and out into the local community. Readers and potential grant applicants are encouraged to review this information carefully.

Funding Opportunities
In regard to funding, the Foundation now accepts applications in this funding focus area from area congregations, social service outreach ministries, and faith-based organizations (previously, applications were accepted by invitation only in this funding focus area). Congregation Mini Grants are also available to LCMS congregations to help pilot new volunteer management activities. Please read through the How to Apply section for additional information.

Beyond Funding
In addition to providing funding, the Foundation is continuing its partnership with Send Me St. Louis, The Missouri District of the LCMS, and United Way of Greater St. Louis' Volunteer Center. They work closely with Lutheran Foundation to provide services that:

Equip congregations with tools and knowledge;
Inspire congregations with faith tools, resources, and stories; and
Help congregations and members participate in meaningful acts of service

Click here to learn more about this exciting collaborative.

Goal
To positively impact the lives of hurting people by encouraging and supporting Christian volunteerism in congregations and the community.

Objectives, Activities/Funding Priorities, and Outcomes - REVISED
Lutheran Foundation has established the following revised objectives, activities/funding priorities, and outcomes for this funding focus area. We are also establishing evaluation methods to determine our success in achieving the outcomes identified.

Objectives	Activities	Outcomes
Support the capacity of area congregations, social service outreach ministries (SSOs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to effectively involve and manage volunteers.	Upon request, provide volunteer management resources, technical assistance, consulting, and/or education to congregations, SSO's, and FBO's. Offer training for congregations, SSO's, and FBO's on effective volunteer management. Provide networking opportunities for Christian volunteer managers. Maintain a library/resource materials on Christian-specific volunteer management/volunteerism issues/tools/ trends/etc. Provide funding to congregations, SSO's, and FBO's to create new/strengthen existing volunteer management systems.	Congregations are better able to equip congregants to volunteer internally and/or in the community. Congregations, SSO's, and FBO's are better able to meet their missions through the involvement of volunteers.
Encourage the incorporation of volunteerism in the life of the congregation and its members.	Provide tools related to volunteerism and faith/congregations. Identify inspirational stories of others doing this work and share with others.	Pastors incorporate volunteerism in the spiritual growth of the congregation. Congregation volunteers have an understanding of the connection between volunteering and Biblical teaching. Congregation volunteers are more involved with their own congregation.
Connect congregations and Christian volunteers to service opportunities.	Connect Christians to volunteer opportunities through: regional one-day serving events and referral	Congregations and Christian individuals are more aware of community needs and opportunities for engagement. Congregations have strengthened relationships with SSOs and FBOs. Congregations and Christian individuals are more engaged in helping the lives of hurting people through volunteer efforts.

Overview Funding Strategy How to Apply Grant Application Send Me St. Louis