Your faithful support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s ministries has made you part of the Leadership Circle. On this page, you will find updates, information and stories from the ministries you support: ELCA Fund for Leaders, ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, Global Mission and ELCA Where Needed Most. Thank you for your continued generosity, involvement and support!
Have questions about the Leadership Circle or giving to ELCA ministries? Reach out!
Jennifer Thomas
Associate Mission Funding Director
Jennifer.Thomas@elca.org
773-380-2933
See more Leadership Circle event recordings.
From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger enable the ELCA to respond to those in need, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty. Read the latest news on the ELCA World Hunger blog.
Lutheran Disaster Response shares God's hope, healing and renewal with people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. When the dust settles and the headlines change, we stay to provide ongoing assistance to those in need. Read the latest disaster updates on the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.
The ELCA Fund for Leaders supports students of tremendous promise attending ELCA seminaries as they prepare to become pastors and deacons in our church. By making seminary more affordable, the ELCA Fund for Leaders enables more future ministers to go to seminary. Learn more about the ELCA Fund for Leaders here.
The ELCA walks with more than 80 companion churches around the world through deep, long-standing relationships shaped by the practice of accompaniment. We partner with them as they continue growing their work and Christ’s church — by sending missionaries and volunteers, developing new congregations, building up leaders, training evangelists and much more. Learn more about the work of Global Mission here.
When you include your congregation, synod or other ELCA organization or ministry in your estate plan, your generosity ensures the continuation of God's work in the world — for years to come. The ELCA Foundation is here to help you maximize your generosity toward the people and the ministries that mean the most to you through confidential, no-obligation conversations. Learn more at ELCA.org/Foundation or click here to find your regional gift planner.
View more previous Leadership Circle newsletters.
The Leadership Circle is a group of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s most faithful supporters. Each member of the Leadership Circle contributes a total of $1,000 or more to the ministries of the ELCA per year.
As a member of the Leadership Circle, you have access to insider specialized information about the ministries you are passionate about. You will receive a newsletter twice a year with updates from the directors of ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response, Global Mission, ELCA Fund for Leaders and “Where Needed Most.” You also have exclusive access to this website, where you can find resources, information about upcoming events and more stories about the ministries you support.
Ask your financial institution to include your full name (including middle initial) and address with the gift.
If you would like to make a contribution to the ELCA’s general, undesignated fund, have your financial institution make the check payable to “Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.” If you would like your gift to go to a specific ELCA program, indicate the program name after “ELCA.” If you’re not sure of the program name, contact Carol Mycio at 800-638-3522, ext. 2462, or matchinggifts@elca.org.
Ask your financial institution to send the check to:
The ELCA’s Federal Tax ID is 41-1568278. This number is the same for all ministries of the ELCA.
You can find more information about planned giving at ELCA.org/Give/ELCA-Foundation. You can also get in touch with your regional gift planner, who can offer guidance and resources in setting up an estate plan.
Find out if your employer will match gifts to the ELCA here.
In most instances, yes! Many of the ELCA ministries you support offer assistance based on resources available and need, with no regard to religion, race or culture. Also, the ELCA does not accept any goods or services in return for contributions. So, even though the ELCA is a church, many of its ministries are not subject to the same restrictions as religious organizations. For a letter that outlines this for your company, contact Carol Mycio at 800-638-3522, ext. 2462, or carol.mycio@elca.org.
Less than 15% of most gifts goes toward fundraising and administration, and more than 85% goes toward program costs. Because of our long-standing partnerships across the United States and around the world, we are able to do excellent work with relatively low administrative costs. Gifts that are given to a specific disaster through Lutheran Disaster Response — like tornadoes, hurricane response and wildfires — are used 100% toward our response to that disaster.
Becoming a Monthly Partner is a convenient, simple way to make a big impact on the mission and ministry of our church. Your gift of at least $10 per program will be automatically charged to your credit card or bank account on the 15th of every month. An annual, consolidated receipt will be mailed to your home in the first quarter (January-March) of every year. You can cancel, change or update your automatic monthly donation at any time by calling 800-638-3522. A monthly gift of $83.34 or more qualifies you for the Leadership Circle!
Sign up here or call 800-638-3522.
Contact Carol Mycio at 800-638-3522, ext. 2462, or carol.mycio@elca.org.