Maximizing the good we do

You are stewards of the funds

YOU have the capability to meet more needs of individuals, families and not-for-profit organizations in your community through the decisions you make.

The chapter leadership board should discuss how they want to use the funds to meet more needs and involve more people.

Being Good Stewards of our Resources

As a chapter leadership board, what would you say is your overall responsibility?

To be good stewards of the funds and resources entrusted to you through the Care in Congregations® and Care Abounds in Communities™ programs.

Being Good Stewards of our Resources

Where do these funds and resources come from? The tax-exempt status granted to us by federal and

state governments provides the seed money to fund the chapter system and allows our members to make an even greater impact through volunteerism. Chapter volunteers are key to Thrivent Financial’s

uniqueness. Chapter volunteerism is a major reason why the federal

and state governments grant Thrivent Financial for Lutherans tax exemptions.

Chapter volunteerism

The time and dedication our members devote in volunteer activities (fund-raisers and service activities) increase the good being done in ways Thrivent Financial could never do by simply giving the Care program dollars away.

As a chapter leader, you are entrusted to be good stewards of the funds and resources.

What can be counted as a volunteer hour?

The hours spent planning, preparing for and working at meetings and activities, including time spent traveling as part of volunteering, are valuable time spent by volunteers and are crucial for successful activities. They should all be included in the volunteer hours count.

Volunteer hour examples can be found online in the How To section of CHIP -Chapter Information Place, found in Members Only, Chapter menu.

What can be counted as a volunteer hour? (continued)

People who attend a chapter service team activity, but did not help plan, prepare for or work at the activity should be included in the attendance. However their time at the activity does not count as volunteer hours.

Volunteer hour examples can be found online in the How To section of CHIP -Chapter Information Place, found in Members Only, Chapter menu.

Help your chapter meet more needs

When reviewing Care Abounds in Communities™ requests, consider how you or the community service team can:

Maximize the amount of funds raised. Maximize the number of people involved. Stretch your funds available by supplementing, on

average, $1 for every $2 or $3 raised.

Successful Activities

There are three important qualities for successful activities.

Member Involvement + Awareness

+ Impact= Successful Activities

Member Involvement - Maximize the number of people involved

Consider activities that:

• Tug at volunteer’s heartstrings.• Offer many different volunteer

roles, leading to more volunteer involvement.

• Are fun and have broad appeal.

Did you know?More than 90 percent of those directly asked to volunteer said "Yes."

- 1999 Independent Sector survey

Approve activities that have the potential to involve many volunteers.

Awareness - Maximize the number of people involved (cont’d)

Remember, building visibility:

• Creates excitement.• Draws more volunteer participation.• Leads to larger attendance…which

in turn raises more local funds.

The visibility toolkit, available at www.thrivent.com\fraternal\visibility,

can help volunteer leaders build visibility for their chapters and activities quickly and easily.

When deciding on the level of funding to provide for an activity, there may be several factors for you to consider:

• the significance of the need• the number of people involved in the activity• the potential impact that will result from your

funding, etc.

Impact - Maximize the amount of funds raised

You might opt to supplement some activities at a level of $1 for every $2 or $3 raised, or there may be a compelling reason to supplement an occasional activity at $1 for every $1 raised.

Using a judicious process to make funding decisions will help you meet more needs and have a greater impact – this is a true expression of care for others!

Impact - Maximize the amount of funds raised (cont’d)

Stretch your funds available

Encourage service teams to reduce expenses, promote and plan thoroughly.

With a little forethought, service teams can maximize the amount of funds they raise by:

• Choosing activities with little overhead expenses.

• Identifying ways to attract more people to the activities.

• Using the publicity tools available.

Activity 1

A local youth group is planning a car wash to raise funds for a classmate who is having health problems. The car wash is planned for Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Volunteers will make signs, coordinate where to hold the car wash, organize the workers' schedule and wash cars.

How can we do more?

Annual chili dinner. Volunteers are needed to advertise, make the chili, set up, serve and clean up.

How can we do more?

Activity 2

A community service team wants to assist residents of a community nursing home. They plan to purchase plants and do a hands-on work service activity by planting an area around the home. Volunteers will be needed to purchase and plant the flowers.

How can we do more?

Activity 3

Keep in mind the flexibility you have in making decisions that will help maximize the good that we do.

While you may not be directly involved in all the service teams, you can offer suggestions to the teams ways to involve more people or stretch the funds received.

As a chapter leadership board, you have the ability to maximize the impact Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will have on your community.

Maximize the good we do!

It’s as easy asABC1·2·3