The First Lutheran Church of St. Joseph, Missouri Foundation (hereinafter referred to as “the Foundation”) exists to support maintenance projects and innovative projects that sustain and expand the mission of First Lutheran Church and to address the needs of the hungry.

 

We do this through receiving and managing gifts, grants, bequests and designated contributions of money and property so that the principal of the funds donated is preserved in perpetuity, making only the earnings available to fund grant requests from the congregation and support hunger related ministries.

 

The Foundation is governed by a five member Board of Directors. Current directors are Nancy Gordon, Deann Young, Phil Heeler, Steve Highby and Dan Chladek.   Please feel free to contact any board member to discuss the Foundation.

This fund, established through an estate gift from Marie, Hazel and Carl Matthiesen, is dedicated to addressing hunger needs in our community and in the world.  Each year, the earnings on this fund are gifted to a variety of ministries that address the needs of the hungry.  First Lutheran Church’s Church Council provides direction on how these gifts are distributed.

 

Over the years, this fund’s principal of $200,000 has generated a total of $184,800.00 in earnings which have been donated primarily to local charitable organizations including Inter-Serv/Food Pantry,  the Nutrition Center, House of Bread, Open Door Food Kitchen and First Lutheran Church for Sunday Community Dinners and Wednesday Cafe.

A new fund was established in 2020 as a result of an annuity donation from Darrell and Shirley Falk’s estate. Like other funds, only the earnings are designated to be used for maintenance projects at First Lutheran Church.  The donation was in the amount of $55,000.

The Foundation’s General Fund is dedicated to the support of new and innovative projects at First Lutheran Church.  Monies from this fund are used as seed money or matching funds for projects approved by First Lutheran Church’s Church Council rather than as the main source of funding for a project.  Available funds from this source are not to be used for budgeting, current or regular expenses.

 

The Foundation received $11,280 in donations during 2022, raising the principal total in in this fund to $243,311. No grant requests were received in 2022 therefore the amount donated to First Lutheran for church mission is $83,387.

 

Twenty-eight (28) church members and two (2) non-members have made contributions to the General Fund.

 

Please contact a Foundation board member for further information about this fund or to request a grant request form.

There are a variety of tax-exempt ways individuals can contribute to the Foundation and its work.  These include:

     –Making a donation of money, property or stocks

     –Contributing out of Required Minimum Distributions from an IRA

     –Including a bequest to the Foundation in your estate planning, will or trust

     –Designating Memorial Gifts to the Foundation

     –Adding “Transfer on Death” to the title of real estate or other property, stocks, bonds, annuities, or other investments.

 

Donations are accepted at any time and in any amount.

 

For more information on how you can support the Foundation’s mission, contact any of the board members listed above or email the Foundation at firstlutheranchurchfoundation@gmail.com 

The First Lutheran Church of St. Joseph Missouri Foundation is registered with the State of Missouri as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation.  It was established September 20, 1992, and granted its Certificate of Incorporation on January 21, 1993.