Lutheran Family Service is an outreach ministry of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that depends on gifts from individuals, organizations and congregations along with some private sources of funding within communities served to carry out our mission. No government funds are sought or accepted so as to not limit our intentionally Christ-centered witness. The organization’s annual budget is supported each year through a combination of charitable gifts and fees paid by those receiving service, most based on ability to pay and some—such as pregnancy counseling and clergy consultation—provided at no charge.
We are a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. Our ability to impact thousands of Iowans every year in a positive way requires the help and support from the community.
Financial donations support our services and make it possible for us to provide cost-effective options for families in need. Every donation helps. Please consider supporting LFS in our mission, as together we walk with people who are experiencing hard times and are able to be there for them just as God has been there for us.
$25 covers the cost of staff travel to meet with a pregnant woman in her home.
$70 provides one session of counseling for a pregnant woman making a life-and-death decision about the future of her unborn baby.
$150 allows someone struggling with depression or anxiety to meet with an LFS counselor for assessment and planning.
$250 sponsors a birth mother’s attendance at a post-adoption placement retreat.
$500 covers the cost of one outreach event.
$1000 helps offset the cost of adoption for one family.
$2500 sponsors a retreat for married couples.
Every dollar makes a difference!
Donating to Lutheran Family Service is easy and can be done in numerous ways - including over the phone, by mail, in person at one of our locations, or through our online portal.
Make a one-time or recurring donation, or give in honor or memory of someone who has made a difference in your life. When you remember someone special with your gift, LFS sends an acknowledgment to the family or person indicated, notifying them of your thoughtful gesture without sharing the amount of the contribution.
Thrivent Choice
Lutheran Family Service is eligible to receive gifts that you direct through your Thrivent Choice charitable dollars. See your Thrivent representative, call LFS, or visit Thrivent’s Choice portal for more information.
Employer Match Gifts
Many employers offer to match gifts given to support charitable causes, creating a great opportunity to maximize and compound the value of your gift. Visit with your employer’s human resources department for more information.
United Way Directed Gifts
Direct your United Way payroll deduction contributions to LFS. Contact your employer’s human resources department to explore this option.
Gifts of Property
A full or partial load of corn or beans can be donated, rather than selling the crop and donating cash. Consult with your tax advisor for information about the tax benefit of this unique gift, and use the Gift of Grain Form for this purpose.
Gifts of Stock
Donating appreciated shares of stock directly to LFS allows you to support our mission without paying capital gains taxes. You receive a charitable tax deduction for the full fair market value of the stock. For more information or assistance with a stock gift, please contact:
Louise Shideler, LFS Director of Donor Engagement
515.573.3138
lshideler@lutheranfamilyservice.org
Beneficiary Designations
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Certificates of Deposit (CDs), mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other instruments can be assigned to LFS as the recipient or beneficiary. Simply name LFS as sole beneficiary or to receive a percentage of these instruments.
Deferred Gifts
There are several types of deferred gift arrangements and it is important to select one that best meets your needs with regard to your family, financial situation, charitable desires and tax benefits. We will be happy to visit with you in person to learn more about your wishes and needs, and to talk with you about your deferred gift arrangement options. You may also choose to enlist the help of one of the LCMS Foundation representatives who serve in Iowa, as they can be helpful in exploring these arrangements and their potential benefits to you and to the area of LFS ministry you wish to support.
Life Insurance
Perhaps you once needed higher amounts of life insurance to provide for your family, and that is no longer the case. An easy way to support the LFS mission is to name LFS as the beneficiary or partial beneficiary on an existing life insurance policy.
Bequests
In your will, you can include a bequest to support LFS. Your bequest can be stated as a percentage, a fixed amount, specific property or the residual of your estate, i.e. “I give, devise and bequeath ____% (or $_________) (or the rest, remainder and residue) of my estate to Lutheran Family Service, Administrative Office 409 Kenyon Road, Suite C, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 50501.”
