Southwest Wisconsin Region (RFO 523)

Frequently Asked Questions

Care in Congregations^®	*Care Abounds in Communities*^®
What is Care in Congregations^®? ► Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides funding for its members to conduct fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities to benefit their congregation or Lutheran school. ► Members are encouraged to help the congregation in its ministry to the community. Through Care in Congregations^®, volunteers within the congregation form congregational service teams to perform activities. ► Congregational coordinators make the final funding decisions.	What is Care Abounds in Communities^®? ► Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides funding for members participating in community service teams. ► Teams are formed to conduct fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities to benefit needy individuals/families, local communities or organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, excluding congregations. ► Requests for funding are directed to the chapter leadership board.
When are funds available to the congregation? ►If all three coordinators are in place, each coordinator will receive a mailing in early January advising the amount of funds the congregation will receive that year. ► If your congregation has less than three coordinators, you will not receive a mailing. The funds cannot be accessed until a replacement coordinator is found and entered into the system.	What is a Chapter Leadership Board? ►A chapter is a chartered local unit of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans that brings Thrivent Financial members together for charitable, social and educational activities. All Thrivent Financial members belong to a chapter. ►The chapter leadership board consists of Thrivent Financial members, elected by members in the chapter to provide strategic direction, leadership planning and administration to support congregational and community service teams.
What is my role as a congregational coordinator? ► Encourage volunteers to create congregational service teams and conduct activities that benefit the congregation. ► Request funding prior to the activity; ► Report the final results as soon as possible after the activity; ► Submit the receipts and completed Receipt, Funds Raised form to the local chapter board; ► Provide leadership to the volunteer efforts in your congregation. ► To learn more, click here.	*How often should our board meet?* ► Chapter leadership boards are required to meet at a minimum of once a quarter. ► Chapters are encouraged to meet as often as necessary to review requests and manage other tasks in a timely manner. ► Most chapters meet on a monthly basis. ► It is acceptable to meet in person or via conference call. ► To learn how to conduct your meeting via a conference call click here.
How many people are eligible to serve as a congregational coordinator? ► Three members can serve as congregational coordinators. Make sure three members are entered into the system in order to obtain your Care in Congregations funds. ► If you have additional members who want to serve as coordinators, advise them only three people can be listed as a coordinator. Encourage those individuals to serve on the congregation service team.	Can we create funding limits for our board? ► Yes, each chapter leadership board has the ability to set funding guidelines. Thrivent Financial has minimum and maximum funding amounts that you cannot exceed. ► The chapter board can make the decision to put a lower maximum dollar amount for supplemental funding. This is something all chapter leaders should agree to and vote on before it is implemented.
What is a Congregational Service Team? ► A congregational service team includes all Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members who want to come together to help a particular congregation or its associated Lutheran institutions. ► Teams help by conducting fund-raising activities and/or hands-on service activities such as painting the church or building cabinetry for the fellowship hall. At least six Thrivent Financial members (benefit, associate and/or youth members), each from a different household, must participate in the activity to receive supplemental funds.	What is a Community Service Team? ► A community service team is a group of at least six different Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member households. After this requirement is met, nonmembers may and are encouraged to participate in the activity. ► Activities can benefit an individual, a family, a local community or not-for-profit organizations (organization that have their 501(c)(3)). This includes charitable, educational and religious organizations, but NOT the congregation. ► Community service teams request activity and funding approval from their chapter leadership board through the Care Abounds in Communities^® program.
How do I request funds from this program? ► Contact Fraternal Customer service at 800-847-4836 and provide them with the following information: · proposed date of the project; · activity name; · description of event; · estimated amount of funds raised; · total amount requested; and · estimated number of Thrivent Financial iiiiiihouseholds actively involved. ► You can also enter the information on-line from the Congregational Coordinator Administration screen from Thrivent Financial's website. Click here to access that information.	Why should we develop a mission statement and/or funding philosophy? ► We encourage all chapters to create their own mission statement and/or funding philosophy. By doing so, you as a chapter discuss what goals you have with the funds you were given and how you would like to see them distributed. ► This process will help when making difficult funding decisions. You can show requestors who may challenge your decision how you reached your decision.
What can be counted as a volunteer hour? ► All time spent in planning meetings; ► All preparation time (i.e. creating advertising, phone calls, etc.) ► Time given to purchase items; ► All food preparation time (including making pies, cakes, cookies, etc...); ► All time given during set-up, take down, clean up at the event. ► All volunteer the hours can be counted for Thrivent Financial members as well as all non-members who volunteer. Advise your service teams the importance of tracking all the volunteer hours given at each event.	Can we rescind our offer to supplement a project? ► Yes, chapter boards have the authority to rescind their supplemental funding offer. This point should be made clear with the recipient when they apply for funding. ► Stress the importance of tracking all volunteer hours, attendees, receipts, etc... throughout the event. ► If the service team does not submit the final reporting information, receipts and a check for the amount to be supplemented in a timely manner, the chapter can revoke their funding.
Why is it important to count all the volunteer hours? ► Thrivent Financial’s not-for-profit status enables our members, through volunteering with their local chapters and congregations, to make a difference in our communities. This status is a privilege, not a right; it’s been given to us, and it can be taken away. This status allows Thrivent Financial to provide the funding and resources to help our members help others through volunteer action. ► Dollars raised, people attending, hours volunteered all add up. Every dollar raised and every single volunteer hour worked makes a difference! In your suburb or city, county and region, in your state, what our volunteers are doing is noticed. The information reported tells a story and creates a positive impression for those watching. Always remember, volunteering does make a difference!
How do we stretch our funds? ► We encourage each congregation to be good stewards of the funds Thrivent Financial has given them. Each project has a specific need, but we encourage coordinators to approve a 50¢ per $1 match. ► Situations arise where a $1 for $1 match is necessary and this is still an acceptable method.	Can we approve a project with no application? ► We encourage each chapter to have a completed application from a qualifying not-for-profit organization or needy individual before making funding decisions. ► If your chapter approves funding through word of mouth, many problems could arise. It is a good rule of thumb to have a completed application before making funding decisions.
Why should we stretch our funds? ► Each congregation has needs that exceeds the funds they are given from Thrivent Financial. By supplementing the projects in your congregation, you are able to help more sub-groups within the church. ► Through stretching your dollars, you engage more people in your church to become involved and volunteer.	How do I record our chapter meeting minutes? ►Click for directions on entering minutes ► Meeting minutes are required for each chapter meeting. They should be read and approved at every meeting to inform those attending of past actions. ► Minutes are automatically stored online for the required seven years (paper copies don't need to be kept). ► Save your work frequently or it may be lost.
What is a locally supported activity? ► Locally supported chapter activities are fund-raising, administrative, social and hands-on service activities (e.g., confirmation recognition and other social activities, etc.) hosted by Thrivent Financial congregational or community service teams that do not utilize funds from any of the Care programs. ► Reporting locally supported activities can help protect Thrivent Financial’s special tax-exempt status. ►Click here to learn how to enter Locally Supported activities. ►Click here for examples of Locally Supported activities.	How do I record our chapter volunteer hours? ►Click for directions on entering hours ► Chapter meetings are considered an activity of the chapter and meetings must be entered in the Chapter Leadership Administration menu. ► The information you will need is: the date of meeting, new members voted in, attendance, length of meeting, meeting expenses, volunteer hours. Be sure to include all of the hours worked by chapter leaders to prepare for the meeting and the hours spent on chapter business since the last meeting. A Volunteer Hour tracking form has been created by several chapters to help in tracking those hours and expenses incurred throughout the month as well. Take a copy along to your next meeting if you are not currently using the form. ► As you report meetings, be sure to select the correct category. To report chapter business meetings, select Meeting—Regular so that the meeting is counted toward the annual four meeting requirement. ► To report all other meetings, select Meeting—Other. Congregational coordinator training, annual election meetings are two examples of "other" meetings.
Where can I find information about publicity? ► Each Congregational Coordinator should have a copy of the Visibility Toolkit. If you do not have a copy, please take the time to obtain one from Fraternal Customer Service at 800-847-4836. ► This toolkit has a wealth of information on publicizing your activities and the importance of doing so. You can also order publicity materials for free by accessing Congregational Coordinator Administration from Thrivent Financial's website.	What are the term limits for board members? ► Maximum of four consecutive years ► Required two-year absence ► Serve three years or less ► Required one-year absence ► Appointed positions - unlimited one-year term
How do I access the administration screen to enter our activities? ► Click for step-by-step directions	When do we hold our annual elections? ► The annual election of chapter leaders must be held between September 1 and November 30. Meetings held outside this time period will not be valid.
How does the congregation receive their supplemental funds? ► After conducting the activity, the congregational service team reports the final results of the activity to the congregational coordinator.a ► One of the coordinators enters the activity results online or contacts Fraternal Customer service and relays the information to them. This will trigger the funds to be released to the congregation. The check will be received within 7 - 10 days.	How do we recruit new chapter leaders? ► The vice-president is responsible for forming a nominating committee to work on recruiting new chapter leaders. ► Speak with your congregational coordinators to see if they are willing to serve on the board. If not, do they know of individuals who you can contact. ► Speak with those individuals who have served on service teams. ► Contact pastors and those in church leadership positions in your chapter.
Can we obtain funds to host a coffee hour or refreshments for confirmation? ► As a Congregational Coordinator, you can request funds from your chapter leadership board to help fund these types of activities. ► Because your chapter board may receive several requests for funds, be specific on how the funds will be used. ► Click here to obtain a list of your local chapter leadership board.	Why is it important to invite elected officials to our events? ► Government has tremendous influence over the ability for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to serve our members and communities. Elected officials who come to know our organization and what we do are likely to support us. Therefore, local contact at the chapter level is the single most important thing we can do to ensure that elected officials continue to support us. ► If we take simple steps to invite elected officials to chapter activities, we can go a long way toward ensuring that Thrivent Financial can provide the dollars and resources its members can use to improve lives and communities. ► Chapter volunteerism is a major reason why the federal and state governments have granted Thrivent Financial tax-exemptions. Elected officials have historically recognized that we use tax-exempt resources to meet critical community needs more effectively than government programs ever could. It's those tax-exempt resources that fund the chapter system.
What should we do if a coordinator resigns? ► Ask members in your congregation if they would be willing to fill that role. Individuals who are currently an Associate Member or who wish to become one may serve as a Congregational Coordinator. Click here to learn more about Associate membership. ► Speak with the Congregational Service Team Director on your chapter board and ask that they help you in finding a replacement. ► You may also want to contact your local Financial Representative and ask for their assistance in filling this role.	How does the financial director access the on-line banking? ► Complete the registration process to obtain a financial institution key (similar to a PIN number). ► Go to www.Thrivent.com; click Bank; click Online Banking; click Sign-in; at the top of the sign-in screen you will see "First time users, click here to register." Click on the click here link; complete the form using the chapter's EIN (in lieu of a Social Security number); click Submit. You will receive registration instructions by e-mail within 24 hours. ► Contact a Thrivent Financial Bank customer service representative with questions or problems at 866-226-5225. ► Contact Fraternal Service Center for the EIN.
How do I order confirmation crosses and/or baptismal medallions? ► Go to www.thrivent.com and click the Members/Chapters tab; ► On the Login page, type your User ID and Password and click Login; ► On the Members/Chapters page, click Congregational Coordinators Only; ► From Congregational Coordinators Only, click Congregational Coordinator Administration; ► Click Order Congregation Supplies; ► Type the Ship To name and address if different from address displayed; ► To order items, type the quantity needed; ► Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Submit. A screen message will be displayed saying, “Your request for supplies has been processed.”	Who has authority to sign checks? ► The Financial Director and Assistant Financial Director are the two individuals who usually have this authority. ► A Depository Authorization will need to be completed and signed by those individuals who have authority to sign checks. This usually takes place after the annual election meeting. If a change in financial positions occurs during the year, a new authorization needs to be signed. ► If a chapter does not have an Assistant Financial Director, the president is typically the second person given authority. It's a good rule of thumb to have two leaders authorized to sign checks.
Can our congregation request funds from our local chapter? ► Care Abounds in Communities® provides funding for members participating in community service teams. Activities can benefit individuals, families, local communities or organizations that are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (this includes charitable, educational and religious organizations.) Congregations cannot request funding from the chapter.	How many newsletters can we send per year? ► Chapters can send four free mailings per year to chapter members. This service is a great way to promote your chapter activities and the chapter Care programs to chapter members. ► You also can send mailings to congregational coordinators. These mailings are separate from the four free mailings available to chapter members and is currently offered at no charge. You may use this feature as often as necessary.
	Do operating funds carry over to the next year? ► Yes, any remaining funds carry over to the next year. Operating funds are intended to be used in the year they are received. As a general rule, no more than 10% of the chapter's annual allocation should be carried over forward to the next year. See the Operating Funds Budget Guide for more information.
	What types of events should be paid for utilizing operating funds? ► Administrative expenses such as postage, supplies and mileage (IRS guidelines 40.5). ► Provide an outright grant or a loan to a chapter service team as seed money. ► Recognize volunteers, ideas include: · put flowers on the altar of a volunteer’s church · purchase a gift as a token of appreciation · Recognize the work of the board and have dinner as a group. ► Paying for publicity materials is the best way to increase awareness of your chapter. ► Provide a small amount for each congregation to conduct fellowship activities. This is a great way to build relationships and understanding of the Thrivent chapter system. ► Pay teleconference expenses to hold chapter meetings.
Miscellaneous
What resources are available to publicize events? ► Non-cost items such as posters, bulletin inserts, brochures, name tags, table tent cards and signs are available to chapter leaders via the Chapter Supplies page in Chapter Leadership Administration. ► Cost items can be ordered from The Store Website on www.thrivent.com. Items include cups, napkins and a reusable oversized check. ► Chapter personal imprint items such as letterhead, envelopes and note cards may be purchased by chapters. This is available via the Chapter Supplies page in Chapter Leadership Administration. ► Many chapters have had success tying their chapter Care program funding to publicity, requiring proof that service teams have publicized their activities before funding is released to them. ► The Visibility Toolkit is full of great information to help you spread the news about your activities. Find out what promotional tools are available, which ones to use for your activity, how to use them, and much more including tips for working with the media, inviting elected officials and what to say or write.	Who do I call with questions? ► Fraternal Customer Service 800-847-4836 ► LCS Team
	What are member benefits? ► They are valuable complimentary resources on faith, values, caring for others and promoting financial security. These resources are exclusive benefits of membership with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and are designed to enhance the quality of life for you and your family. ► Benefit members are entitled to receive one of each member benefit per year. Associate members can order two benefits per year. ► Members of Thrivent Financial can take advantage of a program that may help reduce their out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs. ► Click here for a list of the most current benefits.
What is the GivingPlus^® program? ► GivingPlus^® allows our members to support enrolled Lutheran organizations through their financial gift. Thrivent Financial will contribute $1 for every $2 donated by members up to a $600 maximum. Associate members are no longer eligible to participate in this program. ► Benefit members can donate to as many enrolled organizations as they choose, but Thrivent Financial will only provide supplemental dollars to two organizations per year. ► Benefit members can make multiple donations (i.e. monthly, quarterly, etc.) to the same organization in a year up to the $600 supplemental maximum. ► Benefit members can choose from a variety of enrolled Lutheran organizations. ► Click here to learn more about the program.	What is SimplyGiving^®? ► SimplyGiving^® is an automated giving program designed to help you contribute to your congregation, Lutheran institution or to pay tuition at a Lutheran school. ► Through SimplyGiving^®, your gift or tuition payment is made through a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account. ► You determine the frequency of your automatic gift - weekly, semi-monthly or monthly. Your gift or payment is deposited into the recipient's bank account on the same day it is withdrawn from your account at no cost to you or the recipient. ► Click here to learn more and to obtain enrollment forms.

This site is intended to provide quick resources for our volunteers. For complete descriptions of the products and services provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, log on to Thrivent.com