Lance Neward our Community Service Specialist gave me new insight at our December meeting when he said "Thrivent Financial is a fraternal organization (the largest in the US)  and as such is basically exempt from income taxes.  It is exempt from taxes because the government recognizes fraternal organizations like Thrivent Financial for Lutherans have more efficient ways of distributing money to the needy than the government does.  The funds that would be required each year for taxes are instead allocated to Regions, Chapters and Congregations, where volunteers make up the majority of these units.  These allocations are mostly supplemental funds (what we used to call "matching funds"), used to leverage and enhance the fund-raising activities these units have during the year.  These raised and supplemented funds are then applied toward various worthy causes (not all church-related, by the way) in the respective Region, Chapter, or Congregation.  Part of these allocations can also be used for "Hands-On" activities, where money is required in advance.  These are all part of what Thrivent Financial calls "Care Programs"--Care in Congregations(TM), Care Abounds in Communities(TM), and Care in Regions(TM).

Care in Congregations(TM):
Congregational allocations of matching funds are used by each congregation for activities involving their people and ministry. Each congregation is required to have three Congregational Coordinators listed as either benefit or associate members of Thrivent Financial to make their congregation eligible for the funds.  Benefit members are in general those who own a Thrivent Financial, AAL, or LB insurance or annuity product.  Associate members in general are those who own only Thrivent Financial mutual funds or who have joined by paying a membership fee, (currently $10.00 a year).  Thrivent Financial's goal is to have every congregation supporting the new benefit outreach. The allocation of funds within the Canyonlands Chapter is over $1,200 per congregation.

Care Abounds in Communities(TM):
If the activity is larger and reaches into the community at large, the activity comes under the umbrella of the Care Abounds in Communities(TM) program.  Local Chapter Leadership Boards (of which there are nearly 1,400 nationwide) evaluate these projects for approval, whether the activity involves just one congregation or many congregations, or even if it's out of the local area.  Canyonlands Chapter had an allocation of nearly $7,000 in 2003 which we used entirely for the care programs. We expect that we will be similarly allocated in 2004.

Care in Regions(TM):
If there is a widespread need--a disaster, a particular medical problem, or some major fundraising project, then several Chapters can join together to pool their resources in a Care in Regions(TM) project.  In 2003 several Chapters within the Rocky Mountain Region, including Canyonlands, joined together to raise over $200,000 for the down payment on a young cancer patient's medical procedure.

WHAT ABOUT YOU??
Is there some person or organization that you know could use help?  Would you be willing to  serve on a "Service Team"  to help provide that assistance?  Would you have a little time to serve as a Congregational Coordinator or with the Chapter Leadership Board?  Do you have some suggestions that would benefit or add to the over all program?  A major part of these programs is delivering help to our communities through both volunteer hours provided and Thrivent Financial's financial leverage, and you can help! As Lutherans we believe JESUS came to this earth to provide us with the Greatest Benefit of all time.  Now He is asking us (Matthew 25:31-46) to continue in the work He started in caring for our neighbor and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has an excellent set of programs to help us do that, but WE NEED YOU, at some level of participation to help make it happen!