Do you want to help a community non-profit organization (not a church) or an individual/family with significant needs? Your request may be eligible for consideration by the local chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The basic procedure to follow includes:
1. A Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member decides he or she wants to form a community service team (committee)to address a need to help an individual, family or qualified not-for-profit organization in the community.
2. The member with the idea finds Thrivent Financial members from at least 5 other households who are willing to help.
3. Thrivent Financial member on the team completes a request. A note of caution here... some chapter have developed their own request form, so you may wish to check with a chapter leader or check the chapter's web site first.
4. As the request form is completed, keep in mind that the funds to be raised should be at least three times as much as the amount that Thrivent Financial will potentially supplement!
5. The completed request form is sent to a chapter leader. Usually the records director or the community service team director is responsible for receiving requests. You may also wish to ask if you could attend the next chapter meeting to answer any questions regarding the request.
6. The chapter leader presents the funding request to the rest of the chapter leadership board for approval at the board's next regular meeting. For immediate needs, the chapter leadership board can meet via teleconference, e-mail or in person to discuss the activity.
7. If approved, a chapter leader will enter the data for the request in the Chapter Admin section in the Members /Chapters area of www.thrivent.com.
8. A chapter leader informs the community service team leader (contact person) of the amount of funding available for the activity.
9. The team adds more volunteers to help with the activity.
10. If the recipient is an individual or a family, obtain a signature on a release form before proceeding with activity plans.
11. Throughout the whole process, accurate records are to be kept. Record:
o the number of Thrivent Financial households involved in volunteering for the activity
o the number of Thrivent Financial members who attend the activity
o the total number of people who attended the activity
o the amount spent
o the net amount raised (net funds raised = the amount raised - the expenditures)
o the volunteer hours of all volunteers (include time spent planning, travelling, publicizing, baking, cleaning-up, etc.)
12. The activity is planned and publicized. All publicity should mention that supplemental funding (not "matching funds") will be provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Please be sure to use the complete company name.
13. The big day arrives and the activity is held! Donors' checks are issued to __________Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Be prepared to provide and sign Acknowledgement of Donation forms, upon request.
14. Take pictures at the activity! But please remember to have each individual (or their parent/guardian) sign a release form.
15. Funds raised are given to the financial director of the chapter.
16. The community service team leader (contact person) provides the results of the activity (Thrivent Financial members participating, volunteer hours, local funds raised, etc.) and submits any receipts from the activity to the chapter leaders.
17. A chapter leader enters the activity results in the Chapter Admin section in the Members/Chapters area of www.thrivent.com. This report automatically triggers the release of funds from Thrivent Financial to the chapter leadership board's checking account.
18. The financial director of the chapter leadership board issues a check to the recipient organization for the net funds raised plus the Thrivent Financial supplement.
19. Thank you notes and post-activity press releases are sent.
All the helpful forms and quick reference guides that will be needed BEFORE, DURING and AFTER a successful Care Abounds in Communities activity may be found by clicking the link below. If another organization is partnering with Thrivent Financial volunteers, some helpful guidelines are in a document that can be found by clicking the link below.
Blessings as you work to spread CARE to others under the Care Abounds in Communities program!