Lutheran Collaborative Funds

These funds support programs and services of church bodies—Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS)—and their ministries. You can collaborate with Thrivent Charitable and other donors to make the change that matters most to you.

Strong leaders help communities flourish. Thrivent Charitable's support is helping the ELCA invest in the people who will guide, inspire, and serve future generations. Through leadership development programs, seminary partnerships, apprenticeships, and support for new and emerging leaders, the ELCA is creating pathways for individuals to discover their calling and develop the skills and confidence to live it out.

These investments reach far beyond the individuals who participate. Each pastor, deacon, lay leader, or young apprentice who is equipped through these programs carries their gifts into congregations, neighborhoods, and communities, touching countless lives through encouragement, service, and faith-filled leadership.

Together, Thrivent Charitable donors are helping cultivate a new generation of leaders who will strengthen congregations, foster belonging, and share hope in communities for years to come. By investing in leadership today, donors are helping ensure that faithful, compassionate leaders will continue to inspire and serve wherever they are called.

Thrivent Charitable's support has helped strengthen and expand LCMS disaster response capacity across the Gulf South region, enabling the ministry to serve more people when they need it most. Through this investment, Forged by Fire and its volunteer network provided approximately 24,100 meals to disaster survivors, first responders, school communities, and families facing hardship. The program also distributed 980 emergency food boxes containing several days' worth of food and shared more than 5,500 cross necklaces, creating opportunities for encouragement, prayer, and meaningful human connection.

Beyond immediate relief, Thrivent Charitable's support has helped build lasting community resilience. Funding has strengthened volunteer recruitment and training efforts, including Basic LERT, Chainsaw, and Food Preparation programs, expanding the number of equipped volunteers ready to respond during future disasters. The investment has also helped establish new disaster response teams, foster partnerships across districts and congregations, and create a model that other regions are beginning to replicate.

Most importantly, this support has enabled LCMS to respond with both care and compassion. Whether serving hot meals after a hurricane, delivering food boxes to struggling families, supporting first responders, or offering prayers and encouragement during difficult times, Thrivent Charitable's partnership helps bring hope, practical assistance, and a sense of community to people facing crisis. Together, this work demonstrates how generosity can meet immediate needs while creating stronger networks of care for the future.

To make a gift to one of these collaborative funds now, visit our make a gift page or request a transfer from your donor-advised fund. Please specify ELCA, LCMS or WELS Collaborative Fund. Or consider amplifying your generosity with a deferred gift (Give Later).