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Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,518,326 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Applications due September 30; decision timeline not specified
  • Grant Range: Not specified (average ~$237,000 based on 57 awards in 2023)
  • Geographic Focus: International and domestic, with preference for organizations near Concordia facilities in western Pennsylvania

Contact Details

Foundation Office

Overview

Founded in 1881 as the Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Orphans and Old Peoples Home, Concordia Lutheran Ministries has served western Pennsylvania for over 140 years. The Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation (EIN: 20-5138266) serves as the primary charitable outreach arm for the Concordia Lutheran Ministries network of companies. In 2023, the Foundation distributed $13,518,326 in grants through 57 awards, supporting nearly 100 unique third-party organizations across over 30 countries, as well as funding operations of other Concordia network companies. The Foundation focuses on faith-based organizations serving children, families, and the elderly while maintaining its Christian mission to serve "the Triune God by providing for the needs of His people." The organization holds a 3/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Angel Tear Ministries Fund - Primary grant program for third-party organizations

  • Purpose: Assist faith-based 501(c)(3) organizations serving domestic and international communities through Christ-centered programs
  • Application deadline: September 30 annually
  • Funded nearly 100 organizations in fiscal year 2023, including missions in over 30 countries and 15 churches

Good Samaritan Endowment Fund - $1,401,907 distributed in 2023

  • Purpose: Assist Concordia Lutheran Health and Human Care in providing benevolent care for residents with financial needs

Angel Tears Discretionary Program - $100,000 fund

  • Purpose: Help local area organizations and families with fundraising or hardship situations

Priority Areas

Preference given to:

  • Health, education, and general welfare of children, including orphans
  • Basic human needs: food, potable water, clothing, shelter, assisted living resources
  • Elderly care needs
  • Medical resource access
  • Literacy and vocational skills improvement
  • Programs focusing on programming rather than capital improvements
  • Projects that encourage self-sufficiency and community responsibility

Geographic consideration:

  • Geographic proximity to Concordia Lutheran Ministries facilities (western Pennsylvania) may be considered in evaluation

Example funded programs:

  • Compassion International: Caring for 1,404 children in Kenya and Ethiopia affected by AIDS epidemic
  • Veterans Place: Services for low-income veteran families and female veterans transitioning out of homelessness
  • Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, afterschool programs, ministry programs

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations that are not faith-based (grants only extended to faith-based organizations)
  • Full project costs (maximum grant request is 50% of total anticipated project costs)
  • Preference against capital improvements, administrative costs/salaries, or transportation (programming preferred)

Governance and Leadership

Board Structure:

  • 16 board members comprise Concordia's governing body
  • Board members represent 27 member churches, all part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)
  • Oversight for 12 subsidiary corporations including the Foundation

Recent Board Members (2023):

  • Rev. Ronald Breight, Christ Lutheran Church
  • Rande Casaday, First Vice President of Investments at Stifel Financial
  • Cindy Cwynar, Benefits Analyst at Paragon Systems
  • Fred Heintz Jr., Retired Staff Attorney
  • Gail Holzer, Executive Director at Redeemer Lutheran School

Executive Leadership:

  • Keith Frndak, CEO of Concordia Lutheran Ministries

Organizational Values: The Foundation operates according to seven core principles: serve with "compassion, excellence, and high ethical standards"; value employees as "valuable assets"; "constantly improve our organization at every level"; serve residents as "unique individuals with unique needs"; communicate "openly, fairly, and honestly"; manage resources wisely with a "scarce dollar mindset"; and manage affairs according to "Biblical standards."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Angel Tear Ministries Fund Application:

  • Annual application deadline: September 30 (for following calendar year funding)
  • Applications submitted through online portal on Concordia Lutheran Ministries website
  • Contact Foundation Office with questions: 724-352-1571, ext. 8363 or giving@concordialm.org

Application Requirements:

  • Must be a faith-based 501(c)(3) organization
  • Clearly describe project objectives
  • Explain how project success (or lack thereof) will be evaluated
  • Limit grant request to no more than 50% of total project costs
  • Demonstrate how project encourages individuals/community to help themselves
  • Show progression toward beneficiaries assuming greater responsibility for self-help

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timeline after September 30 deadline is not publicly disclosed. Contact the Foundation Office directly for notification timeline information.

Success Rates

  • 57 awards made in 2023
  • 44 awards made in 2022
  • Nearly 100 organizations assisted in fiscal year 2023
  • Specific application-to-award ratio not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in publicly available information. Contact Foundation Office for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Focus on Programming Over Infrastructure: Concordia explicitly states preference for "organizations that focus their proposals on programming over those that focus on capital improvements, administrative costs/salaries, or transportation."

Demonstrate Self-Sufficiency Approach: The Foundation expects "projects should encourage the individuals and/or community being served to do everything (however small) to help themselves, with people being helped advancing toward assuming greater responsibility for helping themselves." This "pump-priming" philosophy should be clearly articulated in proposals.

Faith-Based Mission Alignment: All grants are extended exclusively to faith-based organizations. Applications should demonstrate Christ-centered programming and alignment with Lutheran values of service.

Clear Evaluation Metrics: Applications must include "an explanation of how the success (or lack thereof) of the project will be evaluated and described." Strong applications will include specific, measurable outcomes.

Children and Basic Needs Focus: Priority given to projects addressing "health, education and general welfare of children, including orphans" and "basic human needs including but not limited to food, potable water, clothing, shelter and assisted living resources."

Geographic Proximity: While the Foundation supports international missions, "geographic proximity to one of Concordia Lutheran Ministries facilities may be considered as part of the evaluation process." Western Pennsylvania organizations may have an advantage.

Sustainable Impact: The Foundation values projects with long-term sustainability rather than one-time needs, emphasizing programs that create lasting change.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Faith-based requirement is absolute - Only organizations with Christian mission need apply; this is non-negotiable for Concordia
  • Request no more than 50% of project costs - The Foundation explicitly does not intend to provide full funding; demonstrate other funding sources
  • Emphasize programming, not overhead - Focus proposal on direct service delivery rather than capital improvements, salaries, or administrative costs
  • Show beneficiary empowerment - Demonstrate how your project moves people toward self-sufficiency and greater responsibility
  • Include concrete evaluation methods - Strong applications specify exactly how outcomes will be measured and success determined
  • Annual September 30 deadline - Plan applications well in advance; late submissions not accepted
  • Contact Foundation Office early - Staff available at 724-352-1571 ext. 8363 for application guidance and questions

References

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