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Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing

Annual Giving
$95.0M
Grant Range
From $0K
Decision Time
1w

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $95 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $847 million (December 31, 2024)
  • Grant Range: Minimum $100 per grant (no stated maximum)
  • Geographic Focus: Local, national, and international communities
  • Charities Supported: Over 9,100 charities (2024)
  • Total Since Inception: $2.36 billion in gifts facilitated since 1995

Contact Details

Main Office: 600 Portland Ave Suite 4100 Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone: 800-365-4172 or 612-844-4110

Email:

Website: thriventcharitable.thrivent.com

Overview

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing (EIN 41-1802412) was established in 1994 (formerly Lutheran Community Foundation and InFaith Community Foundation) and rebranded in April 2021. The organization is a 501(c)(3) public charity with $847 million in assets under management as of December 31, 2024. Their mission is to empower generosity by making it easy for anyone to give to causes they cherish. The organization operates primarily through donor-advised funds (DAFs), organizational endowments, and collaborative impact funds. In 2024, they distributed $95 million to over 9,100 charities across local, national, and international communities. Thrivent Charitable holds a Four-Star rating (100% score) from Charity Navigator, demonstrating strong financial health and accountability. The organization has facilitated $2.36 billion in total gifts since its founding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Thrivent Charitable operates three primary funding mechanisms:

1. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)

  • Minimum grant: $100
  • No maximum stated
  • Rolling basis - donors recommend grants at their discretion
  • Grants typically distributed within 5-7 business days after approval
  • Online portal available for grant recommendations

2. Organizational Endowment Funds

  • Designed for nonprofits to build long-term sustainability
  • Provides annual distributions to designated organizations

3. Collaborative Impact Funds

  • Pool resources from multiple donors to address larger community issues
  • Invitation-only process
  • Grants made to specific focus areas determined by fund parameters
  • Community Fund supports organizations addressing systemic disparities and sustainable change

Eligible Organizations

Organizations must be IRS-qualified public charities, including:

  • 501(c)(3) public charities
  • Governmental organizations
  • Religious organizations

What They Don't Fund

Thrivent Charitable cannot approve grants for:

  • Organizations providing incidental benefit to donors (event tickets, auction items, raffle tickets)
  • Fulfilling pledges or fundraising commitments
  • Grants directed to or benefiting specific individuals
  • Organizations whose purpose is not solely charitable (cemeteries, VFW, fraternal societies)
  • Private non-operating foundations
  • Supporting organizations (501(c)(3)s identified in 509(a)(3)) without Type I or Type II IRS determination letters

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Mandy K. Tuong

Board Chair: Kurt Senske

Key Staff:

  • Max Erickson - Executive & Board Liaison
  • Greg Shamey - Vice President, Charitable Giving Services
  • Cindy Aegerter - Manager, Charitable Giving Services
  • Ben Boline, J.D. - Charitable Solutions Consultant
  • Josh Dluhos - Charitable Solutions Consultant
  • Nikki Johnson, J.D. - Gift Planner
  • Molly Petitjean, J.D. - Charitable Solutions Consultant
  • Jason Schiltz - Gift Planner

Leadership Quotes:

On the organization's mission and collaboration with Thrivent, President & CEO Mandy Tuong stated: "We're thrilled to be walking alongside Thrivent as they help people achieve financial clarity, because at Thrivent Charitable, we know that financial clarity strengthens our ability to help people truly express what is in their hearts as they give back."

She further emphasized: "Our new name and deeper collaboration reflect so many exciting possibilities for the future. Together, we have – and will continue – to strengthen our communities, creating positive impact and inspiring lasting change."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Thrivent Charitable does not have a public application process. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant requests directly to Thrivent Charitable.

Instead, grants are distributed through:

  1. Individual donor recommendations - Donors who have established donor-advised funds with Thrivent Charitable decide which organizations to support and when
  2. Collaborative funds - Invitation-only process where grants are made according to defined fund parameters

Getting on Their Radar

For Donor-Advised Fund Support: Organizations seeking funding should focus on:

  • Building relationships with individual Thrivent Charitable donors who might recommend grants from their DAFs
  • Ensuring proper 501(c)(3) status and IRS qualification
  • Being prepared to accept electronic ACH deposits (recommended for faster processing)

For Collaborative Fund Consideration:

  • These opportunities are by invitation only
  • Focus on organizations addressing systemic disparities with sustainable, long-term programming
  • Community Fund specifically supports collaborative organizations working on emerging local, national, and international needs

Grant Processing Timeline

  • Thrivent Charitable performs due diligence on all grant requests
  • Once approved, grants are typically distributed within 5-7 business days
  • Organizations receive notification with donor contact information (when donor permits)

Acknowledgment Requirements

When receiving grants:

  • DO thank donors directly using contact information provided
  • DO NOT issue tax receipts to donors (they already received deductions when contributing to their DAF)
  • Provide banking information for electronic ACH deposits to expedite grant receipt

Application Success Factors

Since Thrivent Charitable operates through donor-directed giving rather than competitive applications, success depends on:

1. Maintaining Strong 501(c)(3) Standing

  • Ensure current IRS determination letter
  • Maintain qualification as public charity
  • Keep organizational information updated

2. Building Donor Relationships

  • Connect with individual Thrivent Charitable donors
  • Demonstrate clear mission alignment with donor values
  • Provide regular updates on organizational impact

3. Organizational Readiness

  • Set up electronic ACH deposit capability for faster grant receipt
  • Prepare clear, compelling case for support materials that donors can reference
  • Ensure contact information is current and accessible

4. Understanding Funding Restrictions

  • Never present grants as fulfilling pledges or commitments
  • Avoid requests for event tickets, auction items, or donor benefits
  • Focus on charitable mission work, not operational overhead of non-charitable organizations

5. For Collaborative Fund Consideration

  • Demonstrate work addressing systemic issues
  • Show sustainable, long-term programming approach
  • Focus on collaborative models with measurable community impact
  • Wait for invitation rather than submitting unsolicited proposals

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct application process - Focus on donor relationship building rather than grant proposals to Thrivent Charitable directly
  • Low grant minimum ($100) - Makes the organization accessible for donors to support many causes
  • Fast processing (5-7 days) - Once a donor recommends a grant and it's approved, funding arrives quickly
  • Broad geographic reach - Supports local, national, and international charities, not limited to Minnesota
  • High donor satisfaction - Four-star Charity Navigator rating and 30 years of operations indicate strong stewardship
  • Multiple giving vehicles - Donor-advised funds, endowments, and collaborative funds provide different pathways to support
  • Invitation-only collaborative funds - For organizations seeking larger pooled grants, focus on building reputation in specific issue areas rather than direct outreach

References

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