Thrivent Financial Boosts St. Croix Lutheran High's Development Program

St. Croix Lutheran High School of West St. Paul announced plans to build its legacy through a charitable gifts initiative thanks to a $100,000 grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. St. Croix plans to use the funds to grow a development project already in place and finance a new position in the development office that will concentrate on charitable giving options.

Thrivent recently awarded $4.5 million as part of a charitable giving initiative to help organizations meet their growth goals through increased funding, with 63 grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 going to Lutheran organizations around the nation. The $100,000 grant to St. Croix was among the largest gifts awarded, and was one of nine grants to Twin Cities-area projects. 

"We are extremely grateful for this generous award. This grant will provide our school with an excellent opportunity to build a legacy through charitable gifts," said Jim Pasbrig, director of resource development at St. Croix Lutheran High School. "Our mission to educate the total student spiritually, intellectually and physically is only possible with the help of generous support. We are certain that these new funds will help our donors understand the importance of their commitment and the options available."

Recognizing a changing financial landscape where congregation support represents only 8 percent of its budget, down from 20 percent a decade ago, St. Croix began piloting a development program in August based on the "Raising More Money" model created by Terry Axelrod. With the grant money from Thrivent, St. Croix plans to expand the model to include a legacy gifts component to sustain the school's ministry for future generations. St. Croix hopes to develop an ever-increasing sustainable core of supporters that will contribute to the annual budget and, through a continuing relationship with the school's ministry, become viable candidates for deferred and estate legacy gifts.

"When we established the fund to foster charitable giving, it was our goal to partner with Lutheran organizations that had a plan for an initial gift that would improve their ability to generate funds," said Tim Schmidt, a managing partner at Thrivent Financial. "St. Croix is an extremely qualified match for this grant and we are delighted to support their dedication to Lutheran students and families."

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