GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH FOUNDATION NEWS Caring for the Ministry of Grace: "Ecclesia Perpetua" September 2015
Board of Directors Carolyn Warloe President Shelly Lundahl Treasurer Hal Dick Secretary Neil Christensen Director Anne Orwick Director Kris Saathoff Director Bill Strohlein Director Pastor Wendell Hendershott Ex-Officio vacant Ex-Officio Joy Linn Administrative Asst. The Grace Lutheran Church Foundation is a professionally managed corporate nonprofit foundation established by Grace Lutheran Church, Corvallis, Oregon.
	THE WARREN BUFFET EFFECT
	By Bill Strohlein                           This past year, I was invited to consider serving on the Grace Lutheran Church Foundation Board. One of the "hooks" I was enticed with was the comment: "...this is one of the few organizations you will find, that spends more time on giving support (i.e., spending) than fundraising." Though that was not the reason I said yes, it continues to cause me to reflect about the Foundation's future. I'm learning about how the Foundation works hard to match and fulfill the needs represented by grant requests. At the same time, the wishes of those who have been generous givers in the past are respected, and that causes me to reflect personally on my own current and prospective giving. Recently, I attended a presentation on giving co-sponsored by Thrivent Financial and Luther House (OSU). Certainly the focus was more on potential legal incentives and administrative means of giving financial gifts, but it also was a catalyst for considering gifts for which GLCF could be a recipient. We are all familiar with ongoing requests for gifts, and periodic solicitations for giving at our churches and community nonprofits. Early in our lives, we may struggle about how much and where to give, while generally recognizing needs. We think about what our family's need for resources and priorities are compared to those values and understood needs of the solicitors. So, I believe that the early statement regarding Grace Lutheran Church Foundation as being more focused on giving than soliciting is correct. But, let us reflect on WHY the Foundation Board can focus on giving. It is because gracious and responsible persons did give, and many very generously. I am stimulated to reflect and analyze how resources I or others may have that exceed their own and family needs, can be gifted to the Foundation. The wealthy typified by Warren Buffet, are fully aware of this and "give back" to the world community far more than is needed by heirs. We can apply similar thinking, and have the same effect. Such gifts can help others long past our presence on earth and sustain and promote our personal or religious values and priorities. Through the diligence of Foundation Board members, such gifts or earnings from them are used to benefit those in our congregation and the community.

Grace Lutheran Church Foundation Financial Report January 1 - June 30, 2015 Contributions Foundation Total Assets * Expenses $3,485.00 $714,808.36 $11,715.93 Projects Approved MIF4KIDZ Baptism "donations" for     children under age 16, $50 each Upgrade sanctuary lighting to LEDs Sunday School service project     matching funds (Schultz Family Fund) Sandcastle Preschool Scholarships (3) ELCA Youth Gathering     matching funds (Schultz Family Fund) ELCA Youth Gathering Lutheran Staff Assoc. conference Choir music (Kuehn Fund) Children's music - instruments, sheet music     (Schultz Family Fund) Volunteer appreciation Sound system for nave New web site South Corvallis Food Bank refrigerator Library conference for 2 T-shirts for Day of Service Giving It Forward Initiative     1:3 matching funds $300.00 $1,190.59 $627.00 $6,489.00 $4,000.00 $3,500.00 $644.00 $225.00 $175.00 $300.00 $20,000.00 $2,500.00 $4,719.00 $372.34 $700.00 $100,000.00 Memorial Funds Diamond Jubilee celebration Gas fireplace insert Telephone system Library software Children's music - instruments, sheet music $1,500.00 $17.00 $1,200.00 $996.55 $312.50       Total Projects $149,767.984   * The Foundation's total assets on January 1, 2015 were $707,725.93.

The Board of Directors acknowledges the generosity of the following people for donations: March 2015 Wendell Hendershott and Netsie Griffith, Corvallis, OR In Memory of Beverly Johnson Terence and Mildred Elder, Corvallis, OR Marolyn Tarrant, Corvallis, OR April 2015 In Memory of Elaine Sutherland Hal Dick, Corvallis, OR In Memory of Beverly Johnson Carol Erickson, Corvallis, OR In Memory of William Benson Mark and Alice Rampton, Corvallis, OR Bill and Judith Winkler, Corvallis, OR May 2015 In Memory of William Benson Paul Goodmonson, Jr., Corvallis, OR Ron and Kay Larson, Corvallis, OR Benson's Interior, Corvallis, OR George and Peggy Custer, Corvallis, OR Maud Corl, Corvallis, OR Roger and Whitney Lindquist, Corvallis, OR Robert and Marcie Anderson, Corvallis, OR Cy and Cynara Stadsvold, Corvallis, OR Robert and Karen Knoll, Lakeville, MN Theresa Labhart, Corvallis, OR Gerald and June Reese, Brooten, MN Marlene Anderson, Moorhead, MN Gloria Werth, Corvallis, OR What Ministries Do You Love? The Foundation has many funds dedicated to specific ministries, e.g. parish nurse, library, musical instruments. Contact a Board member or see the Foundation's web site for complete information.