ELCA Foundation Annual Report: 2025
With over $1.2 billion in assets under stewardship, the ELCA Foundation is not only managing resources—it’s multiplying ministry. In 2024 alone, the Foundation’s gift planning network worked with 199 individuals and families to develop plans resulting in $59.9 million in future commitments. Of that, more than $13 million is designated directly to ELCA congregations.
These figures reflect more than numbers—they reveal a growing culture of intentional generosity across our church. In the Grand Canyon Synod and beyond, the ELCA Foundation is a key partner in helping congregations and individuals navigate gift planning, estate strategy, endowments, and legacy giving. Whether your ministry is hoping to create long-term financial sustainability or you’re simply curious about how to leave a legacy, the Foundation offers expert guidance—at no cost to you.
In 2024, the Foundation generated $94.9 million in total gifts and investments, including:
$6.2 million in current gifts (trusts, annuities, and endowments),
$28.7 million in new investments in the Ministry Growth Fund.
This work is about more than fundraising—it’s about faith. As Lutherans, we affirm that all we have is God’s gift and that we are called to be stewards of those gifts, for the sake of the gospel and for the good of the world. The ELCA Foundation helps us live that calling, offering practical tools to match our faithful intentions.
For individuals and congregations in our synod, regional gift planner Lisa Marie Higginbotham, CFRE is ready to assist you in building a culture of generosity that lasts. Whether you’re considering an endowment or exploring new stewardship strategies, Lisa can help you take the next faithful step.
📞 Contact Lisa at lisa.higginbotham@elca.org or 805-910-5048
🌐 Learn more and get started at Foundation.ELCA.org
Let’s continue growing in faith—and in generosity—together.
