Strengthening Lutheran Services through Collaborations: Funding Opportunities and Maximizing Resources

1. Welcome Lutheran Service Agencies andLutheran Foundation of St. Louis Partnering for Effective Collaborations

2. Today’s Purpose of Meeting • Update LFB on Lutheran Services Project • Define Collaboration – Funding Goals and Objectives • Transparency of funding opportunities for Lutheran Service Agencies seeking collaborative funding

3. Lutheran Services Project • Engaging 200+ Board members, staff members, volunteers and donors, from 6 agencies, in an Appreciative Quest to Strengthen Services and Maximize Resources. Focusing On: • Governance / Administration • Voluntarism • Communication • Funding • Personal Interviews; 5 Mini-retreats; Board Meetings and a 2 Day Summit • Mapping Agency Strengths • Discovering Collective Visions for Collaboration

4. Friends of Mom’s Lutheran Ministry Agency Council of Lutheran Churches Lutheran Family and Children Services Good Samaritan Partners in Urban Ministry Agencies Identified- Missions, Strengths & Collaborative Desires

5. Definition of Collaboration • Collaboration is a mutually beneficial and well defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve a common goals. Chris Huxham, Barbara Gray,Barbara Monsey,

6. Lutheran Foundation Board Definition • Two or more working together -9 • Streamline duplication -6 • Working to reach a goal-6 • Impact /numbers reached-4 • Finding a common ground/purpose-4 • Clarification and communication of purpose-2 • Stewardship/ improvement-2

7. Collaborative Benefits, as Defined by the Lutheran Foundation Board • Reduce Redundancy -8 • Greater Impact of Services -5 • Resources will stretch further-5 • More Effective / Stronger Agencies - 4 • Better Understanding of Agencies - 1

8. Definitions introduced to Agencies -Collaborate • Collaborate- a very positive form of working in association with others for some form of mutual benefit

9. Definitions introduced to Agencies -Collaboration • A specific breed of collaboration, the type that attempts to build some strength or capacity greater than that present in the partners as independent organizations. • Enhance each partners ability to achieve their desired business or financial results. • Sustainable gains in the ability to achieve desired goals in the long run.

10. Def. introduced to Agencies -Collaborative Advantage • is achieved when something unusually creative is produced- that no organization could have produced on its own and when each organization, through the collaboration is able to achieve its own objectives better than it could alone

11. Distinguishing the forms of collaboration

12. LSA Collaborative Priorities:

13. Any Areas of Collaboration “Off Limits” to Further Discussions? • Mergers (Good Sam) • The answer to this question depends on the definition one gives to “collaboration.” If this term means organic merger then it will not happen for PIUM. If it means engaging in cooperative but non-binding joint ministries and events, then it is most likely this WILL happen (PIUM Board Member) • The only merger with PIUM that I see making sense would be with CLC as we are similar. The other agencies we will gladly collaborate with when ever possible. (PIUM Staff)

14. LFB Experience with Successful Collaborations

15. Lutheran Foundation Board:Wildest Dream of Collaboration

16. Activity: Fundraising Objective - To Increase Donations and Stewardship • Tools: • Grant Writing (Corporate, Foundation, Government) • Annual Drives • Special Events • Planned Giving / Endowments Strategies: • Merger • Alliance/Partnerships • Shared Services

17. What Makes a Good Collaborative Partner, as defined by the LFB • Assets / Strengths -7 • Different Strengths / Financially Secure • Same Vision / Goals –5 • Same Values -5 • Honesty / Trust -3 • Integrity/Ethics -2

18. LSA Summit – Collaborative Topics Friday 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. • 1. Joint Purchasing Opportunities (Supplies, Health Insurance) • 2. Grant Writing -Corporate, Government, Family Foundations • 3. Communications – Inter Agency -Written, Electronic & Oral: Referrals, Agency Needs for Clients, etc • 4. Non-Profit Governance - Board Trainings, Other Trainings, Annual Meeting of All Boards

19. LSA Summit – Collaborative Topics Saturday 8:45 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. • Shared Staffing – Development, HR, Clerical, Financial & Outsourcing • Facility Sharing and Satellite Offices • External Communications - Electronic, Written & Oral; Donors and General Public • Funding from Individuals / Special Events

20. LSA Summit – Collaborative Topics Saturday 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. • Voluntarism (Recruitment, Training, Cross Training on all agencies • Funding Options for Partners Who Collaborate • Conversations with Congregations • Technology - Website, electronic billing, financial recordkeeping, statistical software

21. Well defined forms of collaboration from the LFB • The actions ( in what area’s) • The forms (what forms) • The outcomes or goals

22. Big Questions • Impact • Model of Sustainability • Survival • Reaching back to the congregations

23. Activity: Lutheran Foundation Funding • What Incentive Funding Opportunities can the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis offer these agencies to encourage and sustain these collaborative efforts for the next three years? What are the actions, hopes, and requests you have to move this collaborative effort forward?

24. Lutheran Services Summit • Concordia Lutheran Church – Dining Hall • Friday, September 12th (8:30 – 4:00) • Saturday, September 13th (8:30 – 1:00) PLEASE COME!