Q: Doubling the number of LCMS students sounds great. Does that mean we will also double the number of church workers?
A: The number of potential church workers will double. Currently, about 60 percent of our pastors, teachers and other church workers are graduates of the Concordia University System.

Q: Who will determine and how will it be determined that a gift or gift account be designated in support of For the Sake of the Church?
A: In every instance, the institution, usually in consultation with the donor, will make the determination. If the gift is designated for endowment, and if the institution designates the gift to its For the Sake of the Church account tally, it will be construed to be part of For the Sake of the Church.

Q: Will this effort end on December 31, 2010?
A: No. We envision that this effort will continue for many years. The stability that is achieved by the end of the next decade will encourage new generations of Lutherans to imitate the generosity of this generation and take the endowment to even higher levels.

Q: Must I participate with a giving plan of 12 years?
A: You may want to do just that, especially if you establish a named endowment and keep adding to it through the years. Some people, however, may make a one-time gift. Others will make regular gifts for a set number of years or occasional gifts on an ongoing basis.

Q: May my gift be designated to the college or university of my choice?
A: Yes. Many people already support one or more of the colleges and universities and will want to designate those schools for their gifts. Each of the 10 schools has its own endowment fund, and For the Sake of the Church gifts may be made directly to those accounts. Concordia University System has established 11 accounts with the LCMS Foundation, one for CUS and one for each school. Each donor will have the opportunity to name one or more accounts to receive an allocated percentage of his/her total gift.

Q: Is there some minimum level of giving?
A: There is no minimum. Designated gifts will be tracked in your personal account, regardless of amount. This is especially important for individuals and families who want to bolster their total endowment with a deferred additional gift through their will, annuity or trust.

Q: It sounds like I can create a customized plan. Is that correct?
A: Certainly. The For the Sake of the Church national staff, as well as development officers at each school and gift planning counselors of the LCMS Foundation, all stand ready to help you set up your own plan. You are encouraged to be as creative as you can, without becoming too restrictive.

Q: What types of commemorative gifts will be welcome?
A: The only limit is your imagination. You may want to establish a named endowment in memory or in honor of a loved one, professor, pastor or teacher. Your witness to future generations may be enhanced if you put your own name(s) on the endowment, as is commonly done.

Q: How do I get started?
A: The easiest way is to choose one of the opportunities listed on the Want to Help? page. Choose an initial amount you would like to give and send it to us with your instructions. You may want to call Blake Tilley at 1-800-248-1930, Ext. 1681 to discuss your plan. You can also contact the Development Officer at your favorite Concordia college or university.

Q: What about recognition?
A: The St. Philip Trust has been established to embrace those who create endowments to support LCMS students in perpetuity. An amount of $60,000 will support one student, based on 1998 estimates. The amount of $30,000 (one-half student support) has been established as the entry level for membership in the St. Philip Trust. Some individual endowments will support many students; for example, an endowment of $600,000 would support 10 students. By the year 2010, we hope to benefit and support 8,600 LCMS students.

Q: May I remain anonymous?
A: Yes, but we do not encourage you to do so. By letting your name stand on a roster of those who support For the Sake of the Church, you are encouraging those who know you to do the same. As more and more families become members of the St. Philip Trust, others will be encouraged to follow their example.