Michael Fischer

About

Michael “Mike” Fischer serves as the senior gift planning advocate for the Mission Advancement (MADV) unit of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). In this role, Fischer supervises the MADV gift planning team in addition to serving individual contributors in implementing their gift (estate) plans. Furthermore, he assists individuals in leveraging non-cash assets to make current gifts to LCMS ministries. Fischer began his service to the LCMS in 2014 as a mission advocate before becoming a gift planning advocate in 2020.

A pastor's son, Fischer received a bachelor's degree from Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Neb. (now Concordia University, Nebraska) with a double major in biology and physical education. He received a master's degree in secondary school administration from the University of Houston. Fischer holds professional development designations as a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Development Executive (CDE).

After graduating, Fischer taught at the secondary level for nine years before serving eight years as executive director at Southeast Lutheran High School, Southgate, Calif., and Faith Lutheran Junior-Senior High School, Las Vegas. In 1992, Fischer began work as a gift planning counselor for the LCMS Foundation in the LCMS Pacific Southwest District. He then served as vice-president for the Western Region of the LCMS Foundation as well as assistant to its president, providing development services to large congregations within the church body. In 2001, he accepted a call to begin a new gift planning program for Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF). After seven years with LCEF, he accepted a call to serve at Lutheran Braille Workers in Yucaipa, Calif., and then at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Chandler, Ariz.

Fischer has served as chapter president, conference chair and board member for the Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE). He also served on the CFRE International Advisory Council, the premier international certification agency for development. In 2010, he received the President's Award for exemplary service to ALDE. Fischer has finished his 50th year of service in various LCMS ministries.

Fischer and his wife, Karen, live in Phoenix. They are blessed with three married sons and nine grandchildren.