Concordia Lutheran Ministriesfoundation

The Angel Tear Ministries Fund was established for the purpose of assisting third-party 501(c)(3) organizations to better serve both domestic and foreign communities through Christ-centered programs that provide food, housing, education, and medical care to underserved and underprivileged children and families. Nearly 100 organizations were assisted during fiscal year 2023 including missions supported in over 30 countries and 15 churches. These grants include the funding of care to 1,404 children in Kenya and Ethiopia who have primarily been affected by the AIDs epidemic through Compassion International. Closer to home, the funds are used by organizations to operate soup kitchens, homeless shelters, afterschool programs, and ministry programs. Additionally, assisting those affected by natural disasters has been a core tenant of the organizations mission and the organization has donated to countless organizations to assist in recover effects after natural disasters. The Angel Tears Program houses a $100,000 discretionary fund that is used to help local area organizations and families with fundraising and/or hardship situations. Donations of $5,886 were received to the Angel Tear Ministries Fund.

The Good Samaritan Endowment Fund was established to assist Concordia in fulfilling its charitable mission by helping supplement the organization to allow for more benevolent care for residents with financial needs due to the exhaustion of funds. The fund has been supported through gifts from Concordia, gifts from gracious patients and their family members, and by gifts from the employees of Concordia. $355,196 in donations were received and restricted to the Good Samaritan Endowment Fund during the fiscal year. Concordia has a philosophy of providing care to residents regardless of their ability to pay and provided $1,351,888 in benevolent care in fiscal year 2024. The recipients of charity care reside in all levels of care and include residents served in skilled nursing, personal care, and independent living. In its nearly 140-year history, the organization has never discharged a resident for an in ability to pay. Concordia views benevolent care as a core tenant of its mission and would provide charity care even if the fund did not exist; but due to the support of the fund, Concordia can provide significantly more care to those in need compared to if the entire shortfall due to the benevolent care had to be offset with excesses from other operations.

The Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation Scholars Program assists deserving employees of all affiliates system-wide in reaching their educational goals. The employee scholarship program encompasses several different groups of students. The Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation Scholars Program also has a secondary component that targets schools based on our geographical "footprint" in relation to Concordia facilities. This program awards scholarships both on academic achievements and financial need to graduating seniors matriculating at an undergraduate institution to pursue a degree in a healthcare-related field. The organization also donates to outside organizations through the Stephen W Johnson Mission Award (SWJ Award) .The SWJ Award recognizes employees who exemplify the values of Concordia's mission through their everyday life. The award is Concordia's highest employee honor given in memory of the late Mr. Johnson who was a steward of compassion and spent countless hours supporting and preserving Concordia's mission. The winners are awarded funds to donate to the charity of their choice.