1. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Care Abounds in Community Program
A Brief Overview
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Care Abounds in Community Program

2. What is the Care Abounds in Community Program?
A program designed to provide funds and other resources to Chapter members to desire to meet a need within their community. (Thrivent, 2010)

3. Some Eligible Activities
Fundraising Activities
An activity that raises money to support a need, which can then be augmented by Care Abounds in Community funding.
Hands on Service Activities
An endeavor that engages volunteer labor to assemble, develop, enhance or expand something for an identified recipient.
*An important note. These can be done by individual chapters or co-hosted with other organizations
Example of Fundraising Activity- Book Sale to support local library
Example of Hands on Service Activity-Building or improving a local food bank

4. Co-Hosted Events-Some things to keep in mind
When reporting activity results, the service team needs to provide its "fair share" of funds raised, volunteer hours, etc., to the chapter.
A good way to determine fair share is to ask how much more was raised – perhaps based on the number of volunteer hours from Thrivent Financial chapter members
For large activities, it is recommended that the Thrivent Financial community service team be responsible for a specific activity, such as a silent auction, food booth, bake sale, etc.

5. Co-Hosted Events-Some things to keep in mind (Cont’d)
5. The service team should discuss the following with the co-hosting organization when planning the activity:
How the team will be actively involved.
How the chapter will be included in publicity and promotion (e.g., co-hosted by Dane County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans).
How the fair share amount of funds raised and volunteer hours contributed by the team's participation will be determined.
How the deposit to the chapter will be handled, as well as expense receipts.
How and when the funds will be distributed
The fair share of funds raised by the community service team must be deposited into the chapter's checking account.
To help you answer questions from organizations with which you are co-hosting an activity, ask your chapter leaders for a copy of the Multiplying the Good We Do, Together brochure (22670), which they can order

6. How the Care Abounds In Community program works.
There are seven steps to obtaining Care Abounds In Community funding or support. These are:
Identification of a need
Create an Community Service Team
Request for funding
Publicize and conduct the event
Report Event Results to the Thrivent Chapter
Chapter enters Event results to Thrivent Online
Chapter Financial Director Distributes appropriate funding.
Afterwards, we will take a detailed look at each individual step

7. 1. Identification of a Need
A Thrivent Financial member should identify a specific need and the specific type of activity that will be developed to help meet the need of an individual, family, or qualified not for profit organization within the congregation or community.

8. 2. Create a Community Service Team
Must be at least five Thrivent members from different households.
Team can consist of six or more members, both Thrivent members and nonmembers. However, to qualify for CIAC funding, a minimum of six team members, must be members of Thrivent Financial
Appoint one team member as Team Leader to serve as a contact person with you local Thrivent Chapter

9. 3. Request for Funding
Prior to activity or event taking place, preferably early in the planning stages, Team leader contacts the Chapter leadership Board by submitting the Request for Funding(.pdf) form. This can be obtained through Thrivent’s website. Also, keep in mind that there is a December 31 deadline of the current year for receiving funding requests.
Chapter leadership board evaluates funding requests based upon the following criterion:
a. Impact of the activity,
b. Potential volunteer hours
c. Prospective funds raised and attendance
d. Opportunity to advertize the Community Service teams involvement
Upon approval of funding, the Chapter leader will enter the approval online. The leader will also inform the team leader of the approval and the amount of funding available

10. 4. Publicize and conduct the event
Highly important that events sponsored by Thrivent be publicized
Promotional materials(ie sings, posters, bulletin inserts, or news release materials can be obtained either online at Thrivent’s website, or from the Chapter leadership team.

11. 5. Report Event Results to Chapter
After the event is completed, the community service team leader provides the chapter with:
The results of the activity (Thrivent Financial members participating, volunteer hours, local funds raised, etc.).
The net funds raised, so the chapter can deposit the money into the chapter checking account.
Any receipts from the activity.

12. 6. Thrivent Chapter Enters Event Results Online
The chapter enters the event results online as soon as possible after receiving the above information and before December 31 of the current year.
This reporting triggers the release of the Care Abounds in Communities program funds from Thrivent Financial to one of the following:
The chapter's checking account for a fund-raising activity.
The chapter's checking account or an identified person or organization for a hands-on service activity

13. 7. Chapter Financial Director Distributes Appropriate Funds
The Care Abounds in Communities® program funds approved by the chapter and the net funds raised by the service team (which were deposited into the chapter checking account) are paid out in the manner agreed upon by the chapter, service team and recipient. The following is a diagram of how this is achieved:
Chapter leadership board receives fair share of net funds raised from community service team.
Chapter deposits funds into chapter checking account
Chapter enters activity results online to release Care Abounds in Communities supplemental funds to the chapter checking account
Chapter pays out the Care Abounds in Communities funds and the funds raised by the service team in the manner agreed upon by the chapter, service team and recipient .