FAQs

What are ELCA Good Gifts?

ELCA Good Gifts are a creative, meaningful way to support the ministries of the ELCA that mean the most to you and your loved ones. These gifts are real examples from projects currently supported through ELCA churchwide ministries: the ELCA Fund for Leaders, ELCA Global Church Sponsorship, ELCA New Congregations, ELCA Vision for Mission, ELCA World Hunger, Disability Ministries and Lutheran Disaster Response. Each of these programs is a long-term, partnership-based ministry that focus on the needs identified by local congregations and global companion churches and their communities.

How does this work?

Your donation will be used where it is needed most within the wider category of each gift selected. For example, a gift of vaccinations may be used to support other health care initiatives. This allows our church to stay adaptive, flexible and effective in the work that we do.

Can I specify where my gift will go or track where my donation was used?

The ELCA is at work in nearly 90 countries around the world, including the United States. Because we seek to honor your generosity and keep administrative costs low, we do not track individual financial gifts to specific families or locations in the U.S. or abroad.

What are your administrative costs?

Nearly 90% of your gifts directly support our programs; a little more than 10% of your gifts are used for administration and fundraising. Because of our long-standing, local partnerships around the world, our administrative costs are significantly lower than those of other organizations.

How do I get cards?

When you give online, you’ll have four greeting card options to choose from at checkout:

  1. Personalize a message for the inside of your card online and we will mail the card to your loved one.
  2. Mail yourself a blank card to personalize at home.
  3. Send an e-card with a personal message on the date of your choosing.
  4. Download a digital version of the card to print at home (the PDF will be available at checkout and also linked in your email receipt).

Fill your cart with ELCA Good Gifts; you will be prompted to select your card option(s) after you complete your billing information. Physical cards have an image representing the gift on the outside (a preview image is available on the product page) with a description of the gift and its impact on the inside. E-cards include your personalized message, along with an image and a short description of the gift.

If you’re giving through the mail, you can request a blank, printed card for each of your gifts, to be sent to your home. You must request these cards with the order form found inside of the ELCA Good Gifts catalog. The customized options (above) are available only with online gifts.

What is the difference between ELCA Good Gifts and similar organizations?

Many other organizations are doing wonderful work around the world, and some do work in similar ways. A main difference between the ELCA and other programs is that this church receives almost all the money to fund our work directly from congregations and members, and almost all the money that we distribute goes to support work being carried out by our congregations, global companion churches and ecumenical partners. This is unique, because the church itself our delivery system. It is successful because our church is present around the world and already connected with and trusted by communities. And finally, our work is sustainable. Our churches and partners are the ones who identify local needs and solutions; we just help to make those dreams a reality.

How can I talk about the importance of animals with others?

The animals of God’s Global Barnyard are among our most popular gifts. Your gifts to God’s Global Barnyard support the sustainable development ministries of ELCA World Hunger, which include training, education, resources and much more. These ministries help communities care for animals, which creates new market opportunities such as selling eggs, meat or dairy products. Your gifts support this comprehensive approach to animal husbandry.

In an effort to help educate others — like your Sunday school class — about the relationship between animals and hunger, we've created the "Animals and Hunger Toolkit," which provides lessons, activities and more to explore how animals help families and communities in need.

How can I share examples of different families that have been impacted by our gifts?

For videos and stories of different families and communities who have been impacted by ELCA World Hunger and other ministries featured in ELCA Good Gifts, check out our videos and stories.

Questions? Comments?

Have a question or comment for us? Please give us a call at 800-638-3522 or email us at [email protected].