Siebert Serves

Siebert Lutheran Foundation, for the first time in its nearly 45-year history, is accepting funds from donors and foundations who align with Siebert’s funding priorities and wish to increase their impact. Through leveraging the expertise Siebert has developed over its decades of achieving Gospel impact in the church and community, philanthropists can benefit from its:

  • Deep knowledge of the Lutheran community and its leaders in Wisconsin, especially Greater Milwaukee 
  • Professional program officers with a defined and analytical due diligence process
  • Follow-up reporting and outcomes evaluation to assess impact 


Type of services offered

  • Customized philanthropy consulting services for Christian/Lutheran families or family-held businesses considering how to increase the impact of their philanthropy 
  • Support for established Christian/Lutheran family foundations or philanthropy programs, e.g. back office, technology, program/grant due diligence, impact evaluation, selection of asset management services – customized to donor’s needs


Type of gifts accepted

  • Unrestricted gifts for current needs
  • Unrestricted gifts for endowment, bequests, estate gifts 
  • Pass-through grants to programs and organizations that align with one or more of Siebert’s three Gospel-focused priorities and mission (pass-through fee is generally 2%) 
  • Directed gifts for specific Gospel Impact Funds that support mission-related programs:
    • Education & Youth Development (Pan-Lutheran)
    • Ministry Innovation & Leadership (Pan-Lutheran)
    • Poverty Alleviation & Pathways to Self-Sufficiency (Pan-Lutheran)  
    • ELCA Fund – Special interest fund to support exclusively ELCA ministries
    • WELS Fund – Special interest fund to support exclusively WELS ministries
    • LCMS Fund – Special interest fund to support exclusively LCMS ministries
    • Other named funds as endowed by donors ($50,000 minimum)

This is a comprehensive "Creative Ways of Giving" document that provides examples of gifts you can give now (such as appreciated assets or from an IRA or Donor Advised Fund) or ways to give later (such as through a will, contract, or retirement plan).


Innovative strategies also being explored to increase resources for Gospel impact

  • Collaborators’ strategy to involve high net worth donors, multi-generational families, and foundations
  • Estate planning coaching, in partnership with congregations
  • Partnering with national foundations who wish to increase impact in southeastern Wisconsin or statewide  

For more information or to make a gift through Siebert Serves, please email Siebert's President Charlotte John-Gomez or call 414.269.2834