The Katharina von Bora Luther Endowment Fund (known as “Katie’s Fund”) was created by the churchwide executive board on the tenth anniversary of this organization. The fund is invested with the ELCA Foundation. The decision to use Katie’s Fund for the three purposes outlined in the creation document was lodged with the executive director. No further instruction was given other than the fund is to support programs, resources, and opportunities in these areas: leadership development, global sharing, and living theology.

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The fund opened with an initial gift of $3000. Over the years, thousands of gifts from thousands of donors have come in all sizes, from $1 to $25,000. Gifts have been made by individuals, congregational units, synodical organizations, and other groups. Gifts have come from one-time donations, recurring donations, and through wills and other estate plans. Interest from this fund has helped sustain the operating budget of Women of the ELCA and allowed new initiatives and activities such as learning events, advocacy trainings, and attendance at international Lutheran events.

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In 2022 a capital campaign was begun to add a million dollars to this endowed fund in order to create additional resources for Women of the ELCA including a new grant application process for individuals and units to apply for grants from the interest earnings on the endowment. While in the past the executive director had the ability to award a grant from Katie’s Fund, this is the first time the grant application process will be accessible to units and individuals in the Women of the ELCA.