I love things that are good. This gets complicated when one may ask when something is good, is it right? Another may say, who cares if it is good, we want it to be the best!

During the last few weeks in April, I had the chance to travel in Texas with ELCA World Hunger Director Dan Rift visiting pastors, congregations and donors. My travel lasted nearly two weeks from Austin to Fredericksburg to Houston to San Antonio and Dallas. (I drove this route and will have to consider reconciling the carbon footprint left there). 

Popular topics during our visits:

• Issues of water during times of flooding and drought (remember Texas had 100 days of 100+ degree temperatures last year)
• An abundance of wild game in Texas as a possible source of food
• Accompaniment with the companion churches in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone
• Issues related to immigrants and refugees in areas of the US and Mexico border
• Supporting women and girls for employment and education
• Celebrating the multi-cultural mission of the ELCA and new congregations such as Iglesia Luterana Santa Maria de Guadalupe inIrving
• When all are fed, how do we care for the capacity of the earth?

It’s all good!

It is so great to work for ELCA World Hunger, to be in conversation with many individuals and groups about the issues of hunger and poverty in the US and around the world and to encourage how we live and what we can do to make a difference. There is power when we can work together to discuss topics and provide opportunities for engagement. ELCA World Hunger then relies on the leadership of our pastors and synod hunger leaders to keep these issues in front of ELCA members and to understand that we organize a response and action through our church. The financial support and giving that result provide the energy and funding for action and partnership through programs in nearly 60 countries on an annual basis.

But is it right?

There is an incredible dynamic in how each of us is at a different point in our lives and at a different place in learning – in particular about and around the issues we promote through ELCA World Hunger. It is easiest to come together as a group with shared values and interests and giving to similar organizations, but it is a strange ideal. We all have different experiences and strengths, and it is those differences that allow us to bring unique leadership, ideas and understanding when joining a cause or movement.

Our priorities for programs and grants through ELCA congregations and synods, companion churches and partners rely on local, in-country leadership, relationship and expertise. We model our efforts according to accompaniment. ELCA World Hunger funds support local economies. Project requests come to us from the communities that are served.  This methodology is not always perfect, but relationships move forward to the primary objective of sustainable development for the livelihood of communities out of hunger and poverty. ELCA World Hunger is a program of learning, action, and giving to make a difference in so many ways. All are invited into this experience and journey.

We want to be the best!

The ELCA emphasized World Malaria Day on April 25 and is well into the ELCA Malaria Campaign to support essential malaria health services and practices in 11 countries through our companion church relationships.  The campaign aims to raise a minimum $15 million to support these country plans and dramatically reduce occurrence and death by malaria by 2015. Not everyone agrees on our explanation or methodology or program scope or financial goals, but the encouragement is that so many are listening, voicing points of view, and considering how they will act. This is such a poignant moment in the life of our church, for each of us in the ways we live our faith, and in the ways we are active within our world. 

Jesus told us to feed the hungry, give to the poor, befriend the stranger and love our neighbor.  This is the personal, compassionate and very doable call to each of us, and I especially love it when the call brings us back to this center.

Good, Right and Best – participating in these efforts through ELCA World Hunger creates a lot of opportunities and experiences for each of us.  Thank you for your efforts and encouragement.

Peace!

Sharon Magnuson, Associate Director — ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal

ELCA World Hunger has had an annual goal of $18,500,000 for fiscal years 2010, 2011 and now 2012.  As of January 31, 2012, the completion of fiscal year 2011, we are so excited to report that giving from individuals, congregations, synods and others totaled nearly $19,100,000. 

It was possible to exceed our goal thanks to wonderful stewardship, faithful support, and the efforts of many passionate people across this church – pastors, synod hunger leaders, volunteers, donors, advocates, educators.  And now, important programs of relief, development, education and advocacy to address the root causes of hunger and poverty will be funded and implemented as planned. 

We have ambitious financial goals.  Could we grow our program to double such annual giving levels?  How do we engage the membership of the ELCA to own these efforts and the scope of programs?  What is our capacity for the breadth and scope of programs we can support in the U.S. and internationally?

Articles from recent issues of the Chronicle of Philanthropy lack substantive mention about fundraising results of religious-based organizations and philanthropic interests by donors to various denominations.  This is likely because results are not large enough, a significant portion of the pie, to attract attention or merit.  And yet this omission suggests tremendous opportunities even when it comes to fundraising and stewardship for ELCA World Hunger.  Can we change and grow a culture of giving, philanthropy, stewardship and legacy within the church that is not counter to the values of our faith and teachings through scripture?

 Here are some of the hot topics from the Chronicle:

• America’s most wealthy individuals are under a lot of pressure to be philanthropic, and there is scrutiny to consider investment in addressing social problems such as poverty as opposed to other common naming and legacy gifts.
• Of the top 50 philanthropists in the U.S. during 2011, zero gave $5,000,000 or more to a social service group.  Religious organizations and related donor affiliations were not mentioned on the list.
• As government funding is decreased, there will be increased demands for private giving will to make up the difference.  A recent study found that in states with the greatest reductions, private donors would have to increase giving by 60% to make up the difference.  Private philanthropy cannot begin to fund what the government can accomplish, and as a result, advocacy efforts are expected to increase and intensify by nonprofits.
• For continued fundraising success and philanthropic investment, nonprofits must excel at showcasing results and communicating the impact of programs.

One of my favorite worldly quotes is by Sir Winston Churchill – “We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.” 

Is it a challenge then, that in a world where philanthropy can make such a strong statement, we can make a life of faith by what we give, and as people of faith, we can give generously of all that God has given us — in a public way and as an example for others?

Here’s to fiscal year 2012 and creating change in our faithful culture through stewardship and philanthropy.  AND to our efforts together to support a future in an ecumenical world where hunger and poverty are reduced and all communities thrive!

Sharon Magnuson, Associate Director — ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal

In recent days, my colleagues have been restless and anxious about doing more to share the story and seek financial support for the “hunger” related emergency in Eastern Africa, particularly in Kenya and Ethiopia where abnormally low rainfall in the last two years has created serious drought and famine that will affect approximately 10,000,000 people.  The situation in Kenya is further impacted by a population explosion of people arriving daily into the refugee camps from Somalia and Sudan.  (See ELCA news release).

The ELCA Disaster Response has been involved in this region during the last year by providing funding to The Lutheran World Federation to assist in the operations of the Dadaab refugee camp in Eastern Kenya.  Ideally this camp supports a community of 90,000, but at the present has had to expand to accept approximately 380,000.  Additionally, the ELCA Disaster Response can be so effective in dire times because of the base of relationships that already exist in these countries through the history of ELCA World Hunger funding and program support.   

When disasters occur, my colleagues at the ELCA Churchwide Office respond like a machine out of shared compassion and concern.  A new fund may be opened to specifically define how gifts will be used.  Press releases, congregational bulletin inserts, and gift forms are created to describe the emergency conditions and how the ELCA is involved or affected in the community that is suffering.  These messages encourage action through prayers of support and making gifts to provide relief and recovery.  Situation reports are then posted on the web site to provide updates on the critical details of the response and related progress in the communities being served.

What can we do to help?

• There is nothing more powerful than prayer.  Pray for those who may be hungry and thirsty as a result of the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.
• Make a gift to support the ELCA’s ongoing response to one or more of our related funds such as the Horn of Africa Drought Relief, ELCA International Disaster Response and/or ELCA World Hunger. 
• Follow these programs through the situation reports and information posted on the ELCA Disaster Response and ELCA World Hunger web sites.

Thank you for your awareness of and participation in these efforts.

In peace, Sharon Magnuson, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal

Ever since my junior year in high school, I’ve always wanted to be a runner.  Now over 30 years later and as the half-century birthday approaches, I still have not accomplished the goal.  There is nothing better than fun runs and community cycling events, but my body is not getting any younger.  It is no longer possible to ignore training or regular exercise in order to go out and jog an enjoyable 5k.

It is terrific to work with ELCA World Hunger and be inspired by the expertise and efforts of my colleagues and our Hunger Network of volunteers and friends across the country.  About six months in, I saw a document that referenced our staff philosophies which included Michael Pollan (author of Omnivore’s Dilemma) suggestions of eating “less, lower, and local.”  Oops!  This was news to me, and I was definitely not in compliance.

In my career as a fundraiser to encourage giving with an understanding of donor motivations — whether related to faithful stewardship and traditional, intentional tithing or more philanthropic decisions to make a difference and leave a legacy, individuals most often explain that their gifts are made out of gratitude for countless blessings.

Out of gratitude for health, happiness, peace, and an abundance of food options, I need to make some changes in order to practice what I preach!

I have a little dream to create some really great running, cycling or work-out shirts for ELCA World Hunger that could be worn during  events or visits to the gym, where people could creatively promote awareness and encourage giving through the celebration of health and their own physical exercise.  Imagine little herds of shirts showing up in fun runs across the country and photos being shared! 

On a recent trip to Los Alamos, New Mexico, a couple hosted dinner in their home celebrating the gifts of their garden!  This was such a lovely and delicious tribute to our work together.  We enjoyed pesto over homemade pasta, salad, and rhubarb pie.

I live in a condo and do not have an acceptable space to grow vegetables.  Or do I?  I could grow lettuce and herbs on my window sill, and maybe I could push the limits of the condo association with a few pots on the back porch?

Recently, our Hunger Leaders in Southwest Texas Synod sent the attached photo of their Hunger synod assembly display.  Members were challenged to employ square foot gardens as a way to grow their own vegetables and in the process figure out how much money they saved with home grown produce and send the difference to ELCA World Hunger.  When you also incorporate the concept of eating lower and local, this is truly a celebration of the earth’s bounty and all of our blessings.

Do you ever feel you’re on the verge of something?  It’s time to incorporate some changes in my health regimen and live this work fully.  Summer seems easy, and it’s good to think about how to make this the priority all year round.

Sharon Magnuson