wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Online giving sees 'dramatic' increase

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	February 10, 2005 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 10

	Online giving sees 'dramatic' increase

	Response to the South Asia tsunami disaster and a new system for
receiving gifts on the Synod's Web site have led to a dramatic increase
in online giving to LCMS ministries, says the manager of online giving
for the LCMS Foundation.

	Rev. Earl Feddersen said that during the entire 2003-04 fiscal
year that ended June 30, there were 354 online gifts totaling $91,275.
But just since September, when a new online-giving system -- Feddersen
calls it the "Give Now" system -- was introduced, there have been more
than 1,200 gifts totaling nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

	"While the highly publicized, heart-wrenching tsunami crisis in
Asia is responsible for a large part of the increase, gifts to all
ministries on the new system have at least doubled," Feddersen said.

	The new system places buttons labeled "give now" on specific
LCMS ministry Web pages. When a visitor clicks on the button, a giving
form pops up that is only for that ministry. If a gift is submitted, the
giver is given the option to view additional giving opportunities.

	Feddersen reported that 18 gifts averaging a little more than
$100 each came in on the new "Give Now" system from September through
November. In December, there were 506 gifts totaling $120,402.67 --
nearly $238 per gift.

	In just three days of giving, the tsunami disaster accounted for
381 of the 506 gifts received online in December, Feddersen added. The
three-day total in December for the tsunami was $68,610.67.

	By Jan. 25, LCMS World Relief/Human Care had received 1,132
online gifts for tsunami relief totaling $197,205.56, he said.

	The "Give Now" system replaces the former online "Giving
Catalog."

	"It's made a tremendous difference," Feddersen said of the new
system. "We were getting many complaints with the older system," which
he said was often "broken."

	"Praise God with us for this new system," Feddersen said. "But
most of all, praise Him for the gracious generosity of His people."

	To view available giving opportunities, go on the Web to
catalog.lcms.org <http://catalog.lcms.org>  .

	****************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

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